€1649 (13m)
CABRINHA CONTRA The Contra is designed as a kite to get you going when the wind drops down, whatever and wherever you are riding. So its aim is to fly like a ‘normal’ kite on lighter days, and there are 13, 15, 17 and 19m options. This year the Contra has the Pure Profile Panels for improved strength and load distribution and it also has Cabrinha’s new High Tenacity Dacron to increase strength and arc stability. This is obviously crucial in big three strut kites such as this, where the aim is to keep the weight as low as possible without compromising the performance (and consequently the profile) of the kite. The Contra flies on the standard Cabrinha 1X bars and there are adjustments on the kite to tweak to your riding style or to conditions on the day, enabling you to really dial into the 2019 Contra. No matter what level you ride at, whether you’re a complete newbie or pro rider, you will instantly feel confident when the Contra goes up. In light winds the Contra is incredibly stable in the sky and very easy to fly. Due to the reduction in weight, the Contra 2019 feels very light on the bar for such a large kite, and you get some very positive feedback from the bar. Overall the kite feels lively and very direct for its size. The interesting thing is that the Contra isn’t a low aspect ratio kite, which many light wind kites from other brands are… The bonus with this is that your upwind performance is very good, something that other brands’ light wind options on the test really struggled with (so you tend to get too much power and poor upwind ability once the wind has increased and the kite reaches its top end). There is none of this with the Contra, which can handle gusts and increases in wind strength fine… Turning up the tempo on the water, you will be hard pushed to outdo the Contra’s performance. Its steady pull provides a solid basis for a range of moves: hooked or unhooked, you can still go for your moves even on light days. Then where most large light wind kites pull like a train, the Contra has great unhooked “freestyle” characteristics, so pop and slack are present on this light wind machine. The Contra isn’t a boosting kite or a race kite, but if it’s pure light wind freeriding or you’re a heavier rider looking to get out in marginal conditions, then it is a great kite.
Dynamic Handling Attributes (subjective 0-10) PARTICIPANT
sheet Upwind ability Usable range LiftDownwind on sheeting drift / leeward ability Hangtime Pop / slack test Ease of relaunch Kiteloop power test
13 3.58 0.275384615 No 6 4 No 17.31
7.5-8
Yes No Yes Front loops / Steering knots 7 Yes No
Construction Volae 2DR double ripstop Double 2DR in center & 2DR with Dacron on wingtips 2mm sheathed Dyneema 3 step zigzag / single overlay Standard High Tenacity Dacron 12 7 Cabrinha Sprint valve
TheKiteMag.com
7 8 9 5 9 5 6 8 6 5 8 7 8 9 6 9 9 6 7 6 8 8 6 9 7
Forward board speed Upwind ability Overall stability
Downwind drift Low / leeward ability end ability Popdepowered / slack test Bar feedback when Kiteloop power test Top end ability
Downloop catch from sent jump test Linear power development on sheet ForwardUsable board range speed
Bar feedback Ease whenofdepowered relaunch Top end ability
Linear power development on sheet Poor
Good
Excellent
Usable range LiftAttributes on sheeting Static Handling
Practicality Hangtime (subjective 0-10)
PARTICIPANT
Ease of relaunch
UNITS SOLD
Pumping / deflation and valve Turning speed system Bar pressure Rigging simplicity Loop radius Self land Practicality (subjective 0-10) Bag size Bar feedback Repair kit quality PARTICIPANT UNITS SOLD Lateral stability - 12 o’clock test Travel friendly Stability at/ deflation Zenith - front stallvalve Pumping and system Oversheet to stall test (10 hard to stall) Rigging simplicity Pumping / deflation and valve system Self land Rigging simplicity Bag size Repair kit quality Self land Travel friendly Practicality Bag size
7 9 5 6 5 6 7 9 5 6 5 6
Repair kit quality Pumping / deflation and valve system Travel friendly Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size
AOA Force Test (12m) Wind speed (knots) Static ground pull value (N) Full sheet value max (N) Difference
5
Overall stability Lift on sheeting Low end ability Hangtime
Physical Attributes
Canopy material TE material Bridle material Canopy seaming LE closing seam Strut / LE Material LE segment bump stops Overall build score (0-10) Inflate valve type
8 5 5 8
Downloop catch from sent jump test
T E C H N I C A L D ATA :
Size tested Kite weight (kg) Kg per m2 # Pulleys # LE hangpoints # Steering hangpoints # Struts LE diameter at widest point (cm) Recommended pressure (PSI) Line deflectors Battens Self-rescue handles Line attachments Ease of maintenance (0-10) Valve protection Tuning points
UNITS SOLD
Upwind ability Downwind drift/leeward ability Pop / slack test KiteloopDynamic power testHandling Attributes (subjective 0-10) Downloop catch from sent jump test PARTICIPANT UNITS SOLD Forward board speed Upwind ability Overall stability Downwind drift/leeward ability Low end ability Pop / slack test Bar feedback when depowered Kiteloop power test Top end ability Downloop catch from sent jump Linear power development on test sheet Forward board speed Usable range Overall stability Lift on sheeting Low S U end B J E Cability TIVE TEAM FEEDBACK: Hangtime Bar feedback when depowered Ease of relaunch Top end ability Dynamic Attributes Linear powerHandling development on
15 330 570 240
Repair kit quality Travel friendly Poor
Good
Excellent