Haven't ridden it yet. Just picked it up yesterday and had to tell somebody.
Probably no wind for a month now.
Windsurfing Perth has done well to get the kites to customers before even Cabrinha has updated their website.
yeh no sh@t dude, reg and dan rok. let me know how it goes im curious to see if i want to buy a 9 xbow or switch i got the 12 xbow3 its SWEET! hopefully switchblade just as good :)
I have just upgraded to a 12 SB3. After a number of sessions in anything from 15 to 40 knots i must this is the best thing i have done in a long time.
The new kite has more bottom end and more power overall, it seems to fly further back in the window but you can still truck upwind like with the SB2.
After flying both on the same day in 20K wind i found the new SB3 to have a bit more bar pressure. When you power up the kite it's not the the old one where there was heps of power or no power. The power comes on smoother and the kite is more stable.
The best thing is it doesn't stall in a turn through the window when you dump some power on a wave. The speed of the new kite is more like a 10M rebel.
Once i got used to the speed (took some time) i was jumping higher than i have ever jumped (30 - 35 Knots). At one point i was looking down at someone else's kite.
The new kite seems to built stronger. The SB2 seemed to be to thin, the new one looks and feels like it could handle more of a thrashing.
I like the new designs and colours.
quote:
Originally posted by sab
I have just upgraded to a 12 SB3. After a number of sessions in anything from 15 to 40 knots i must this is the best thing i have done in a long time.
The new kite has more bottom end and more power overall, it seems to fly further back in the window but you can still truck upwind like with the SB2.
After flying both on the same day in 20K wind i found the new SB3 to have a bit more bar pressure. When you power up the kite it's not the the old one where there was heps of power or no power. The power comes on smoother and the kite is more stable.
The best thing is it doesn't stall in a turn through the window when you dump some power on a wave. The speed of the new kite is more like a 10M rebel.
Once i got used to the speed (took some time) i was jumping higher than i have ever jumped (30 - 35 Knots). At one point i was looking down at someone else's kite.
The new kite seems to built stronger. The SB2 seemed to be to thin, the new one looks and feels like it could handle more of a thrashing.
I like the new designs and colours.
Took it out for 2 sessions in the Mandurah waves on Fri and Sat. I can only compare it to the Crossbow 2 which was my quiver last year.
The wind was really crappy and gusty with strengths from 15 knots to at least 30+ knots esp the Fri arvo session.
I flew the 10 m in both sessions.
Good points:
1. Low bar pressure
2. Very direct steering and feel compared to Xbow 2
3. Fast turning
4. Heaps of power
5. Super stable andif possible easier to fly than Xbow 2
6. Great constuction - in 4 years of Cabrinha kites I have never had a problem with any of my kites which is one of the reasons I stay with them.
7. Loops far smoother with a better feel than Xbow 2
8. Jumps - Still getting used to it but pretty confident that it is better than Xbow 2 (more straight up and powerful pull)
Down side:
1. For some reason the safety is on the back line rather than the front lines (like Xbow 2). I am sure that this could be changed pretty simply if this was your wish). My first thought is that this will be bad for freestyle (as your safety will wrap around the chicken loop) if you to 2 or 3 spins in the same direction)however this might prove to be a kite saver in the waves as the ability to flatten the kite out may stop it being seriously violated by a wave.)
2. The SB3 has more bridle thanthe Xbow 2, this creates more chance for the bridle to get caught on the kite in a nasty or wave crash creating session ending problems.
Summary: I loved my Xbow2's, but this kite is definately better. The direct (no pulley)steering is a real joy as is light bar pressure, even though Xbow2 wasnt really a problem.
I cant tell you it's the best kite in the world because I haven't flown any other of this years kites and I am not someone who feels they have to justify their purchase by saying it is the best out there. I am super happy with it, look forward to the season and have ordered a 2nd SB3 (14m) and might even get a 3rd (8m) as I was going to keep my Xbow2 7m but think the SB3 8m might be worth it.
My 2 cents worth. I am not sponsored and pay for all my kites. I have always got good service from Windsurfing Perth so happy to give them a plug. Thanks Dan & Reg for getting me the kite early.
