Sizes Available: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m
Sizes Tested: 7, 9, 12m
Cabrinha Says:
For a rider who wants unrivaled predictability, unmatched versatility and uncompromising high end performance and quality. Whether you’re boosting big air, throwing down technical tricks, or simply out for a fun session on your own terms, the SB provides the ultimate kiting experience.
The Cabrinha Switchblade once again proves why it is the world’s most loved kite. With Nick Jacobsen’s recent King of the Air title, his world record Woo jump of 28 meters, and his mind bending jump from the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai (a height of 210 meters), it’s clear that the Switchblade’s performance is legendary.
But what the competition hasn’t been able to replicate is the Switchblade’s unrivaled combination of high performance and ease of use.
Whether you are working on your freestyle game or testing your limits of getting incredible air, the Switchblade will deliver with a class of predictability and reliability that cannot be found anywhere else.
Visit for more info: www.cabrinhakites.com/collections/kites/products/switchblade
Our Testers Say:
“Easy to keep flying with subtle input and doesn’t backstall even in a wind shadow. Liked the good size knots for securely fastening larks head during rigging. Great for everyone and capable of flying in light winds with some punch without ever getting grumpy.” // Rhonda Reyna
“Great control, smooth throughout its range with nice boosting. While it isn’t an aggressive kite, its great for freeriding and I loved the hangtime. Loved the clean bar design and the construction is solid in all respsects.“ // Kurt Althen
“Strong solid kite with just the right amount of grunt yet still playful. It’s predictable, sturdy and delivers great boost making it a solid all-around option for the one kite quiver. The build quality will keep everyone happy.” // Tom Turley
TKB Says:
The Switchblade is Cabrinha’s formula for a high boosting big air machine that doubles as a user-friendly freeride kite for all levels. The Switchblade is a 5-strut medium aspect kite with a stretched out leading edge arc that is still referred to by Cabrinha as a ‘bow’ design and features a large diameter bayonet style inflation valve that requires no nozzle on the end of your standard pump hose for a quick and easy pump up. The Switchblade offers two settings on the wingtip to toggle between lighter steering impulse and length of depower travel. It has a single setting front bridle that utilizes one pulley to change the angle of attack. The Switchblade features medium plus bar pressure that gives good feedback on kite performance along with progressive yet grunty power delivery. Testers found the power delivery to be in a shorter length of throw and highlighted the Switchblade’s sheet in and go pull that makes it easier for entry level kiters. While the turning response is quick, compared to the FX, the steering has a little bit of acceleration/windup and the steering path is more of a pivot style tighter turning arc. The Switchblade balances its solid grunty powerful feel with good upwind ability and when it comes to boosting big air the Switchblade tends to build explosive lift when properly loaded and released while the hangtime is also quite notable. The relaunch on the Switchblade is pretty much automatic from the depth of the wind window. Give the bar a yank on one side and the canopy rotates and releases from the water. The Switchblade does a great job of blending the explosive boosting freestyle kite with well-mannered user-friendly handling that keeps this big air machine well within the province of a general freeride option for kiters of all levels.
This year we tested the FX with both the 1X with Trimlite (non-adjustable bar ends with above the bar cleat) and the Overdrive 1X with Trimlite ( on-the-fly adjustable bar ends with above the bar cleat).
The Overdrive 1X with Trim Lite is a dual adjustable length bar (48cm/56cm) that riders can adjust on the water while riding. This bar features a streamlined single center-line safety depower system, low V, and a fixed length PU-coated sheeting/throw line which combines above the bar tuning via a cam cleat. While you can get this bar with Cabrinha’s above the bar tuning strap (Recoil) with extension handles, the Trimlite cleat system is better suited to those riders that prefer a simpler bar layout. The center lines end in a knot and the outside lines end in loops and the bar ends are padded for those chaotic wipeouts. The floats are integrated and fairly unobstrustive and while the bar bungees are not retractable they do have a groove that you can stow them in while riding to keep them from flapping about. Testers commented on the 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip. The stainless insert slides effortlessly over the PU-coated throwline for a friction-free sheeting feel. Last year the Overdrive came in two different sizes but this year the Overdrive comes only in the 45/56cm, which makes sense because you might as well get the fixed 60cm option for your light wind big kite control option.
We were also given the 1X with Trim Lite which 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 (the alternative power control 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. Testers commented on the 1X’s slightly thicker grip diameter and liked the rubber texture of the hand grip. Smaller bar ends compared to the adjustable Overdrive system makes this bar a bit lighter and cleaner in your hands.
Visit for more info on the bar: https://www.cabrinhakites.com/collections/bars
