Cabrinha Crossbow review?

Rider: 91kg

General overview -
-top end?
- big air?

fantastic review. after reading that informative review i think i will go out and buy a crossbow

If you want info just start a new topic crossbow v rebel

MY CABRINHA CROSSBOW REVIEW

Colouring

Nice tree matching green and yellow colouring. Looks good.

Construction

First rate construction. Lines are easy to cut when you can't get your kite down from a tree.

Turning speed

Turns fast. Fast enough to get it stuck in a tree almost instantly from take off, even quicker if it's a low bush. Old kites flew slower into trees, this one is like a magnet to trees, especially for beginners.

Range

Range on the kite was massive. I could hit big trees and small trees.

Relaunch

A bit slow depending on the tree. Small bushes were quick but big trees were slow, even pulling both back lines. Relaunching from power lines were surprisingly quick but it seem to fly to one side repeatedly after that. Might have something to do with the lines being burned off one side but at least it loops well.

Jumping

I could jump higher than a tree, but a tree can't jump

Conclusion

All in all, if you like trees, this is your kite. It hits trees like no other kite i've seen, with the exception of maybe other cabrinha kites which also hit trees very well. This might explain the fact that most people think cabrinha's grow on trees, but in reality, they're just attracted to them.

To finish off, if trees are bad publicity, then this is the Lara Bingle of kites

The Rebel is completely tree resistant which is probably a good thing given the 5 lines on the Rebel would make it impossible to get out of a tree. On the down side, its not kite resistant so the ghey colours have a tendency to make it into other kites.

The BWS is too stable to fly into trees. Its also too stable to turn in the direction of trees. In fact, its so stable, my friend got rid of his wife and married one to make sure he had a stable home for his kids.

Yeh what's up with that. It's turned into an urban myth.

If you want world championship winning efficiency (course racing) and big-air hijinks but without the pulleys and the tree-seeking tendencies then give the Ozone Edge some consideration too. Similar performance brief to the Crossbow but delivered in a simpler (no pulleys, 2 less struts) and comp-proven package.

To be fair, all of Saffer's pics are switchblades, except the first which is a convert. Crossbows are perhaps less tree prone?

Adziz if you are a new to kiting please stick to shrubs until you have a bit more experience, only then should you consider trees...

In all of the examples above, the switchblade went into the tree to try and save the crossbow. The switchblade is a brave kite, far braver than the crossbow. It's like the fireman of kites, always there to help a fellow cabrinha. I once saw a 10m switchblade fight off a 12m Rev that was picking on a fellow 6m convert. You don't see that kind of bravery every day.

The problem created was the switchblades got a bad tree rap when in reality, it's the crossbow that is the true tree kite.

Thanks Saffer.

The Edge is really appealing. Is there anything else that performs like the Edge but cheaper..

Yes, a second hand Edge.

But it's a bit like asking "The world championship winning car is really appealing. Is there a car that performs like it, has the same level of construction, and quality of sales and after sales service, but somehow costs less?" The answer is, "well, what departments are you prepared to make sacrifices in?"

There'll be those who nominate other kites, but despite their premium price tag I've never met an Edge owner who hasn't been stoked with their investment. Extra durability and wind range may bring comparative costs down too. Of course you can order a quiver with just one bar and pump ... so there are options.

OK, if you're a noob that changes things. Get a decent all-rounder to learn on before shelling out on a performance thoroughbred. For a few reasons -

1, Your learning curve will be quicker on a more forgiving beginner-oriented kite.

2, You'll probably trash/unwittingly abuse your first kite so make it less of an investment.

3, You may wish to go for a more C type kite as you may prefer the sudden rip-you-off the-water style of jump rather than the elevator-glide of the Edge and other wing-ish kites. Don't specialise until you have a basic feel for the different types of kites - get basic skills happening then demo to find your style.