Whats it like for unhooking, does it require a trim adjustment or can you simply unhook?
Haven't unhooked yet, given that the wind for long patches was 30+ knots thought it might be unwise to try this on first fly.
Kite has power though, so i will be adjusting trim.
I've been riding on the SB3s for 3 weeks now and would summarise my key impressions for the 8, 10 and 12m as follows:
Key Improvements:
1. No more inversions/folding when the kite is flown through the middle of the wind window and the bar is sheeted out (e.g. during a kiteloop the SB2 would fold/collapse if the bar would suddenly be sheeted out while the tension on the lines was super high). So all the super powered tricks and aggressive riding has become even safer and more fun.
2. Top quality construction. I'm stoked by the amount of effort and attention to details that went into the production of the SB3. It's probably one of the best built kites I've seen in the 2008 range. The LE looks rock solid and the reinforcement supporting the stiching is likely to make problems with the LE a thing of the past.
3. The kite turns tighter, a bit faster and with a bit more direct control. Still not as direct as a C-kite, but reducing the gap more and more.
Other Improvements:
1. The bar has a great finish. The chicken loop line doesn't roughn up anymore. This will stop the nasty catching of the skin of your fingers when having the chicken loop line passing through the middle of your fingers when jumping unhooked.
2. Bigger and better kite bag. No more inside and outside bag. The kite fits easily in the bag (so MBAs in kitefolding are no longer required). The new pump holder is great. One of the first that actually really holds the pump well and allows you to check it in with the pump on the outside of the bag without having to be afraid the pump may fall off during baggage handling.
3. More contemporary graphics. They look less plain-jane. The colour combos are a question of taste. Most are ok, a few are sick a few make me sick...
4. Minor details like sleves for the sprint system clamps (same as seen on the Omega HD) have been used. These avoid the edges from the clamps damaging the cloth of the kite (mainly when folded in the bag).
Overall Impression:
The kite's flying characteristics are similar to the SB2, but has the above mentioned improvements. So if you're looking for something completely different, the SB3 is not for you. It's a 30% better SB2 (if I would attempt to put a number to it).
I've just spent 3 weeks riding waves in Cape Verde/Morocco and rate the SB3 as an outstading kite for that purpose. Now I'm in Mauritius and have enjoyed a few good freestyle sessions on flat water.
For those who remember our jumping comps in Sydney, the SB3 is my prefered weapon of choice. The 8 and 10m are just sick when it comes to big air. The extra turning speed seems to add that little extra second that I can hold the edge and get even more hight out of the kite.
Dislikes:
There are not many, but I would have liked it to have even more direct feel (like a c-kite) and that it would also behave more like a c-kite during kiteloops. To get the same feel and yank bow kites just need to be flown in a specific way, whereas c-kites deliver that big yank almost every time.
The other thing, as mentioned before, the colour selection is a bit off at times. But that might be my weird taste in colour combos...
M
I'll be very straight. I really don't know. It's hard to say when you don't ride both kites side by side in the exact same conditions.
My assumption is the difference is not big.
The SB3 maybe a able to generate a bit more power on the bottom end as it turns and flies a bit faster.
I'm sorry I can't really give you more precise answer.
M
P.S.: Similar to the SB2, the SB3 has a very good bottom end. I'm 88kg and ride a 132 FLX 07. I was able to ride up wind in 15 knots without any problems....
Moritz
Looking for some help in matching a kite to my SB3 10m. Was originally going to keep my Xbow2 7m as I thought that the SB3 8m and 10m would be too close to each other. Am having second thoughts now because I like my quiver to be the same kite and am enjoying the SB3 10m.
I am close to your size and ride in WA mainly in the waves.
Appreciate your comments re how diff the 8m and 10m are. For eg. I can tell you that the 7m and 9m Xbow2 were quite different especially in the waves when you dont need to be overpowered.
quote:
Originally posted by wal269
Moritz
Looking for some help in matching a kite to my SB3 10m. Was originally going to keep my Xbow2 7m as I thought that the SB3 8m and 10m would be too close to each other. Am having second thoughts now because I like my quiver to be the same kite and am enjoying the SB3 10m.
