2019 Cabrinha Switchblade Review

2019 marks the 15th Year of Cabrinha's flagship kite. This is the kite we use to judge all others. Why? Aside from the fact that is one the most popular models we’ve ever carried, it’s the right kite for most kiteboarders. Be that new or experienced. In 2019 Cabrinha’s doing something different, and by different, I mean the switchblade remains unchanged this year. Shocking I know. But , after 14 years of refinement they've hit the sweet spot. Rather than trying to fix something that's not broken, Cabrinha is releasing a new kite, the Moto.Check out the full comparison here. 

We’ve always talked about how the Cabrinha Switchblade is good at everything. Yet that can get confusing. My aim with this video is to go in depth on what it actually does well. We'll also cover what it does not do well and some of the whys behind this.

Of all the kites we carry, the Switchblade is most renowned for its jumping abilities, its ease of use. Not to mention it’s great wind range and upwind drive. This kite has been the barometer used when testing all our other kites. Why? Because it sits right in the middle ot about everything. Chances are you’ll likely never outgrow its capabilities.

What does that mean? It does every discipline of kiteboarding quite well. Yet the other niche kites in the line out will outperform in each specific discipline. Considering few kiteboarders are married to one style of riding. The switchblade is often the best choice. Frankly unless you're the top rider in the world, in one category you simply will not outgrow it.

Whether you’re a free rider, a big air rider, a freestyler, a wave rider. “Takes a breath” A wakestyler or foilboarder, the switchblade is a jack of all trades. Its versatility is why it has stood the test of time.

Let’s break down some specifics.

Wind Range

The wind range is massive. Meaning you can make this kite work in more wind and less wind than many other similar kites. The Switchblade sits forward in the wind window and it has a very strong upwind drive. It's incredibly easy for newer riders to get upwind. There are only a handful of kites out there on par with the upwind drive and even less that surpass it. But, those kites make trade offs for that specific trait.

This has always been a huge benefit to beginners as their first obsitical in kiteboarding is riding upwind. For advanced riders, the upwind drive inspires confidence to try new tricks without fear of getting stuck downwind. 

Jumping

As far as jumping, the switchblade is a top performer, again. It’s one of the easiest kites to jump. What I mean is the switchblade does not require much rider feedback or skill to jump. Some kites require more timing and board skill from the rider. We’ve always considered the switchblade to be a pull and go kite. All you have to do is pick up a little speed, send it, pull the bar and you’re going to get good air. Opposed to the Fx where timing is more important. 

Blake Olsen sends it on the 2018 Switchblade. 

While you’ll never outgrow the Switchblade, sometimes after years of riding, kiters want something different. Some gravitate to faster kites or kites that take more skill to jump. I always use the analogy of an automatic transmission vs a manual. Obviously some people find manual more fun. The Cabrinha Switchblade is definitely an automatic in this regard. The kite does most of the work. 

Bar pressure and feel.

The first few generations of the switchblade had quite heavy bar pressure, a very strong forward pull and a delayed turning speed. This was the biggest complaint about the kite for a long time. Over the years the kite progressively got faster and lighter. In 2013 cabrinha redesigned it to fly more like a freestyle kite. Huge mistake! People who loved the Switchblade for what it was demanded it back. While the modern Switchblade, has returned to its roots, the kite is much lighter and faster than it used to be.

People often talk about how kites don’t change much. But if you fly a 2011 Switchblade back to back with any model post 2015, there is a very noticeable difference. You can expect moderate bar pressure, reasonably quick steering. When teaching kiteboarding students, the Switchblade has always been a lesson favorite. New kiteboarders have an easier time learning with the less aggressive turning speed. There is no advantage between the 2018 and the 2019 this year.

Stability

If you know anything about kites, you know that 5 strut kites are the most stable. Albeit as mentioned, not the most reactive kites. I like to think of the Switchblade as the perfect kite for imperfect conditions. Whenever the wind is gusty, I’m reaching for a switchblade.

Aside from holding shape and maintaining control in bad conditions, it’s known for a damp feel. Meaning when a strong gust comes it’s almost like having a shock absorber. You won't feel it too much in your harness or your body while riding. Provided you ride in a safe wind range.

If you ride in subpar conditions, strong conditions or generally gusty wind. The switchblade is a good choice for those that want a smoother ride.

