2012 Cabrinha Drifter Kiteboarding Kites

2012 Cabrinha Drifter Kiteboarding Kites

When the leading kiteboarding manufacture in the world releases a new kite it is big news! The new 2012 Drifter kite is a completely new three-strut kite design from Cabrinha!

In the break away sector of Kite Surfing, there is one kite which hides its technology behind its simplicity. The Drifter's minimal 3 strut design both hides and illuminates its brilliance. The three well placed struts keep the profile of the kite intact through constant angle of attack changes while reducing the weight.

This light weight but durable kite is dedicated to surf, yet it shines as a freestyle kite for wakeskating, skimboarding or flat water freestyle. While surfing hooked or unhooked the Drifter makes the most of its excellent slack line drift ability. Slack line drift is the kite's ability to stay aloft even when the lines are temporarily slackened by depowering.

The first thing that really stands out is the Drifter’s ability to generate smooth power, both in a straight line and in the turns, especially in the lighter to medium end of its wind range. The square wing tips and moderate delta design shape give fast, instantaneous turning, and the medium bar pressure provides excellent positional feedback. The tight canopy results in a flutterless and quiet flight and smooth feel on the bar, even during aggressive manoeuvres.

As always with Cabrinha kites that are designed to fly perfectly straight out of the bag.

Less jumping ability than the Switchblade.

Control bar: The new Quick Link offers some major changes on the Cabrinha bar for 2012, that have dramatically reduced the feeling of clutter near the main quick release. The new spinning leash connection, and the moving of the landing line quick release are the two well thought out design changes that make the new Quick Link control system more intuitive to use. The system also features on internal swivel for manually untwisting flying lines in unison with the landing line. The IDS provides for easy self landing without the kite spinning on one line making it unlike many other safety systems.

But the Drifter's main beauty lies in its simplicity. We've pushed the complicated technology into the background so that all you have to think about is how you're going to tear apart the next wave.