I am close to your size and ride in WA mainly in the waves.
Appreciate your comments re how diff the 8m and 10m are. For eg. I can tell you that the 7m and 9m Xbow2 were quite different especially in the waves when you dont need to be overpowered.
Hey wal, I have the 8 and 10 SB2 and shortened the lines on one of the bars (by 4m). This extends the range of the quiver and the short lines are great in the waves. 
Yeh, I think that might be the go.
I tried the same with my 7,9 and 12 Xbow 2 last year but found that I never needed to short line the 7. I did note that the short lined 9 was very similar to the normal lined 7.
So i exect that short lined 8 would be equivalent to a 6. I expect the 8 SB3 to be a pretty good wave kite.
Sounds not bad , I flew a 12m SW2 last season and thought the kite was a great kite , it really has a awesome wind range and the amount of de-power is something else , "but" and I am saying this wondering if the sw3 is of the same contruction as the CBow and SB because they are a "bit light on " in the construction , they tear and pop easily and also the one pump system is good but after a while the strut lock clips from the leading edge to strut start to rub through the canopy on nearly all the hose points this has happened with my SW2 and also a friends , although not as prone to invertions as the earlier one's and I'm sure they have it even better with the SW3 , I was going to get a SW3 but due to the fact that it still flags in on the rear line like the SW2 , which is **** really because I have had it disingage my QR on my chicken loop twice before when you do freestyle loops etc it turns round the chicken loop and you have to loop the other way to right it , or run your leash as suicice on the front , also when it flags , and you have lost the bar it loops like a maniac and is really a pain in the ass when this happens , also self landing of the SW2 is just a prick too if timed wrong.
Reading the posts on the SW3 it sounds as though same problems will still exist, but nice to hear it steers faster through the window.
My experience of my SW2 is great kite flying heaps of power and de- power nice pop , but construction/ and safety connection point 
now if SW3 is the same I think I might get a SS Rev this year........
Flux, Wal just curious, why are you attaching your leash to the back line flagging ring for general unhooked riding, and not directly above the chicken loop QR? As I understood it, you only use the back line ring for extra safety when launching/landing or when you want the kite to completely flag out. Otherwise attach above the chicken loop QR for a fully spinnable system. If you want extra depower for unhooked crashes then pop the stopper ball before the trick and then the kite will be powerless if you drop the bar. As for self launching/ landing, I have been using the sandbag + carabiner method with no problems, in up to 25kn with the 12m and up to 30+kn with the 8m. Never had a kite misbehave yet.
Andy
quote:
Originally posted by Flux
Sounds not bad , I flew a 12m SW2 last season and thought the kite was a great kite , it really has a awesome wind range and the amount of de-power is something else , "but" and I am saying this wondering if the sw3 is of the same contruction as the CBow and SB because they are a "bit light on " in the construction , they tear and pop easily and also the one pump system is good but after a while the strut lock clips from the leading edge to strut start to rub through the canopy on nearly all the hose points this has happened with my SW2 and also a friends , although not as prone to invertions as the earlier one's and I'm sure they have it even better with the SW3 , I was going to get a SW3 but due to the fact that it still flags in on the rear line like the SW2 , which is **** really because I have had it disingage my QR on my chicken loop twice before when you do freestyle loops etc it turns round the chicken loop and you have to loop the other way to right it , or run your leash as suicice on the front , also when it flags , and you have lost the bar it loops like a maniac and is really a pain in the ass when this happens , also self landing of the SW2 is just a prick too if timed wrong.
Reading the posts on the SW3 it sounds as though same problems will still exist, but nice to hear it steers faster through the window.
My experience of my SW2 is great kite flying heaps of power and de- power nice pop , but construction/ and safety connection point
Neoniphon/Kitepower
Agree that the safety on the centre is great for normal riding/unhooked. the only issue is in waves where 2 lines is still one too many as this is enough for a wave to destroy a kite.
I also agree that no spinning is a drag.
Neoniphon - Please explain carabiner sandbag method? Do you attach Chicken loop to a sandbag,click the override and then just go get the kite?
