2011 Cabrinha Nomad Kite Review
2011 9m Cabrinha Nomad Kiteboarding Review
by Tucker Vantol
It is Day 3 in Hatteras and we decided to take a small downwinder from kite point back to the house. The wind at the house was whipping at 25 knots, so I brought a 7m Cabrinha Vector and the 9m Cabrinha Nomad and would ultimately make the decision when we got to our takeoff at kite point. As we moved south on the sound the wind got noticeably lighter, so I took out the Nomad 9m with a Slingshot Misfit 136. When I got on the water the wind was around 15-17 knots, so with a 9m I was working the kite a little to stay afloat. I was glad to have the extra speed from the Misfit's moderate rocker.
Once I got away from shore, the wind came around the point and I was well powered for the rest of the trip at 20-25 knots. After flying big kites the Nomad felt fast! For a little kite it definitely keeps upwind well. That being said, I can see why the kite is a favorite among wave riders. I would keep the kite in the window and fly downwind without much slack in the lines. It also responds well when it's not powered, so it is easy to keep the kite in the window when you are riding downwind. With a lot of variation in the wind I pulled my trim strap more than a couple times to adjust without any trouble.
I was glad to have the fast reaction of the kite when we were cruising the slicks and island fingers that stick out. The fast reaction also seemed to give a huge possibility for boosting. While I am still figuring out the timing to really get a large air, it was possible to get a good 15-foot air without perfect wave timing. Coming from a Cabrinha Switchblade, the kite felt less stable when you lose sight of it doing backloops. However, after becoming accustomed to the way it flies, I felt comfortable enough to try some double backloops (finally got the rotation down).
My experience with the Cabrinha 9m Nomad was great once I got used to its speed and was the perfect choice for my first downwinder.
Reviewer: Tucker Vantol
Age: 25
Weight: 175 lbs.
Skill: Intermediate new rider
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