I'm thinking about replacing my Rev 13m with a 2012 Cabrinha Switchblade and was wondering if the Switchblade offers similar characteristics. This is the "bread and butter" size kite for my locale which is inland lake with chop and rollers (even in light wind). My riding style is surfboard orientated. I also will throw on a TT and launch some basic airs with long hang time, no tricks or wake style though.

What I like about my Rev is it's big depower and smooth, quick response, good relaunch. I know a 14m will be a little slower but what are the main characteristics of this kite? I'm open to other kites as well. For example I like the Ozone Instinct and ride the 17m Zephyr for super light wind...

The difference is that the switchblade feels very heavy and slow in the air. It does turn somewhat quick once it actually starts turning, but it has a very spongy, slow feel when you move the bar. I'd replace it with the 12m unless you're overweight, I am powered on the 12 in like 10 knots. Anything bigger than that and I just get overpowered sooner, I don't get any extra power since the kite is kind of heavy to begin with - for example a 14m won't fly sooner than a 12m, you'll just have slightly more power.

I've only had a few surf sessions on mine and the drift is not the best but it is still pretty good. surfing in the waves with a twintip is fine because you need to move the kite to keep a bit of power anyway so for that it was fine for me.

Boosting is pretty big and somewhat brainless, just send the kite above you and sheet in. Glides for a while because it's so flat.

I'm not happy with the unhooked performance but that's mostly preference... I don't like to spend all day trimming and don't enjoy the freight train downwind pull that it gives.

Overall it is a solid kite if you're into freeride and jumping with some wave riding. There are better kites for each of those things individually but for a little of everything it is pretty good.

If you end up wanting a used 12m I am selling both my 12m and 9m 2012s.

Dyyylan - curious what kites in the 12m range you would recommend? Have you flown anything you like as an all around kite - boosting with good drift? I am in the market for a 12m. I have a switch 8 and 10 which I love the boosting. I just want something different with lighter bar pressure and decent drift. Been reading about the North Rebel, Fuse and Evo. Also been reading about the SS Rally. Any experience with those? I live in Florida as well (Tampa)

Sorry to hijack the thread! Just curious!

Thx -

Tony

Of those I've only flown the rebel 10m and 12m rally, they are both pretty straightforward simple kites.

I would definitely recommend the switchblade for an all around kite, really the only downside for freeride is that it has quite a bit of bar pressure for a bridled kite (still not as much as c kites that ive flown). It's fine once you get used to it, but can be fatiguing for long sessions especially if you ride every day. but it boosts well, drifts ok and is just really simple to use, sheet and go

other than that, I'm personally going back to liquid force envys, the only real thing they lacked in was boosting, which they improved in the 2012s a bit, but still not as much as others. for me its a perfect kite, it's sort of made for waves, so it drifts great, and it's one of the best bridled kites for unhooking. very fast and light and responsive.

i would say the rally also has these qualities, but it sits more forward in the window and is a little flatter, so it jumps better and goes upwind better, but doesn't unhook and pop as well as the envy does

+1 for the LF Envy kites.
I flew the SS Rev's, Octane's (2010 version) and the Rally's and loved them all. I have now switched to the LF Envy's as I like them much better.
No experience with the SB, but I've heard the bar pressure is a lot higher than the SS & LF kites. My buddy just ordered the SB in a 10m, so I'll try it out and post back my thoughts.

Thanks for the replies. I have a 10 switch and like it a lot. I just know the bar pressure on a 12 switch is gonna be higher than the 10 and looking to get away from that. The rally may be the kite for me.