Hey - looking for some advice. I am into my second season and can comfortably go upwind, jump and arrive back at the spot I took off from on the beach.
Bought second hand gear to learn on, and now I feel it's time to invest in a new (or near new) kite a d board. From looking around Cabrinha take me as the best in terms of construction and most people tell me they fly really well. I'll be looking to get into the surf at some stage soon, so something suitable for this would be good.
I currently have a 12m Airush Lithium
10m BWS Noise
Old Cabrinha 144 board TT
I weigh 94kgs
Suggestions please?
Yup Cabrinha make good kites.
However if you wonna save ya self some cash. You carn't go wrong with the method V2 from switchkites. i lov the Nitro v3, but i would not say they are so surf friendly.
www.google.com.au/search?q=switchkites
don't know about the drifter kites, but i can tell you that the CAB Bar 2012 QR system is a complete pig to re-assemble after activation. In 2013 they fixed the problem. I would avoid the 2012 bar just for this issue, I used to bet people $10 that they would not be able to re-assemble the QR in 5 mins. I won many times.
Select to expand quoteForcetwelve said...
if i was looking for more of a versatile kite would you say the switchblade?
How do you like to ride, what do you want to achieve, water conditions, average winds, focus on board tt or directional in the future, plenty of things to think about before choosing a kite
the 11m drifter is quite soft, pulls more like a 10.5m, sic kite tho, the slack line drift is awesome. I tied an extra knot in the pig tail to give it that extra pull, worked a treat!!!
I have the 2013 11m Switchblade. I have also flown the 2012 & the 2014 versions. The 2013 has a little less low end grunt than the other 2, but that can be partially fixed by lengthening the centre lines by a couple of inches. The 2013 bar IMHO is better than the 2012 or 2014 versions. A nice fast turning, well behaved, well built kite!
Well the switchblade is a great kite. I would not say it’s as surf friendly, it does not relaunch as well as a surf/wave specific kite.
As for the Method v2 "caucy", I ride them with a big TT in the surf and i am also 95kg, so that’s why i made the recommendation. I totally go along with what you have said about the boards.
I have now just got my hands on the new Nitro V3, Its dam good, but it is more like a switchblade and so does not relaunch as well and the speed and pull in the turns does not really suit the surf either. I am not a surfer and more just play around in the wave and boost off them on the odd occasion so its ok for me.
To that end if you do want to go more for a switchblade, I actually would recommend the Nitro v3 over it. The Cab bar is better than the switchkites bar, but the Nitro V3 kite is on par with a switchblade and feels very similar. The big difference is the price, you could get a 12m and 10m nitro with a bar for the same or less as 1 switchblade with bar. For me a 2x Nitro kite quiver is defiantly better than 1 switchblade.
Select to expand quotecauncy said..Forcetwelve said...
if i was looking for more of a versatile kite would you say the switchblade?
How do you like to ride, what do you want to achieve, water conditions, average winds, focus on board tt or directional in the future, plenty of things to think about before choosing a kite
well said.
Rode the switch kites, you get people bagging them who I may suggest haven't rode them, IMHO they were better in handling and performance for me than a lot of bigger named brands, along with the ikon and mutiny kites ,
If you are buying new or near new Try to demo kites before buying There are great kites out there this year Reo ,Dice,and Drifter and more
Looking to get into the surf as I have a surfing background. Most likely directional, but for now I'm looking for a kite that will allow me to do flat water also. A friend has recommended north rebel too.
The only thing about directional is I would rather straps sink can jump here and there.
Thanks for your input so far!
Slinghsot RPM/ Bridled c, capable of freestyle (look up Youri zoon) and waves. Same shape as Naish park/North Dice, but is more refined over many more generations...
2 seasons in, lithium and BWS..... youve got your wind range sussed. Id buy a 2nd hand surfboard off seabreeze for $300-500 and just concentrate on technique and save a lot of coin. Both good surf kites. are you asking twin tip advice? for surf I love the 50/50 from nobile. its an exellent freeride/wakestyle board, but because of its rocker its a lovely wave board (for a twinny) as well. If you were 2 years in playing tennis, the $2000 racquet probably wouldnt help that much. If you want a surfboard at 95kgs in Qld, a 6;2- 6,4 will suit the waves over ther without bogging down in the turns. Honestly ,being an ex shopguy, your kites are fine, untill they crap out.
PM me, if you want. but all your gonna get here is pimping from intermediates who are sold on their brand/kite, its a personal feel.
Many thanks guys. I have the surfboards (got about 8 lying around!) so no issue there. I think I'm going to demo some kites and go from there.
Select to expand quotevwpete said...
I used to bet people $10 that they would not be able to re-assemble the QR in 5 mins. I won many times.
do you kite with monkeys? ....... ...............
no i take that back, you can teach a monkey to reset 2012 cab safety
in less than 5minutes 
This is the worst place to ask for this sort of general advice.
Everyone who is happy with what they fly reckons theirs is the best. They are right - its the best for them cos they have learnt how to fly them the way they should be flown. We all learn to fly the kites we own the best they they fly.
So will you.
Think about where you are at & where you are heading. Then research kite types - deltas (most now delta-ish with more or less wingtip) - hybrids (low or high aspect with more or less wingtip) - "C's" still the kite of choice for freestylers.
When you understand what kite build is all about then you can start to decide what might suit 'YOU". And perhaps even who you should ask.
Until then there's no point asking general advice on a free-for-all forum.
Select to expand quoteForcetwelve said..
I currently have a 12m Airush Lithium
10m BWS Noise
Old Cabrinha 144 board TT
I weigh 94kgs
Suggestions please?
I am 95kgs and have a 12m Lithium, 9m switchblade and a 17m zephyr
Also a Crazyfly TT
Very happy with this quiver, previously I had a range of sizes of switchblades which also worked well, but I think the above works better.
