2021 Cabrinha Contra

[Kitetwin-1]

Just picked up a 9m and 5m 2021 Cabrinha single strut Contra, this is my impression of the 5m while foiling (haven't used the 9 yet). I am not a pro by any means, I am a 61 year old rider (mostly foiling) averaging about 150 sessions per year, I pay for my gear. Quality of fabric and workmanship was very high, colour scheme is attractive. The kite is quite powerful with a nice wind range. I rode with zero trim and all trim pulled as the wind started in the mid teens and increased to 25 knots (I am 137lbs). The bar pressure is light and steering is responsive, even with all trim pulled. When I slack the lines in a turn the kite drifts nicely back in the window, not quite as nice as a drifter. Relaunch is effortless, as I would expect. I am interested to see how these kites perform on a surf board and twin tip. Nice to see Cabrinha add a single strut to their line up.

[Kitetwin-1]

Just got off the water riding the new 9m Contra single strut. This kite is just F#4king amazing, it just stays in the air. What is surprising is the pull this kite gives (when parked) even in the lightest wind. Sine or loop the kite and the power generated was just unexpected. I had to keep looking at the kite to believe it was a nine. As the wind picked up and I pulled trim the steering remained responsive. For my weight at 137 lbs this may be my largest kite for foiling.

[dejavu]

My perspective and Opinion.....I have used the 11m 1 strut now over 4 sessions. This kite is amazing. I use it with my Twin Tip. It allows me a lighter Contra kite in light winds, turns on a dime, very light bar pressure. Performs like a 14 to 15M but with the advantage of its lightness. it jumps ok but nowhere near the traditional Contra's but then I expected that.

[PrfctChaos]

Features: Lightweight.

And then Cabrinha proceeds to not publish the weight

[RickI]

I had a couple of remarkable twin tip sessions recently with the new Cabrinha Contra one Strut kite, a 9 m. The kite is responsive, fast, very stable parking or drifting well, with light bar pressure. It also re-launches quite easily. The one night it was pretty gusty. I was out about 45 minutes before sunset. There were some pretty good spikes there and Kite seem to just eat them up easing out on the bar. I’m looking forward to trying it some more but at the lower end. It seems to build apparent Wind fairly easily contributing to some of these traits.

[Juan Mol]

Hi!! did you use the 9m Contra ?
I would like to have one for foiling from 8-10 knots..anyone tested it in low winds? does it pull you off of the water?
Thanks!

[Kitetwin-1]

I have 38 sessions so far this year (slow start in the great lakes), not one session larger than my new 9m single strut contra, it is equivalent to an 11 m drifter for foiling, I couldn't be happier.

[vitaum]

I have 38 sessions so far this year (slow start in the great lakes), not one session larger than my new 9m single strut contra, it is equivalent to an 11 m drifter for foiling, I couldn't be happier.

how to you compare wind range of it, since one strut kites have small wind range?
And what are the pros and cons of it compared to a drifter (as you said, a 9m to a 11m drifter)

[vitaum]

My perspective and Opinion.....I have used the 11m 1 strut now over 4 sessions. This kite is amazing. I use it with my Twin Tip. It allows me a lighter Contra kite in light winds, turns on a dime, very light bar pressure. Performs like a 14 to 15M but with the advantage of its lightness. it jumps ok but nowhere near the traditional Contra's but then I expected that.

so the 11m one strut contra has a similar pull to a 15m 3 struts contra? That´s amazing!

[Kitetwin-1]

My impression is that the single strut contra has a slightly narrower wind range than a drifter, I would suggest a 2m wind range for my weight of 63 kg. I only have the 9 and 5 right now, I am waiting for the 7. The contra will stay in the air almost like a single skin foil kite, it is that good. It delivers surprising power with responsive steering, a little less drift than a wave kite. One thing I like about this kite is for tacking as I seem to get a good vertical pull even when sheeted way out in a roll tack. The drifters seem to shut off when I push completely out making tacks a little more iffy. I rode my 9 yesterday to the point that I had all trim pulled, the steering lines swimmy with so much slack. Even at that the kite was incredible quiet with very little flutter.