anyone have experience with one of these kites? looking to get a bigger kite, i have a 8m kite the same model but 2009 at the moment so fairly similar.

Stretchywon,
The 2008 SB3 is a great kite. It has great low end power, direct feel, easy water relaunch, great upwind... and very well built. The safety system on the SB3 is slightly different than that on the 2009 and 2010 Cabrinhas SBs.

Great kite, ive had one for two seasons. The depower strap broke in the first year and was replaced under warranty, apart from that no problems at all.

Its tough, easy to fly, relaunches well, great float, low end and depower.
My only complaint is that it does turn a little slow, most noticable when heavily depowered - this is in the range when you should probably be flying a smaller kite anyway and your only out because it depowers so well.

Safety system is only on to the two front lines unless you connect to a steering line off the bar.

Is the only kite i have. Tried several others to have a second one...still find is great, a bit slow, good depower, very reliable.

This is by far the worst kite i've ever flown. When we were starting kiting I told my friend to buy one because all the beginners said they're good. He did and it's awful - slow, pulls downwind heaps more than other kites, very heavy bar pressure, no below the bar safety. The only good things about it are very easy relaunch and it's powerful.

Get used to any other kite on the market and you will realise how awful these things are - especially the 12metre one!

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wishy said...

This is by far the worst kite i've ever flown. When we were starting kiting I told my friend to buy one because all the beginners said they're good. He did and it's awful - slow, pulls downwind heaps more than other kites, very heavy bar pressure, no below the bar safety. The only good things about it are very easy relaunch and it's powerful.

Get used to any other kite on the market and you will realise how awful these things are - especially the 12metre one!

Flown a lot of kites have you?

cant see how you can say the switchy is crap. they are great, slow yes.I am not a cab rider now, so not biased.

had one of these for a season a couple of years ago. As per most Cabrinha kites they are well built. Although they are a little slow in the turning speed, you can still kiteloop and downloop them.
The only problem that I have with the switchies is that you need to keep on the bar pressure pretty consistently, personal preference to have a solid stopper or shorter throw, not a stopper that slips on the switchies. When unhooked your pretty lit, in comparison to other kites when unhooked, but has a great windrange for a one kite quiver or for gusty conditions i.e. melville where you need to trim in and out.

Great bag system that you can leave the stuts inflated when ur packing up, if only Ozone could do the same.

I got one for sale, I was really happy with it...

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Kitesurfing/Kites/~rwqu7/2008-Cabrinha-Switchblade-3-12-metre.aspx?search=yxrOHND3sv4p1nNxkLdpJw%3d%3d

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wishy said...

pulls downwind heaps more than other kites

you mean upwind don't ya?