2017 Cabrinha Fireball Connection Overview With Pete Cabrinha

Hi, I’m Pete Cabrinha, and I am proud to introduce you to the next generation of control system connection, the Fireball. Fireball is a sleek new approach to one of the most important points in kitesurfing: the point where the power of the kite meets the power of your body. This exact point needs to be the most secure, yet most fluid, part of the control system. Now it’s right here, as Fireball delivers an innovative connection system for the next generation of kiteboarding. The Fireball control system launches kitesurfing into a new era of performance, simplicity, and design. 

How does it work?

At the heart of the Fireball system is a ball and socket connection. This allows unmatched freedom for the kite to follow its natural path in the sky, completely independent of what body position the rider is maintaining. The ball and socket creates a frictionless connection for smooth motion and effortless control of the kite, unlocking your body movement while giving you precise control over the power and handling of your kite. The first time you lay your eyes on the Fireball, you will immediately see that this is something entirely different. When compared to a traditional loop system, Fireball is an incredibly streamlined shape. Staying true to Cabrinha’s form, the shape is minimal, organic, ergonomic, and designed from the ground up for kiters.

Unlike windsurfing, the pull from a kite comes from a very high angle. This manipulates the hook to face whatever direction the kite is pulling from, and this hook and loop system has a natural tendency to leverage the spreader bar against your body. This results in an increase in discomfort as well as a decrease in control and power transfer from your body to the kite.

Fireball’s socket interface is a semi-circular fitting that brings the pivot point of the connection extremely close to your body. The intelligent low-profile design keeps the spreader bar from rotating into your body when the pull of the kite comes from overhead. Traditional spreader bar hooks leverage the bar against your body because the pivot point of a hook is positioned further away from your body. The Fireball socket is much closer to your body than a traditional hook, thus keeping the spreader bar from rotating into your chest. This unique socket sits just centimeters from your core and has an orientation of approximately 35 degrees to match the kite’s natural position in the sky. But the rotational design of the ball, in addition to the flexible tendon, allows the kite to travel anywhere in the window with virtually no manipulation of the spreader bar. The end result is that Fireball has far less leverage against your body than a traditional hook and loop system. 

Getting in depth

At the core of Fireball’s design is a rotating ball and socket connection which seamlessly translates your body movements into an immediate kite reaction, with a smooth, frictionless motion. The Fireball QR assembly is a streamlined, ergonomic design which is omnidirectional in operation. Because Fireball is a spherical shape, it can be easily connected from any angle. Unlike a loop, there is no front, back, or sides to the system when connecting. The ball is a natural swivel, so not only is it capable of rotating in a circle, but it can also swivel on a horizontal axis - something a loop cannot do. This provides Fireball with a level of mobility that is unmatched by any connection system.

Once connected, you can secure the ball in place with our innovative, auto-lock gate. One of the most unique things about Fireball is its intelligent locking gate. Unlike a loop and security pin system, the locking gate is positioned on the spreader bar. This means that it’s available any time you need it. It can be locked and unlocked on the fly. The secure gate design automatically seats itself into position and provides a friction-free method to keep fireball engaged into the socket. A security pin is clumsy and awkward to engage and disengage, whereas the auto-lock gate can be engaged with the flick of a finger. Unlocking the gate is just as simple.

A traditional hook and loop can be binding when the kite flies from side to side. It can be made even worse when a security pin is inserted. Fireball is an non-binding system, which allows free, unrestricted movement no matter where the kite is located in the window. The best part is that with Fireball system, you’ll never be able to foul hook. 

Full integration

The entire Fireball ecosystem is fully integrated. The only way to ensure the proper function of any connection system is to control every aspect of it. When you connect the loop system to a random spreader bar, there is no way to positively guarantee that the security will function properly.

With Fireball, we are able to control the entire security process and we control the point of disengagement. Here, where the pin releases from the tower, is where we have engineered a clean release. There is nothing left to chance. To reconnect the system, simply lift up the QR until it rests on the catch. Insert the pin into the tower, fold the pin, and drop the QR back over the pin. Since Fireball is already engaged, there’s no hooking back in and no messing with the security pin. Simply connect and you’re ready to resume riding.

The Fireball spreader bar is a cast, stainless steel, purposeful connection made for the sport of kitesurfing. The Fireball spreader bar is compatible with virtually all of the major harness brands. It fits webbing sizes up to 4cm in the main connection, and also has tie-down lower strap connectors to keep the bar extra secure. It has an easy release that allows you to quickly and easily attach your harness. Fireball’s easy release system engages from the top of the spreader bar, so there’s nothing in the way of a clean connection.

Never before has there been such a completely integrated connection in kitesurfing. It’s right here, in the center of your core, where Fireball completely unlocks the kite’s full potential. The Fireball connection system closes the loop on the most important points in kitesurfing: performance, security, ergonomics, and comfort. Fireball is the missing link to high-performance kiteboarding control. Fireball will immediately upgrade the performance of any harness, as well as all Cabrinha kites using our 1X security system. 

The next generation of kitesurfing starts right here.