there's a retailer dumping unsold stock of cabrinha's new wave weapon. despite the hype, the kite has failed to take off in the market. why? is it just because it's a cabrinha, or is there something fundamentally wrong with the kite?
I really enjoyed the kite- had about 12 hours on it. For me I have one kite though and the windrange on the switchblade is bigger so I went for that- if people give it a chance I think they might like it.
The kite needs to be flown and ridden fast to get the most out of it but it unhooks beautifully in a fair bit of wind and trucks upwind as well.
MY CABRINHA NOMAD REVIEW
Colouring
Nice tree matching green and yellow colouring. Looks good.
Construction
First rate construction. Lines are easy to cut when you can't get your kite down from a tree.
Turning speed
Turns fast. Fast enough to get it stuck in a tree almost instantly from take off, even quicker if it's a low bush. Old kites flew slower into trees, this one is like a magnet to trees, especially for beginners.
Range
Range on the kite was massive. I could hit big trees and small trees.
Relaunch
A bit slow depending on the tree. Small bushes were quick but big trees were slow, even pulling both back lines. Relaunching from power lines were surprisingly quick but it seem to fly to one side repeatedly after that. Might have something to do with the lines being burned off one side but at least it loops well.
Conclusion
All in all, if you like trees, this is your kite. It hits trees like no other kite i've seen, with the exception of maybe other cabrinha kites which also hit trees very well. This might explain the fact that most people think cabrinha's grow on trees, but in reality, they're just attracted to them.
To finish off, if trees are bad publicity, then this is the Lara Bingle of kites
It looks like a good kite we have one guy on one in Whyalla and it looks like it does a good job. The reason i think they cant sell them is because it is to much of the same thing, they have 3 kites with verry little between them. They all excell at one dicipline better than the other but not enougth that unless you are ridding that style all the time that you would need to have a different kite.
I really think that cabrina should keep a good bow like the SB, and expand there range in to other areas, give the good freestyle riders a c kite or bridled c that they can use, a delta kite for surf etc. Having 3 bows at the moment just is to much. IMO.
I think that the real problem with the nomad will be in resale, if people didnt buy them to start with, and now they are selling them off cheap brand new, the guys that want to upgrade next year are going to be stuck with gear they cant sell or have to get rid of realy cheap. That will suck for them. But if you realy like the kite and are going to keep it for a couple of years now is definatly the time to buy.
Its a great kite, and I think waxman has hit the nail on th head. We have too much stock on hand and need to quit them so there are some excellent bargains to be had!
Basically I ordered too many. I had to place my order well before the GFC had hit, and I really liked the kite when I tested it in Fiji in June last year and based my ordering on that and the belief that kitesurfing in waves is the future for the majority of kiters that come from a surfing background.
I loved the Nomad, i was flying a 13 and a 11 for about a week and it was superb. Only issue is the low range making id a poor kite if a 1 kite quiver is what you are after. I think the biggest problem with the kite is as Waxman put it,,,, just too many overlaps. It is definitely the best kite in cabrinhas range for hardcore surf kiting and (unhooked) freestyle. But generally speaking thats a very small % of the kite market. If that is your style then definitely go get a ride on the Nomad because there are very good deals floating around at the moment.
I have a 13, 11, 9 & 7, I have been riding them for 7 months
and use a surfboard, best kites I've ever kited.
The turning response is magic on waves and I dont have any
problem with bottom end. You just have to kite them a little different
e.g dont lean back on the kite in big holes and just turn
the kite(which turns super quick).Very well constructed kite
with uncluttered bar and a great self landing system.
I don't see many retailers with too much F-one stock trying to get rid of it cheap 
getting sick of this brand bashing bullshirt ! if you don't wanna ride it f- off and ride something else but quit with the crap.
I've got the 11m Nomad and I'm stoked with it. People just have to re-adjust their thinking on the sizes and the wind ranges, thats all. With a twin-tip, I don't even bother getting the Nomad out of the bag until the wind is over 20 knots, but the upper range is awesome, it works right up to near 30 knots (I'm 78kg). To my mind, the 11m is a kite for 20-25knots. It turns way better than a switchblade of similar power / size, and the boost is great. The Nomad is like a turbo 4 cylinder rally car, while the switch is like a V8 landcruiser.
People with an open mind will score some good deals by the sound of it....build quality is first class, the kites are gonna last a long time.
I know a retailer that told me he was not ordering anymore Cabs because they will be launching the 2011 models mid year or there abouts
I know that the cabrinha international crew have been shooting with the new product already... And with dealer conferances comin up mid year you would have to assume that cabrinha have the new gear sorted. In saying that the nomad is a damn good kite, but the switchblade has proven itself for years prior. Oh and my little bro is the one with the nomads in whyalla, I fly switchblades...
Have 7,9 and 11, previously have tried Rev 1, 2, Octanes, Core GT, F1 Bandit Dos, Eclipse Kima.
I am not sponsored had to pay to try, The Nomad's are by far the best kite I have flown. They are stable, quick, well built with usual Cabrinha air lock valve which can't be beaten, I don't care what the naysayers have to say, if you like waves these are the kites for you. Grab a bargain, thinking of getting the 13m, but have found the 11m more than adequate on underground Freewave from 14 knots up.
Settle Lover, me thinks ya getting sucked in again.
Your've stopped taking ya pills haven't you.
HAAK
