2014 Cabrinha Contra 17m Kite Review

2014 Cabrinha Contra Kite - front view2014 Cabrinha Contra 17m Kite Review

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Michigan summers are notoriously calm for kitesurfing and we find ourselves trying to make the most of every 12-15 mph day. Due to this fact we have been very happy to see all the new freeride lightwind kiteboard kites coming to the market. To say that the crew here at MACkite was anticipating the arrival of the 17m Contra from Cabrinha would be a large understatement. Frothing at the thought would be a more accurate observation.

In previous years the Best TS 17m and Slingshot Turbine 17m have been highly esteemed by our staff for their ability to make a lightwind day fun. The opportunity to do kiteloops, fun transitions, and unhooked tricks in 14 mph is new territory and we love to explore it.

2014 Cabrinha Contra Kite - carryingI got out yesterday before a lesson to test out the new Contra 17m lightwind kiteboard kite in Muskegon. Showing up at the beach I felt a slight breeze, what I would estimate at 15 mph. As I pumped up the new Cabrinha kite I was familiar with the Sprint valve inflation system and with only 3 struts this large bird pumped up faster than I was used to with its 5 strut brothers from Slingshot and Best kites. After the Contra LW is pumped up it is apparent that it is very lightweight, feeling more like a 12m than a 17m in your hand.

2014 Cabrinha Contra Kite - control bar
As I laid out and rigged the kiteboard kite I took notice of the new Overdrive 1X bar and safety system. Being a fan of single line flagging systems, I was overjoyed to see that the new system would flag out on one centerline for safety releases and the near the bar centerline split was a nice improvement as well. Unique to the Cabrinha Overdrive bar is the dedicated flag line. This means that rather than use an existing center flying line for a safety, Cabrinha Kites chooses to put another line adjacent to one of the center lines to ensure that even if your centerlines snap you will have an operable safety. An added bonus for this style of flag line is that when self-landing it is visual confirmation of what side the safety will release to, allowing for a precise and safe self-landing situation. For those familiar with Cabrinha IDS this bar will be right at home with identical ergonomics, bar throw, trim adjustment, and chicken-loop operation only updated with fresh blue/black graphics.

2014 Cabrinha Contra Kite - underside
As I launched the kite it turned over very easily with its curvy, almost delta shaped design. With the kite high in the sky overhead I pulled in the bar to test the power of the kite to decide whether I would have to ride a lightwind specific twintip like the Best Breeze 145cm or if I could ride my regular wakestyle setup. The kite lifted me into the air with smooth and defined power for a 15 foot glide down the beach, definitely enough power to do some wakestyle damage. After lacing up my boots I hit the water with the new kite. Putting it through the paces I sent a few jumps, looped the kite, did some unhooked trickery, relaunched the kite, and lastly tried out the new safety release deep in the window.

The Cabrinha Air Series Contra LW 17m performed admirably on all fronts delivering lofty jumps, smooth kiteloops, poppy and fun unhooking, great depower, easy relaunch, and a vastly improved safety release. As head instructor I am always concerned with the result of the safety release. The Contra flagged out on one center line and immediately fell dead from the sky into a neutral clamshell position (similar to what you might see from a Slingshot kite). A simple line climb while engaging the safety release resulted in a kite that was ready to re-launch and fly again. Self-landing the kite using the safety release gave me similar results when the session was done, this time landing clamshell on the beach as was expected from a quick glance at the skyward side flag line (groundside flag line placement will result in a smiley face safety release position). This being adjustable by your placement of the flag line on one of the two centerline bridles. Want a clamshell safety upon landing? Put the flag line on the seaward side when setting up. Want a smiley face safety result? Put the flag line towards the land to do so.

2014 Cabrinha Contra Kite - backMy overall impression of the 2014 Cabrinha Contra 17m Lightwind kiteboard kite is that it definitely belongs in the same class as the Best TS 17m and Slingshot Turbine 17m, which is a lot to be said for a first generation kite. While the Contra 17m has slightly less power than the other two, its lightweight build makes it a better choice for intermittent wind and riders under 200 lbs as a lightwind option. At 175 lbs and 15 mph I had enough power for progressive wakestyle moves and I am excited to test the bare minimum of this kite with expectations in the 10-11 mph range with a large board.

Tucker Vantol
175 lbs
wakestyle/ strapless surf