Kitepower - Does a fully spinning system simply just use a swivel like the Crossbow?
Picked up the 8m and used it on the weekend - It is great.
Wal the sandbag method is basically as per Saffer's vid which is on youtube here:
Thought I would post my impressions from our testing session for the SB3
Well what a super afternoon for a kite and not only that we got to test the new Cabrinha Switchblade 3 on some 2 - 3 ft side offshore waves. Clean lines and gusty 14 - 18 knots with the occasinal 20 knot gusts out the back.
The Switchblade 3 (SB3) we tested was the 12m version and I got to test 2 different ones with varied bar size (essentially large and small bar).
The Switchblade 3 is a pure Bow kite with concave trailing edge and supported leading edge bridle. 4 line SLE bridle set up with pulleys at the kite end in improved positions for better and faster steering and no pulleys at the bar end.
One pump system with external but very strong feeder tubes to the struts.
Board 128 x 38 underground 2007 and rider weight me (Daz 68kg)
First impressions.
The wind was really light to start with and in fact so dodgy that it was a concern keeping it in the air on the beach. I thought I would just do a couple of down winders to check the feel but as luck would have it the wind pick a bit and it turned out quite nice for wind, although very gusty.
I felt firstly the very light bar pressure and put the kite straight into the hot zone to get some punch from the chicken loop. The kite felt in neutral like it would lack power due to this very light wind and bar pressure, however immediately the power was there and I was lit in the marginal conditions. Apparent wind increased the power and I could hold a good edge. Such excellent power in light wind for the 12m and as the wind picked up you could feel the punch in the kite but with the ease of depower in a short bar movement.
The kite was super steady in the canopy which was interesting as Cabrinha have not used any battens to stiffen it, instead relying on the development and continued evolution of a pure Bow style kite.
The kite did present nicely in the neutral zone and in power, there was no fluttering or fuss from the canopy or trailing edge.
The power was smooth and solid from the kite and a few times from the gusts the lift and punch was a surprise. But the kite did smooth out what was a very gusty session nicely so that you actually took it for granted that the wind was great in the session and not really that gusty at all.
Turning speed is fast, nice speed and similar to the Rebel 08 in speed of turn. The kite looped perfectly and even underpowered I could backroll and downloop the kite knowing that it would have made the downloop easy once I can around to see the kite again. Full on kiteloopers will be confident to throw this kite into any looping moves they want.
I was confident with the turning speed to dive the kite straght to the water until the last second when I could turn it back to where I wanted.
I did not ride the SB2 however it was supposed to have a little delay in the turning, this if so was totally rectified with the SB3 as it responds quick and as you demand.
Also having tested a large and small bar, I preferred the smaller bar which provided for me a better feedback to the kite, however I suspect that this was more my adjustment in getting used to the kite than anything else.
Pop is great and will suit those who are a little lazy in there edging like me, just relax and jump essentially, and jump big.
Hang time was very long, like gliding in, even some small hops off a little wave lead to a hovering off the water hang time more than one occasion.
Wave riding well you know what I am going to say, with a pure Bow kite it is sensational, total depower but also running down wind along the wave the kite does sit there waiting for you to catch up. the direct steering feel aids in lining up waves and trimming so you can concentrate on the wave and let the kite sit where you want. Also whipping the kite back when riding down wind down the line the kite responds well.
Relaunch is simple and easy as expect from a bow kite. Self launch and landing is pure bow style.
The bar is very simple and relies on either a bar end ring pull through safety for beginers or push through depower for normal flying, depowering off the bow pivoting depower - that is letting the bar right out.
You can also do a simple mod to run a reride flag out depower to one of the LE bridle sides.
Essentially Cabrinha are confident on the full bow depower as the safety which does make a vast improvement for practice of unhooked moves as reride is easy.
Construction
the kite has so many new impovements with construction and is definitely now a very strong kite, without affecting the weight. The seams are sewn now in a higher reinforced system in the LE and there are improved systematic reinforcements over the kite canopy. There is new material which is stronger and resists tearing greater than last years kites.
