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Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:26 am
by Imba
Hello Toby & the rest of the community!

Short profile:
I was kititng on Boracay for 3 months. But in the end i was kinda menthaly "stuck" Because i WANTED to kite, but i waesnt interested in course-race & i didnt like the idea of "wake-style". First of all i dont like it at all, secondly - im kinda parranoid about the amount of people who practice their "wake-style" rotations jumps here on Boracay and who in the end just broke their legs\bones during the another "jump-rotate-fall-on-water-with-only-one-leg-inside-the-pad" session...

But happily i met Toby on the Bulabog and from that day on i realize where i want to "move" with my kiting future progression. :-)
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Questions:

1. KITE.
Right now i practice on my 14m 2010 Cabrinha SwitchBlade. Well, i got nothing bigger so far. But, i have an option to get (absolutely for free!) a barely-used kite "2012 Cabrinha X-Bow 16m" (with the bar).

Or, on the other hand i can try to _buy_ some kinda of "more apropriate" 16-18m kite for a AirStyle progression. So, what do you guys thinks of 16m X-Bow? Is it a good kite for early-level AirStyle practicing? I really like the idea that i get that kite for free (from my father, since he just buy himself a whole line of 2014 kites).

But, maybe i dont know something? Maybe the X-Bow is the "worst kite for AirStyle on Earth"?
Well, in that case i probably need to buy myself another kite?
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2. Micro Loop Bar.
As i understand, a lot of tricks are nearly to impossible to make without one. Okay.
But Cabrinha bars doesn't have one.... and here comes the question:

- If i want to practice AirStyle jumps\tricks (but right now im on the newbie-level) is it better for me to have (buy?) a North bar right from the beginning (now) and use it with Cabrinha 4-line kites?

Or the ML bar is not very necessary until the real mid-level jumps\tricks?

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:01 am
by Kamikuza
Take the 16m XB. I've got one, same year. It's not fast, but it's fast enough for what you want to do now. You'll get sick of its sluggishness after a while though, and now I'm loving the whip-aroundability of my Ocean Rodeo Flite 17.5...

With the Cab IDS you can just let go the bar, splash down and not worry about the kite hauling you around.

The air is ok and the hang-time is good, bottom end is not bad.

I'd go for a stopper over a ML... the stopper on my Ocean Rodeo bar can still be pushed away from you if you want. I'm no expert though.

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:14 am
by Imba
Kamikuza wrote:You'll get sick of its sluggishness after a while though, and now I'm loving the whip-aroundability of my Ocean Rodeo Flite 17.5...


Errm..... "sluggishness" what? Can you re-phrase this? ))))

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:48 am
by Toby
Happy to hear you got inspired by my riding!
Kamikuza wrote:I'd go for a stopper over a ML... the stopper on my Ocean Rodeo bar can still be pushed away from you if you want. I'm no expert though.
Using a stopper is "ok". But a ML is much better! Much faster and easier in and out. You will jump higher with the ML since the pulling part of the bar will be different.
In numbers I would say out of my 666 tricks it would be 100-150 tricks less with stopper...

I don't know the XBow, but normally it is the jumping kite from Cab.
I don't think you will regret it!
I also wonder what this sluggishness means? I assume sending the kite back?
A fast turning kite is not good for Airstyle...slow is good, but there is also too slow, since you need to pull the kite to have it in front for landings...and also to loop for Slides and Jesus Walks.

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:28 pm
by Kamikuza
Toby wrote:Happy to hear you got inspired by my riding!
Kamikuza wrote:I'd go for a stopper over a ML... the stopper on my Ocean Rodeo bar can still be pushed away from you if you want. I'm no expert though.
Using a stopper is "ok". But a ML is much better! Much faster and easier in and out. You will jump higher with the ML since the pulling part of the bar will be different.
In numbers I would say out of my 666 tricks it would be 100-150 tricks less with stopper...

I don't know the XBow, but normally it is the jumping kite from Cab.
I don't think you will regret it!
I also wonder what this sluggishness means? I assume sending the kite back?
A fast turning kite is not good for Airstyle...slow is good, but there is also too slow, since you need to pull the kite to have it in front for landings...and also to loop for Slides and Jesus Walks.
Easier for a beginner? The thought of being locked into a ML gives me the heebie-jeebies...

XB is a high AR kite with 6 pulleys... it doesn't get around a loop in a hurry at all! Turning circle is large, reaction to steering input is - sluggish :)

For me, they were great to learn on because they're stable and predictable and not aggressive. Now, though, I find them a bit boring.

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:47 pm
by Toby
well, any kiter should learn as first thing to know how to release and train it daily...
Launch securely, keep distance (watch the safety tips on the Airstyle DVD, the most important info is explained there.

then the rest is no problem.

If you hook in a ML close to shore with gusty onshore winds you are doing something wrong...

I used stoppers which can move up...not good for high level riders.
But to begin with might work. Still, with progression you will need a ML, if then still available on the market...

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:17 pm
by Toby
and remember...the ML from North can be rotated...and has a stopper. So one can have both, and use any according to conditions.

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:48 pm
by Imba
Okay. New episode of the season ;-)

I just went onto Hangin kite-center and they sell 2012 North bars (with 2-holes for the ML) for just about 150 USD (which is not much i guess). The bars looks "very used" (but who cares.

Plus, i find a lot of places on the internet where i can order "ML uprade kit" for 10-15 Euro.
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BUT, here comes the problem...

These NORTH bars - are designed for North REBEL\VEGAS... and those are 5th line kites.
And i have 4-line Swithblade (and will probably have 4-line X-Bow)...
Is there any kind of easy play-arond that setup?

Can i use NORTH bars (for having a ML) with my 40lines kites?
Any clues? Ideas? Experience for modification?

Im kinda not-so-well experienced. But isnt a BAR is just a bar? Cant i use 4lines with "suppose-to-5-line-kite" bar?



PS: Toby, if you didnt recognize me on the forum.
My name is Daniel (we meet a few times on Bullabog :-). Im the bold guys who asked you a tons of question about straps, board & bar settup (whenever its "default one or modified").

:-)

Re: Newbie questions: Cabrinha X-Bow 16m + ML bar?

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:58 pm
by Toby
Ah, it is you Daniel!

It should work! You just need the plan bar and the chickenloop and iron heart.
The rest can be Cab.

Best is to ask someone at hangin if they can setup the bar for you the way you want it...gibe them some extra, and done.