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BIG PICTURE
Cabrinha have just released the new Moto and Contra, and the Xcal twintip. The Moto will continue to please its loyal fans while the Contra now comes in smaller sizes for foiling. The Xcal will have you jumping higher and popping harder, or if foiling is your thing the Fusion foil system has also just landed. Cabrinha have also released a new wing, the Mantis, to entice you over to the sport of wingsurfing. So plenty to catch up about…
WO R DS A N D P HOTO JAMES BOULDI NG
W H AT R E S P E C T I V E R I D I N G S T Y L E A R E T H E M O T O A N D C O N TRA EACH DESIGNED FOR?
and surfboards, and the smaller sized Contras to take over when you need a smaller size for foiling.
The Moto is a do-it-all, easy-to-ride freeride kite. It is the ideal kite for someone to learn on but also performs seamlessly across all areas of kiting from surf through freeride to foil. The Contra is a light wind weapon that remains in sizes 13, 15 and 17m, but this year we have added smaller sizes – 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11m – that take on the legendary efficient Contra design but have changed to a lightweight one-strut design. This is a real performance foiling kite.
W H AT H A S E V O LV E D W I T H T H E M O T O A N D W H AT C H A R A C T E R I ST I CS C A R RY OV E R I N TO T H E N E W M O D E L?
W H Y H AV E Y O U I M P L E M E N T E D T H E O N E S T R U T O N T H E S M A L L E R S I Z E S O N LY ?
When foiling, there is usually much less pressure on the kite structure and you can get away with a more slimline platform. This helps with the weight and agility and it has enabled the Contra 1 Strut to perform in the lighter winds that foiling often occurs in. With so many advancements in foil technology we have seen riders using much smaller kites in light winds, so we wanted a foil-specific kite in the smaller sizes. Sizes 13 to 17m tend to be used for light wind with twintips and surfboards, and in very marginal conditions for foiling. When used with a twintip the three-strut platform benefits riders by maintaining stability. So we have the three-strut bigger sizes to ride with twintips
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THE BIG PICTURE
From the off the Moto has garnered a loyal fanbase. Riders love its ease of use and friendly flying characteristics. It is a Jack-of-all-trades kite and we wanted to keep this feeling but add some characteristics that would benefit riders in the freeride arena. The arc has been modified to add forward drive and a more direct feeling. The kite now climbs through the window faster, which helps with boosting and when performing kite loops. This increases the kite’s versatility and forgivingness, something kiters love about the Moto. From foiling to surfing, to all round freeride, it is an incredibly easy kite to enjoy and progress with, and straight away you will notice the upgrade both on the bar and in the performance. TELL US ABOUT CABRINHA’S CHOICE OF RIPSTOP FOR THE KITES.
Cabrinha’s Nano Ripstop was introduced last year and is now being used across our whole kite and wing range, giving a performance, strength and durability boost to each kite and wing. We are using a
