Hi

I have been riding a cabrinha crossbow for some time now and feel like it is holding me back. I want to start riding unhooked and trying aggressive kite loops and the like.

Was great for learning on and cruising, but want more. It flies and responds too slowly and has too much power to go unhooked. Any suggestions on something that will take me to the next level. Some people have advised that the switchblade or the slingshot link would be good. Not sure about the switchblade for freestyle??

Just want to get another kite and progress but dont know what to get. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Not sure if i should stay with something similar to what i have such as the switchblade or switching it up to something totally different such as a fuel???

any hybrid or C kite should take you up to the next level, just shop around and find the best deals...

switchblades are great for unhooking and it wont feel like too much of a change because it is still a bow kite. also the australian freestyle junior champion rides them and so does andre phillip so they must be half decent

just get a c kite like the fuel or the generator you will love them!

Get a new board instead..

Trust me
it changed me

What sizes are you after?

The Links are an absolute bargain but are not a kite for the masses. You actually need to be able to fly the kite, to keep ontop of them because they fly so close to the edge of the window and can overfly it if not careful. Great for going upwind but they need a bit of wind behind them!

The rev is more user frendly, has loads more bottem end and sits further back in the window and wont overfly it. But coming from a crossbow, you prob wont like the rev because of the light bar pressure.

If in doubt, try before you buy

aparently crossbows are a dog when unhooked. i too learnt to ride on crossbows and recently changed over to rebels. best money ive ever spent. in my opinion, crossbows fly like the goodyear blimp.great for cruising from one end of the beach to the other but slow to react, high bar pressure and a very inderect feel of steering. rebels seem to be the complete opposite.very direct steering as there are no bridals, quite a fast kite and unhook well. im not at that level so cant comment on that. fifth line safety so very easy to self land. do not invert and all fly on the same bar. think they would be a good kite for u to progress to. inbetween a c kite and the bow u have now so shouldnt feel to foreign to. just my opinion>>>>

I have been riding the new T3 9m from slingshot, still a full bow but is nice to unhook on as well can be set up 2.1 or 1.1..
Or else like one of the other guys said get out for a ride or demo and see what will suit your personal style. Make sure when demoing test out the water relaunch as you'll be using it quiet a bit if progressing to handle passes :-). Well I did anyway.
If your not crashing then your not trying enough :-)

try the 08 vegas... I wouldn't go with the rebel..its got a few bonuses to the xbow but its a flat kite and flys like one.

Hi


I would check out the NEW OS kite out, I reckon you could progress alot with these kites.

Cheers

Hi Reed Dogg,

I had an 06 Xbow as first & only kite until a couple of months ago.
I was wondering if this kite was holding me back as well until I met a bloke at Pinaroo with the exact same kite.
He went out & did some cool tricks & then the biggest jump I have ever seen, unhooked with 3 rotations in the middle!
That jump is still stuck in my mind as the coolest, best looking trick I have ever seen in the flesh!

I reckon even an old 06 Xbow is good enough for 95% of kiters out there!!!

(Now given all that, I have just purchase a shiny nearly new kite & I love it - we all need our new toys don't we!!!)

Guys, if you are looking at a new kite to buy, make sure you get out and try all the brands you can. Even brands that you would not have thought of riding.

Also make sure when you are purchasing a kite that you are familiar with the back up service the brand will provide in a warranty situation. This could leave you without kit for a while and you will miss out on riding time. Big inconvenience when the wind is on.

I would say that Best Kiteboarding has the best warranty policy and end user service in the industry. 2009 will see some major changes again to the policy that will make it even better again for the end consumer.

Joe

if your keen you can take my 9m hifi off my hands. good kite for unhooking, lf makes really nice wakestyle stuff n the hifi exceeds at wakestyle n kiteloops in stronger winds.