The drawback here is the switchblade does have 5 struts for stability making it heavier in the sky. This is partially why it’s not the fastest turning kite in the line up.

Kiteloops

When the Fx came out, kiteboarders went crazy for it’s looping abilities. The Switchblade took a back seat. It’s true, the Fx is a much more reactive and aggressive kite when it comes to loops. It's actual a shame this happened. The switchblade is still an awesome tool for the job. Smooth, consistent and powerful kiteloops. The smaller sizes loop better but the larger sizes do loop quite well. An advanced rider might consider something different. Something like the FX the Moto or even the Drifter.

All that said, don’t let that fool you! Nick Jacobsen of Cabrinha rides the Switchblade and he’s a looping machine.

Our team rider Blake Olsen opted for the Switchblade this year. In that time, he's been progressing his kiteloops like crazy. So yes, its not the best looping kite but it is a good all around kite so it works quite well in this discipline as well.

The reality is not everyone wants an aggressive kite like the FX. Many riders simply want something they can do smooth kiteloop based tricks with or transitions. To that end, the Switchblade fits the bill and then some.

Blake Olsen throwing a smooth kiteloop Front Roll 

Surf

Like loops, the Switchblade is a solid choice but the Drifter is better.

It’s not a dedicated kitesurfing kite yet there are some advantages. Thanks to it’s upwind drive, kiteboarders who are new to wave riding will have an easier time riding upwind. Especially on those side shore days where it’s easy to get down winded after a few good waves. The kite is not as fast as the Moto or the Drifter. so you do need to steer the Switchblade a little preemptively before making a turn on the wave. This is good practice regardless.

Yep, the Switchblade is a great choice for the waves too. 

A little tip, for advanced riders is to size down your switchblade for a more surflike experience. If you ride with ample power, sometimes the power of the kite will pull you off the wave. It’s great when jumping or getting upwind but that grunt is the small trade off in the waves. Sizing down is an easy way to correct this.

Unhooked wakestyle

If you’ve been kiting long enough to care about unhooking. There is a good chance you know the FX is the often the favorite tool of choice. That said, the versatile Switchblade gets the job done.

The are some tradeoffs in this discipline. All the attributes that make the Switchblade easy contradict unhooked performance. Smooth sent jumps and big air and grunt. You give up the up the explosive pop, and slack. The Switchblade has tons of pop but it’s a smooth pop and it’s not made to slack. It has a strong forward pull. This is why the kite is so lofty and rides upwind so well.

Lately I've been sizing down two meters to take some of the grunt out of the kite. Thus far, it's worked amazing. You can sine the kite to build speed to generate the pop you need. Riding a smaller kite prevents the grunt from pulling the bar out of your hands. The low end of this kite never ceases to amaze me. Recently I've been using the 7m while everyone else is on 10's or 12s. I was on the 12 last week while another rider was on a 19. Granted, his aim was big air. I was "testing" the freestyle capabilities. By testing I mean, a friend offered his kite up and I didn't have to pump up a kite that day.

When it comes to unhooked moves, the sky's the limit. But it takes a little more strength to pull off advanced maneuvers. If your worried the kite will hold you back, fear not. While it doesn't have the same slack, it's a bit silly to think you cant progress your unhooked riding. Yes, freestyle kites will perform better but don't discount the Switchblade

In summary

So there you have it, the Switchblade is one of the most user friendly kites out there. It actually does every discipline on a high level. It has a massive wind range, superior upwind ability, and smooth effortless jumping.

The attributes that make it so user friendly contradict some niche characteristics. That said, it's not a deal breaker for riders going after a very specific niche. You can almost always size down in the waves or for unhooking and you'll be quite surprised! It's almost like having a different kite. 

Ready to ride?

Learn more about the Switchblade!

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Just a dude from a kite shop testing all the gear one session at a time.

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. About eight years into a postal career, he decided to change everything and travel as a freelance videographer & writer. This took him from coast to coast and a variety of countries. Nowadays you can catch him on the phones, doing lessons, or working on videos. Of course, he still makes a point to travel as often as possible. His mission is to help people and share the stoke with his customers and students alike. Get out there and kiteboard.

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Producer of: Ride with Blake I Sessions I Versus I Destinations I Foil Fridays