Amazing session - 2013 Cabrinha Switchblade

[ricki]

I received my 2013 Cabrinha Switchblade this afternoon unexpectedly. I knew it was coming but assumed it would be a week or more away still. Coincidentally, I had been out with the same sized kite in a 2012 Switchblade the evening before in similar conditions. The winds were a few knots higher this evening than the prior night. The kites had been tuned the same, attaching the backlines to the outermost knot allowing for some close comparison.


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Hurricane Sandy formed and is moving over Jamaica and Cuba. Good luck to everyone who will be impacted by this storm.

Feeder bands are sweeping over Florida and the Bahamas to the north. There is a good wind gradient in my area of southeast Florida bringing NE to ENE winds on the order of 18 to 25 kts. averaging around 20 kts. There have been squalls but fortunately not in my area while I was out.


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Here is the new kite with a lot of changes, improvements and nice graphics too. The shape of the kite has been altered moving further away from a "C shape" with a shallow wing section. They say the bar pressure is less with this kite, I will see for myself very soon. They have a large diameter inflator on the kite now making inflation at lot faster. The control bar is even less cluttered and more clean than the clean bar of 2012. They are using a different type of line this year, fairly stiff and well coated. The IDS is easier to rearm now as well. There are other changes checkout the Cabrinha website for more details at http://www.cabrinhakites.com/bow/switchblade.html



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Heading out. The kite DOES have a much lighter bar pressure than the 2012 Switchblade. There is no doubt as I was on last year's model the day before but that isn't all.


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The kite flys fast for its size, like a substantially smaller kite and turns even easier than last year's model. It really boosts too! Nice easy jumps with good float. It takes less strength, responds faster and better. For a first session with a new kite things came together amazingly well.



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I also found the kite depowered easier with less delay too. The kite is fun to fly and really puts out in short!


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This was an amazing session, when everything comes together just so. It was far easier to fly and the jumps were a good deal higher with longer hang time than the night before and all with a light bar pressure. The session was almost "magical" it was that good.



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Great times on and over the water! In just 24 hours in similar conditions, things become substantially easier and better. Way to go with the 2013 design and thanks for all the great sessions to come!!!


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[troubleshooter]

How about the quick link?

I am in the market for a few kites and am strongly considering Switchblades. My main goto shop gave me warnings about the 2012 quick link and the difficulty, even on dry land, in re-engaging the system once the release is pulled.

I know there was some talk about certain fixes that may assist more for the 2013. How did that work out? I know that some experienced Cab riders say that they can figure out the re-assembly quickly, but what about a not so experienced kiter who would needs a vey simple solution? What about solutions for a 2012 bar? I may be considering a 2012 rig given the good discounts now available.

Thanks

[ricki]

I never had that much trouble rearming the IDS Quicklink on land with the 2012 kites. It does becomes easier with repetition. I only used it for solo landing avoiding the need to Emergency Depower offshore. I wouldn't think you would have problems with it as I never did.

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[ricki]

Some have said that in exchange for the lighter bar pressure the lower end kite performance may have dropped. Go out and try it at the low end and see what you think. Cabrinha has come up with a tuning tip for folks looking to increase the lower end power of their 2013 Switchblade kite. It involves the placement on one more knot in the back bridle lines. It is described in detail in the video:


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I have done this for many years with various kites to improve the low end. This is just to shorten the bridle minutely, you don't attach the back kite lines to the new knot. Checkout the video for more details.


Most of us have noticed that our kite lines stretch through time. We do put a lot of load on them. Eventually this can "detune" your bar and impact your kite control inputs and kite response. Solution? Glad you asked, it is covered in another video:


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Finally, Cabrinha has put together a good preflight video.

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Still, more how to and tip videos from Cabrinha at:
http://www.cabrinhakites.com/index.php?option=com_ckvideos&view=detail&playlist_id=BF0722370A8DF08E&Itemid=233


Good flying!

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