A password will be e-mailed to you.

Sizes Available: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14m
Sizes Tested: 7, 9, 12m

Cabrinha Says:

Exploding on to the scene in 2016 the FX catapulted to the top of the freestyle crossover market. The highly responsive platform gives you power for explosive pop, and the perfect amount of boost for huge lofty airs. The modified C shape arc allows you to throw aggressive kiteloops, with the ability for the kite to hit the apex before transitioning into a soft landing. The pulley-less bridle is short and tight, increasing reactivity and user feedback. Its lightning fast turning speed, direct steering, and quick relaunch make it perfect for intermediate to highly advanced riders. The FX kite effortlessly bridges the gap between freestyle and freeride to create the perfect crossover kite.

Visit for more info: www.cabrinhakites.com/kite/fx.html

Our Testers Say:

“Perfect for any rider who wants to boost into orbit and loves a kite that flies smoothly with a direct feel.” // Jabe Harpole.

“Clean and crisp handling.” // Rob Shea.

“My favorite type of kite: Fast with light bar pressure and consistent and predictable jumping and turning abilities.” // Jon Dixon.

Meet Our Testers
tkb-freeride-2017-cabrinha-fx-4088

TKB Says:

The 2017 FX is a 3-strut low to medium C-shaped SLE kite that Cabrinha markets as a great crossover between hooked and unhooked freestyle, surf and general freeride. The FX uses a large diameter bayonet style inflation valve that requires no nozzle on the end of your pump hose for a quick and easy pump up. There’s two wingtip steering settings to choose between shorter depower/direct steering and long depower stroke/light steering impulse and the front bridle is a single setting fixed bridle with no pulleys. The FX’s wingtips give it a direct steering response with very comfortable bar pressure that feels slightly lighter than the Switchblade. It’s fast in the air and has very smooth power progression along its sheeting/throw. Testers gave the FX high marks for its impressive boosting power and good hangtime. Compared to the Switchblade, when unhooking, the FX is a little more forgiving and seems to provide more slack on unsent load and pops. Testers recommend this kite as a high performance freeride kite that can easily crossover into unhooked riding with nimble steering response that works in the surf.

For this year’s test Cabrinha sent us three options each outfitted with the Fireball system: 1) Overdrive 1X with Recoil (Adjustable bar ends with spring/tuning strap) 2) Overdrive 1X with Trim Lite (Adjustable bar ends with cam cleat tuning) and 3) 1X with Trim Lite.

TKB-FREERIDE-2017-CABRINHA-BAR-2897

The Fireball system offers a proprietary ball and socket connection between the control bar and your harness. Most testers chose to use the supplied NP harnesses with the Fireball spreader bar attached. The Fireball brings the pivot point between harness and kite closer to your body which tended to reduce the spreader bar from ratcheting upward into your ribs and reduced the harness’ propensity to rotate. Some testers praised the Fireball for keeping the throw close to the body and for making back-rolls and toeside riding easier and more comfortable. The Fireball is a fairly clean push away quick release with a below the bar hand swivel that doubles as a release guard. The quick release handle has a notch similar to last year’s that locks the handle in the open position for an easier reset in the water. While some testers were indifferent or resistant to adopting a new harness system, the one very clear advantage of the Fireball is doing away with the traditional chicken loop and donkey dick system and it’s potential to create a false or “foul hooked” situation in which the bar becomes unhooked seconds after launch or midway through a session. If you’ve ever seen a beginner negotiate the perils of a foul hooked situation on a rock studded beach, then you’d know that the safety feature of the Fireball sells itself.

TKB-FREERIDE-2017-CABRINHA-RECOIL-4472

The Overdrive 1X with Recoil is a dual adjustable length bar (48cm/56cm or 57cm/65cm) that riders can adjust on the water. The Recoil features a streamlined single center-line safety depower system, low V, and a fixed length durable plastic sheeting/throw line which combines above the bar tuning with longer travel throw while keeping controls well within the rider’s reach by using extension handles. The plastic depower/throw line doesn’t include an adjustable stopper but the spring loaded controls act to keep the bar within reach when let go. The center lines end in a knot and the outside lines end in loops. Testers commented on the Overdrive 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip.

TKB-FREERIDE-2017-CABRINHA-BAR-2893

The Overdrive 1X with Trim Lite is a dual adjustable length bar (48cm/56cm or 57cm/65cm) that riders can adjust on the water. This bar features a streamlined single center-line safety depower system, low V, and a fixed length durable plastic sheeting/throw line which combines above the bar tuning via a cam cleat. This is likely Cabrinha’s answer to those riders that prefer a simpler bar layout than the spring/tuning strap (Recoil version). The center lines end in a knot and the outside lines end in loops. Testers commented on the 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip.

TKB-FREERIDE-2017-CABRINHA-BAR-2908

The 1X with Trim Lite is a fixed length bar (44cm, 52cm and 60cm) that features a streamlined single center-line safety depower system, low V, and a fixed length durable plastic sheeting/throw line which combines above the bar tuning via a cam cleat. This is likely Cabrinha’s answer to those riders that prefer a simpler bar layout than the spring/tuning strap (Recoil version). The center lines end in a knot and the outside lines end in loops. Compared to the adjustable bar ends of the Overdrive, the 1X with Trim Lite is overall lighter and requires smaller floats. Testers commented on the 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip. Cabrinha also offers this bar’s adjustable length bar ends (Overdrive) with the Trim Lite simplified cam cleat tuning system instead of the spring/tuning strap/extensions of the Recoil tuning system.

Visit for more info on the bar: www.cabrinhakites.com/controlsystems/overview.html