I have listened to Pete Cabrinha!

[eightsmileys]

If i am right on an asnews podcast Pete Cabrinha said that there isn't any great innovation on the current 2008 kites. So is Cabrinha working or anything? Soemthing really different? Something with the boards i have heard but haven't got any facts!
Anyone heard something?

[Windrider]

Jeez.. that sounds like a dumb thing for him to say...... plenty of innovation this year:

• Naish Sigma series with Geotech
  Ocean Rodeo vented kites
  WindWing Bat kite
  Best VP2 bridling system and Canopy Framing
  Wind-X Ultra Flats....

....just to list a few. Maybe his company didn't really have anything innovative this year, but some of the others sure have. Too soon to say which innovations will make it into the "great" category... just have to wait and see who starts copying whom next year...

[eightsmileys]

Question: Are there any innovations from other companies this year that you find particularly interesting?
Answer: I haven't seen anything from the other companies that i would call an innovation.

Between 47-51 minute http://www.asnewswire.com/podcasts/podcast96.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If he is saying this i guess something really strange-innovative will be coming up!

[Vin Stefanelli]

Based on Cabrinha
control bar evolution
over the years
that I have observed,

I woudn't expect much

[prayfawind27]

i agree with Pete Cab, i haven't seen any big eye openers for 2008, In fact looks like the industry is going backwards with C kites getting more popular.

[groundclown]

Airtime-kite came out with a new ultra light weight bladder tube. I think they said it is only 45% the weight of the current bladders used by most companys. they are bright orange though, so they show through white kites.
It is ridged, so requires about 1 to 1.5psi less on the kites I have tested it with. makes a cool sound when you thump it too.

The weight of our '08 WW bladders have been reduced by 25% a very noticable differance in performance for the larger kites

[Peter_Frank]

Question: Are there any innovations from other companies this year that you find particularly interesting?
Answer: I haven't seen anything from the other companies that i would call an innovation.

Between 47-51 minute http://www.asnewswire.com/podcasts/podcast96.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If he is saying this i guess something really strange-innovative will be coming up!

I agreee, I dont find any of the last years innovations (leading to the present 2008 kites out now) particular "big" to call it a change that moves much...

There are design changes here and there as noted - but IMO nothing really breath-taking

Compared to the kitehistory which has (going/coming from 2 line C kites and early foils) these milestones in my book :

4 line C kites. 2001.
Front line flying C kites. 2002.
5 line C kites. 2004.
Flat/SLE kites. 2005-6.

(The Year shown is when they were more "common" sold/offered and used here in Denmark, from more brands, although seen and used by some here, a bit earlier)

These are the really big innovations in my eyes, that REALLY moved something

Also, somewhere in the middle, the foils has evolved and become extremely useable and good.
I would not call this an innovation though, but evolution.

Kindly, Peter Frank

[schmoe]

I also agree. 2008 has improvement and refinement, but no innovations.

Venturi: Not an innovation, used on kites since 2004.
Thin cuben fiber leading edge: Used on 2007 models as well.
Kite framing: Slingshot has similar panel layouts long ago. IMO its just an engineering design element and not an innovation, if this is an innovation then every stitch on the kite is an innovation.

Sigma and geotech? Maybe. From what I read the benefit is not significant and round kites perform similarly (though I have to try one day).

Bars? No innovations this year, still the same issues as previous years.

Future? Who knows, but 2008 is not a leap year. I am definitely upgrading gear this year, design refinements can have big impact on performance (and stuff gets old anyway).

[Brent4336]

As a consumer I'm much more comfortable buying in on a refinement year than an innovation year.

The bow kites were an innovation, but they all kinda suck. The turn, flight and stall characteristics are very different from what most experienced riders are looking for. The real innovation was putting a bridle on the LE. That has been adopted and refined in the latest gen of kites to retain the feel and performance already achieved plus the power, depower and relaunch a bridle affords.

Lets remember that Cabrinha didn't invent the bow.. they just bought into it.

Of course Pete is not going to say he's impressed with any of this years innovations when his kites are in a refinement year.

Still, I kinda agree with him! There are a few decent concepts like the vents, but I don't think Geo Tech is going to have one tenth the impact that bridles have.

[Galeltic]

i hope big surprise with better techology / desgin from cabrinha , one day
be patient and wait to see what cabrinha respone