Had another kind of disappointing session with my Cabrinha today, until the wind got over 15 knots. I mean, I can stay upwind, barely, on my 145/43 in 12 knots, but it's not very fun. The kite is not a bad kite, it's very stable, has never hindenburged on me, and when the wind gets up there, it is a blast. It just can't scrape the bottom of the barrel for wind range. If I dip it past 2 o clock in the side of the wind window in 8-10 knots, it will go all the way down, regardless of my input. If I haul on the top line, it will turn nose up and backstall. If it hits the water, the session is done. There is no relaunch in light wind, period. What constitutes a good versus bad session with this kite, is a matter of 3 knots. At 12, i can barely stay upwind. At 15 knots, I can stay upwind and do a few jumps and have fun. Aerial transitions won't happen, because the kite can't turn fast enough to dip it low at the height of the jump. At 18 knots, I can carve upwind like a maniac, get some pretty big and floaty jumps, and do aerial transitions just because the kite hauls me in the new direction without me having to apply any technique, but it's just a brute force thing. I can barely hold it down at 20-22, but the jumps are insane, and I always finish that session with a big smile on my face. In short, 15-20 is the range of enjoyable wind on it.I don't know how much you weigh...what boards you use...or how good you are at LW (experience)
In any case....give yourself at least 9 knots to do anything other than mow the lawn+ stay upwind
To jump...you will need about 12 knots it seems.... based on your Cabrinha performance chart
Here you miss the point. I'm not blindly throwing my money and allegience to something that I have not tested for myself. I have seen what I believe is plenty of solid video evidence showing Dimitri kiting absolutely rediculous conditions. I have seen the way the kite handles in these conditions. I won't cry foul on the videos, and try to come up with reasons why they are impossible, when I haven't tried the gear.Get the whole package Oxygen V2 TT + KITE.....go all the way...do not wait...do it..NOW
No need to demo his kite before you buy...it is only MONEY...life IS short..why wait to be happy?
Stop looking at "your" options.......and DO something
That's what I think about my XB 16 but I bet I weigh a bunch more than you. You might want to check the tune of your lines... what year is it?Flight Time wrote:Had another kind of disappointing session with my Cabrinha today, until the wind got over 15 knots. I mean, I can stay upwind, barely, on my 145/43 in 12 knots, but it's not very fun. The kite is not a bad kite, it's very stable, has never hindenburged on me, and when the wind gets up there, it is a blast. It just can't scrape the bottom of the barrel for wind range. If I dip it past 2 o clock in the side of the wind window in 8-10 knots, it will go all the way down, regardless of my input. If I haul on the top line, it will turn nose up and backstall. If it hits the water, the session is done. There is no relaunch in light wind, period. What constitutes a good versus bad session with this kite, is a matter of 3 knots. At 12, i can barely stay upwind. At 15 knots, I can stay upwind and do a few jumps and have fun. Aerial transitions won't happen, because the kite can't turn fast enough to dip it low at the height of the jump. At 18 knots, I can carve upwind like a maniac, get some pretty big and floaty jumps, and do aerial transitions just because the kite hauls me in the new direction without me having to apply any technique, but it's just a brute force thing. I can barely hold it down at 20-22, but the jumps are insane, and I always finish that session with a big smile on my face. In short, 15-20 is the range of enjoyable wind on it.
It's a 2011, and I weight about 190 in a soaked long wetsuit. I have been in and out of tuning the lines and such. I use the setting B on the wingtips, because the A position, while making the kite marginally faster in turns, tends to make it backstall in light wind. Neither wingtip position setting will make the kite fast enough to really do any type of aerial transition or loop.That's what I think about my XB 16 but I bet I weigh a bunch more than you. You might want to check the tune of your lines... what year is it?
I've got a 2011 as well...Flight Time wrote:It's a 2011, and I weight about 190 in a soaked long wetsuit. I have been in and out of tuning the lines and such. I use the setting B on the wingtips, because the A position, while making the kite marginally faster in turns, tends to make it backstall in light wind. Neither wingtip position setting will make the kite fast enough to really do any type of aerial transition or loop.That's what I think about my XB 16 but I bet I weigh a bunch more than you. You might want to check the tune of your lines... what year is it?
I personally think a big part of what limits the speed in general of the SB or the XB is the massive leading edge. It's huge, and probably causes quite a bit of air resistance, which could kind of limit the forward speed of either kite, in my opinion. Not only that, but the bigger the leading edge, the more bladder and material, the heavier the kite.
The leading edge of the Infinity is quite a bit thinner, and the struts are as well. The struts are also tapered at the ends, which streamlines them, and likely shaves a bit more weight.
Hello Mr.ladomi,Hi Dimitri,
Could you squeeze out more low end by actually using a sup in the waves? Similar to what supsailors are doing.
The board is a Cabrinha Rival. I agree that having a board designed for light wind would probably get me an extra knot or two, but this already serves as my giant door board. If I get another board, it will be a smaller one. Another board after that might be a directional board if I could wrap my mind around tacking. After those I would consider revisiting my door board options.SupaEZ wrote:Hello Flight time...so about 190lbs and TT 145X43
Your report is accurate...for 2011 16M Switchblade....12 knots..to break even staying upwind..
...but no fun yet...just work and frustration.....but it is NOT your fault
Not knowing the model of TT...it's rocker...width at the tips..and just by it's dimensions......
....i can tell you this is NOT a TT optimized for LW performance....11-10-9-8 knots of wind speed
Take for example Dimitri's LW TT....only 135 long but 47 "wide"(most important measurement IMO)
Made to squeeze everything out of LW...with flat rocker...wide tips...etc...etc...
Your kite may not be that bad but the board you have is surely more responsible for lack of LW fun
With a proper board and your kite you could drop to 10.5 knots low end staying upwind
With Dimitri's kite....9kn to 9.5 knots...staying to going upwind EZ (and less wind if very LW savvy)
Many times having the wrong combination of board+kite is what holds most people back in LW
I thought you said you had a Crossbow--Switchblade is less flat than the Crossbow (XB) so no, you won't get the low end love... it IS a faster kite though so you should be able to throw it around well. Got a buddy who prefers the SB to the XB in light winds for that reason...Flight Time wrote:The board is a Cabrinha Rival...
Besides, considering that the switchblade...
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