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The North Neo Vs the Cabrinha Drifter. Both of these kites are kitesurfing kites in the same vein. On paper, they don’t look that much different but once you get on them water it’s clear that they are very different kites. If I were to define each in a paragraph, I would describe the Neo as controlled, powerful and constant. The Drifter, I would say playful, well-rounded and aggressive. When it comes to deciding which one is for you, it really comes down to what sort of feel you&rsq …

The top two performance freeride kites in the world. How do they stack up?  A little history. The last decade and a half, kiteboarding culture has come into its own. In the formative years, we had legends like Pete Cabrinha, Robby Naish, Lou Wainman defining the sport, and the list goes on and on. Most kiteboarders lived in Hawaii and other tropical locations. At first, the sport wasn't accessible to everyone. The gear wasn't safe or efficient - albeit, it was fun if you had the fortitu …

2018 Cabrinha Contra Overview Hey guys what’s going on today? It’s Nathan from MACkite and today we’re going to be discussing the new 2018 Cabrinha Contra. The Contra was originally designed as a lightwind kite. A few years ago Cabrinha decided to expand it into smaller sizes. Despite this, the Contra is still available all the way up to 19m. The Contra is known as an extremely lightwind kite, or a lightwind kite that can be used by someone a little heavier. High Tenacity Dacr …

2018 Cabrinha Switchblade Overview The 2018 Switchblade remains the kite we know and love, with a few new updates. Today I’m going to be discussing with you the new 2018 Cabrinha Switchblade. The Switchblade has been a staple in our lineup for years. It’s always been one of our most popular kites, and for good reason. It’s an easy beginner kite. You can pick it up and go right away. It’s something that will take you from your early kiting stages to winning Red Bull King …

2018 Cabrinha Drifter Overview In 2018 the drifter gets a make over. Slash the waves, ride the magic carpet or enter into advanced freeride.  Today we're going to be discussing the all-new 2018 Cabrinha Drifter. Now all new and for good reason, the Drifter has been redesigned for 2018. It's the first time it's been redesigned since its inception in 2012.  So whats up with the Drifter this year?  The Drifter has always been an exceptional surf kite, obviously g …

Pete and the Cabrinha team have done it again for 2018! Of course, you’ll have to wait until early next week to see the full monty. In the meantime, queue up this official 2018 Teaser from Cabrinha Kitesurfing and peep the goods now! …

Frances Osorio Rivera is many things. In the mosh-pit of life, she’s one of those people right smack dab in the middle of it. Screaming, yelling, laughing her ass off—and making sure you do too. She will not take one ounce of crap from anyone. Ever. And I would advise against crossing her—she’ll cut ya. Ha! Only kidding. Mostly. Frances is positive and determined. When you first meet her, you can see a depth in her eyes that suggest she can do absolutely whatever she put …

In his first episode of "How Tues", Tucker goes over the Cabrinha Overdrive Adjustable Control Bar with Recoil and Fireball. Wow, that's a mouth full. Fortunately the bar is easier to use than it is to pronounce. Cabrinha kiteboarding has quite a few bar offerings and for some, particularly new riders it can be a little daunting. Fear not, it's actually easier than you think. In this video Tucker breaks down how simple all the Cabrinha Control Bars are to operate.  Let's start with the Ca …

Cabrinha Contra vs. North Juice The last few years, light wind kites have seen some very real improvement. Gone are the days where companies simply take their 12 meter kites and blow them up to slow, clunky 17m or 18m kites. All modern light wind kites are designed specifically for the demands of light wind and fly surprisingly nimbly and easily for their large size. North and Cabrinha have built a serious reputation over the years and established themselves as leaders of the industry. Let's s …

One kiter’s pilgrimage to Hood River and what she learned along the way. Kallie and her husband Andrew exploring the hood A few years back, my husband Andrew and I were traveling through Colorado. It was late on the Fourth of July, and we found ourselves driving from campground to campground only to hear, “Sorry, we’re full.” We finally found an RV park after ten P.M. where an awkward teenage host said we could pitch a tent, but with a warning: “Just make sure you …

The Switchblade vs The Rebel  The aim of this video series is to remain as objective as possible.That being said, we made sure to get opinions from our entire crew. Rygo and Lucas collaborated to communicate the group consensus to you, and you can expect more videos to come soon. So, you're debating between the Cabrinha Switchblade kiteboarding kite and the North Rebel. Not an easy choice, but this should give you plenty of insight when making your decision. Both of these kites have been a …

As winter approaches, we're all in need of a little warmer weather. Cabrinha's crew heads to Indonesia in their most recent kitesurfing video, encountering difficulties from rain to no wind to everything in between. Despite the setbacks, the waves and the culture provide plenty of entertainment for the kiters.  Indonesia is famed for its deep-ocean swells, creating beautiful conditions for kitesurfing even when the wind is kicking. However, there's no real way to tell when the wind is comi …

Pros, Bros, and a Solid Show Not long ago, Cabrinha hosted an event that once catered to only amateur riders. Now, Cabrinha has decided to include the pros. We thought we'd reminisce on the good times and awesome kiting. Located in Stevenson, Washington, this event gathered together some of the best kiteboarders in the world, where they put on a show unlike any other. Men and women alike came out to show off what they’ve got. “Stevenson’s Bridge of the Gods” is truly t …

Let's Chat: 2016 Cabrinha FX The Cabrinha FX is a kite that we're super stoked about, and that's because it fits the bill as a great freeride/freestyle kite. To us, the FX positions itself in between the competition C-kite Cabrinha Chaos and the all-time favorite Cabrinha Switchblade freeride kite.  Order your 2016 Cabrinha FX Today! The blend allows you to have a great all-around kite with a nice wind range as well as have enough freestyle performance to progress to an advanced skill. W …

The head honcho himself took the new 2017 Cabrinha Fireball system for a spin the other day and has deigned to pass along his insight. I first flew a Wipika 2-line 5 meter kite back in October of 1999. Over the years, kiteboarding gear keeps improving by leaps and bounds, but there have been very few moments when I have seen a new system or product that I feel will really change a complete segment of gear. The Crossbow / Switchblade release in 2006 was definitely one of those moments. Slingshot …