Sizes Available: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m
High Wind Test Sizes: 5, 7m
Cabrinha Says:
The Switchblade is back, with over 12 years of design and composition refinements. This kite is for the discerning rider who values unrivaled craftsmanship, predictability, style, power and uncompromising high end performance. With five struts, a hybrid design, fusion wing tip shape and a draft forward profile, it unapologetically creates the ultimate kiting experience.
The Switchblade sits at the heart of our kite range and has redefined the notion of what a single kite can achieve. The five strut design has distinct segments that hold the canopy true to its intended shape, increasing the kite’s performance regardless of the wind conditions or angle of attack. The wide ranges of attack angles give the SB the incredibly powerful, predictable pull that it is famous for.
Visit for more info: www.cabrinhakites.com/kite/switchblade.html
TKB Says:
The Cabrinha Switchblade is a super fun and lively 5-strut SLE kite that remains user-friendly and predictable in the blistering high winds of Waddell Creek. As a medium aspect canopy with swept back wingtips the Switchblade features a single setting front bridle with one pulley and two wingtip settings that adjust between direct/lighter steering impulse and longer/shorter depower travel. The pigtails are color-coded; the three settings on the wingtip pigtails are labeled and the front bridle pigtails end in loops and the wingtip pigtails have knots. With a large diameter Boston valve that requires the larger nozzle of the standard pump attachments, the Switchblade in these sizes are a refreshingly quick pump up. The power delivery and sheeting have a very progressive feel while in the smaller sizes the Switchblade has a good deal of range and is not sensitive to oversheeting in the least. Our testing session on the 7m started overpowered and proceeded past sunset with fading wind, yet the Switchblade’s quick and nimble turning worked in the lulls to keep the kite powered up through the holes. The kite has medium plus bar pressure which is a little more than average, but arguably just the right amount to deliver kite awareness. The smaller sizes of the Switchblade didn’t have that twitch-ball speed across the window you can get with smaller kites, but when it comes to moving your kite through down the line rotations in on-shore surf the Switchblade is certainly no slouch. With a semi-pivot style steering arc the Switchblade features a really crisp steering response with a turning speed that accelerates through the turn the longer you pull on the bar. The relaunch on the Switchblade was user-friendly and easy, the kite rolled up off its nose and the wingtips cleared water fairly well for a quick turnaround (we dropped it in the waves after some botched freestyle). The Switchblade has a stable feel; flying fairly forward in the window it feels both efficient upwind and delivers an intense pull for big boosting airs, while its not too shabby in the hangtime department for a smaller kite either. The team found the Switchblade worked extremely well across the surf, freestyle and all around freeride disciplines in the high wind category.
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 (another option to Cabrinha’s Recoil system). 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.
The quick release is a slick piece of hardware with a push away handle that sticks in the open position until you place the open loop back into place at which point you can slip the handle to close, making for a very easy reset. The team commented on the 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip.
Visit for more info on the bar: www.cabrinhakites.com/controlsystems/overview.html
