Cabrinha Switchblade Apex Review: A Legend That Ignores Fashion

The model cycle in kiting is one year. The Switchblade has stayed near the top of the sales charts for more than fifteen, and no other kite on the market has that history. Here is how.

The short version

• Model: Switchblade Apex.
• Sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 m² — seven positions.
• Disciplines: big air and freeride.
• Price: from 1 663 € (7 m) to 2 238 € (14 m).

"Steady lift" — decoded

The manufacturer describes the kite as "powerful steady lift, enormous hangtime, predictable handling". Here is what sits behind each phrase.

Lift comes in two kinds. Explosive — the kite throws you up sharply as it enters the power zone. And steady — the kite raises you smoothly and keeps carrying you through the jump.

Explosive lift produces a spectacular takeoff but demands exact timing: a slight error and you either did not go up or went up sideways.

Steady lift forgives. You get slightly less height for the same effort, but the result repeats from jump to jump. Landings are softer too: the kite keeps holding you on the way down.

That is the Switchblade's defining quality, and it explains the model's longevity: the kite delivers consistent results to people who jump imperfectly — which is to say, almost everyone.

Why the model has not dated in fifteen years

A fair question: the market moved on and the kite stayed.

The answer is that the Switchblade evolved in one direction rather than changing character every season. Materials, panel layout and construction were updated; the philosophy was not.

Compare Ozone's logic, where each job gets its own model: the Edge for height, the Vortex for loops, the Reo for waves. Cabrinha instead keeps one kite that does almost everything well, with separate models for the extremes.

The practical conclusion: if you know your discipline precisely, a specialised kite gives more. If you do not, or you do a bit of everything, the Switchblade covers a whole season.

The size range: why it starts at 7 m

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 — tight steps in the middle and one jump over 13 at the end.

The absence of a 5 and a 6 signals positioning: the Switchblade is not about storm sessions. For strong wind the range has the Nitro, while the Switchblade lives in the working 15 to 28 knot band where most people ride.

The 14 m at the top still leaves headroom for light wind — unusual for a big-air kite.

Which sizes to buy

For big air people go slightly larger than for freeride: lift follows area.

• under 70 kg: 8 and 10 m²
• 70–85 kg: 9 and 11 m²
• 85–95 kg: 10 and 12 m²
• over 95 kg: 12 and 14 m²

The general logic is in our size table.

Switchblade against Nitro within the range

The 8 m versions cost the same — 1 753 €. So the choice is not about money.

Switchblade — steady lift, predictability, a wide audience.

Nitro — explosive lift, aggressive character, stated for advanced riders.

The rule is simple: if you are unsure which of the two is yours, it is the Switchblade. People buy the Nitro knowing exactly why.

Who it suits

Riders who jump but do not compete. The main and most honest audience.

Anyone wanting one kite for a long time. You do not outgrow a Switchblade in a season.

Anyone riding varied conditions. A 7 to 14 m range covers nearly everything.

Anyone returning to the sport after a break. Predictability is worth more here than performance.

Who it does not suit

Wave riders. You want drift — that is the Drifter.

Anyone chasing maximum height. The Nitro is more aggressive.

Anyone riding very strong wind. The range starts at 7 m.

Freestylers. You want slack and sharp pop — a different category of kite.

Worth knowing before you buy

Check size availability. Cabrinha's range in our catalogue is compact, and not every size is in stock at once.

The bar. Cabrinha has its own line — Quickloop and Modular in Recoil and Trimlite versions. Factory trim differs between brands, so take the bar from the same one. In detail: our bar comparison.

Common questions

Is the Switchblade suitable for a beginner?

After lessons, yes — it is one of the few big-air models with a genuinely predictable character. But an all-rounder like the North Reach is simpler at the start.

How does the Apex differ from a standard Switchblade?

Apex is the brand's current construction with its proprietary technology aimed at maximum performance.

Which size first?

For 75 to 85 kg, a 9. A second is better as an 11: jumping rewards area.

Switchblade or Moto X?

The Switchblade has a wider size range and is tuned for jumping. The Moto X is cheaper, lighter and drifts better in waves.

How many sizes for a season?

Two. Three if your spot regularly gives both 14 and 30 knots.

Where to buy

Cabrinha Switchblade Apex — from 1 663 €, seven sizes. The range is on the Cabrinha page, and the brand in our review.