I am very confident that this kite represents super performance and a distinct lack of disappointement for anyone. I really liked it and it gave me that 'I want to keep this kite' feeling.
All in all the reports from the other crew was thumbs up, no complaints at all, we all agreed that this kite was awesome.
Thanks to Hudson from Ocean Peak and Onboard for the testing session.
Daz
photos at www.southcentralkiteboarders.com/cabrina.html
Hey Daz, good review. You mention that turning speed is similar to the Rebel 08, can you offer any other comparisons to the new 12m? Curious to find out how these 2 kites stack up to one another. Unfortunately, I've never flown a Switchblade. Thanks.
Hey Bushy
Well that is a very good question and I will try to answer, the thing is I am well versed wwith the Rebel, but only flown the SB3 2x on one day. I would have to say this:
the main differences are in preferences like SB3 is pure bow with SLE bridle and no 5th line release system. Now I won't say what is better as clearly that is pure personal preference. both have advantages and disadvantages, but after my ride I would have been making decisions more on this rather than performance. like do you want a pulley kite or not, etc.
both kites perform beautifully, great top end and nice turning speed. If you are used to rebels and North kites the grunt in the 08 Rebel with that really direct feel in the bar will have you sold. Now that is not to say the Rebel does not have lighter bar pressure as it does, but there is a slight bit more feedback and power associatd with the 'feel' of the bar. The SB3 has a smooth easy bar feel that surprises you when you actually feel the punch from the kite. this essentially comes from the pulleys at the kite end.
man its really hard to fault either kite, and at this point harder to compare. And actually I think given 2 weeks on either kite you would actually get over any differences and just think the kite is perfect.
Another difference might be do you want typical relauch Bow SLE style or the Rebel technique in awkward positions of the kite, both kites have improved relaunch but the Rebel requires a different technique, again easy to adopt but what's the preference.
they both seem to have similar performance really, I really love the Norht Rebel 10m and will ride this kite most, for my weight the kite is super nice and responsive, however that is not because of the SB3 as I can't think why I would not be super happy with that as well.
Um, does that help?
Daz
Yes, thanks that helps. I purchased a 12m 08 Rebel (which I absolutely love..second season with Rebels(s)) but have always been curious about the Switchblade. Both local shops don't demo Cabrinha so I haven't had a chance to fly one. SB3 sounds like a great kite! Flew both Takoon Nova2 (2nd time) and new Furia today. Wind was crap so I'll save comments until later. However, I will say that 11m Furia turns very fast. VERY fast....
quote:
Originally posted by Daisy
Whats it like for unhooking, does it require a trim adjustment or can you simply unhook?
quote:
Originally posted by Daisy
Whats it like for unhooking, does it require a trim adjustment or can you simply unhook?
had the sb3 12m out in crappy winds today,,,I was getting going not losing much ground at all, in winds from 9 -12 knots.. the bottom end is so surprising..Im 85 kg and using a skim board.. All the others where out on fuels 15m to 17m c kites and a airush 16m doing about the same...This is coming from a xbow 16m as my light wind kite the differece was not all that big.. so smooth and stable.. still not got the kite wet yet>>> touch wood..
later wind become 11-14k using my 138 custom was able to small airs and raileys..and stay in the same place,Good considering the custom has a fair bit of rocker in which requires a bit more power..
one word STOKED..
amped on my sb3's
was going upwind or at least powered in around 12 knots on the 12m and i weight around 90kgs huge power and range
really grunty and good pull
excellent for depower, dont even have to adjust trip straps unless u are amping off ure face on it and need a slight bit up a power dump to control your unhooking
bought a 12m and an 8 had heaps of fun on the 12, waiting for the right time to use the 8, hopefully tomorrow
sickest kite i have ever ridden
quote:
Originally posted by Scottyyoung
had the sb3 12m out in crappy winds today,,,I was getting going not losing much ground at all, in winds from 9 -12 knots.. the bottom end is so surprising..Im 85 kg and using a skim board.. All the others where out on fuels 15m to 17m c kites and a airush 16m doing about the same...This is coming from a xbow 16m as my light wind kite the differece was not all that big.. ....
