Cabrinha Crossbow 18m Light Wind Kite

The 2012 Crossbow LW 18m light wind kite

Damien LeRoy just sent us his 18m LW Crossbow to try out this week. We had it on the water in 10-12mph and did a ride test, relaunch test, depower test, and upwind test. What we found is it it did pretty darn good.

The 2012 18m Crossbow LW kite was specially designed for light air…with 4 less struts than the normal Crossbow it still has the same great efficient shape but is now lighter.   The bar is a bit bigger it seems with the 2012 release system.  The kite comes in 3 sizes although we only tested the largest size…because if you’re going to go big…GO BIG!

Everyone knows that the winds on the gulf coast can be light in the summer time.  Having two kiteboarding schools on the gulf coast makes the crew at XLKITES real light wind experts. We want to teach with and ride the best light wind inflatable kites we can find, so we are constantly on a quest to find the best light wind kites out there.

What we found: Overall the kite is BIG! It is 18m but feels big also being a fairly low aspect kite. The bar is also BIG, but that is ok because it drops the bar pressure down to a reasonable amount (don’t get get any ideas, it still has a lot of bar pressure). The good news is it delivers in light winds and has MASSIVE low end grunt. It is slow in the air but pulls like a truck….making light winds fun. We were able to do all kinds of tricks in the 10-12mph on the test day. We would have liked to get it out in even lighter winds but only had in for a few days. One downside we found was the relaunch was not so good…it did come up off the water but it took a lot of line pulling to make it happen.  If you are an newbe looking for more riding time you may benefit from getting a Crossbow LW over the Slingshot Turbine because this kite will pull harder at lower flying speeds….this is what we mean when we say “low-end grunt”.  Just like every upside or downside to any kite you’ll pay for this low-end grunt with slow kite speed in the air and lots of bar pressure.  So pick your poison.  We had a blast on this kite and know you will too

Overall, I would say that the Crossbow 18m LW is a great choice for a heavier rider looking for a light wind kite or someone who is very new and in an area with extremely light winds…it will definitely get you out a lot more days for sure.  We have these kites on our online store here: Cabrinha Crossbow LW

The Crossbow Light Wind comes in three sizes and three colors: 13m, 16m, 18m and Red/Blue, Yellow/White, and Orange/Green

Light Wind Kites: Cabrinha Crossbow and Slingshot Turbine from XLKITES Houston on Vimeo.

The difference between the Wing and a lot of other light wind boards is it’s unique shape and rocker.  Most light wind boards are flat to give as much surface area as possible, well many places (the Levee) even in light winds we still have small chop on the water.  This chop will easily catch the front edge of a flat board but the Wing with it’s curved tips and rocker keeps the edges up and out of the way of that chop.  The other thing I like about the wing is the edge shape, it is elliptical like a newer set of skis or snowboard.  This means you’re edge will be in constant contact with the water when you’re edging the board.  It give you much better control and prevents skidding down wind.  Finally, The double heel-side fins give the huge board additional traction to keep you tracking upwind while you’re edging.  It is by far the easiest board to ride upwind in choppy water, you literally just have to ride it.

The Litewave Wing comes in sizes 146cm, 153cm, and 161cm.  The smaller size is for lighter riders but even many light riders appreciate the 161cm in really light riding conditions.  We keep 2 Litewave Wings in the teaching van in Houston as well as in Florida so if  you’d like to try the board out come by on a light day and we’ll make sure you can take one for a ride.

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Slingshot kiteboarding store

2012 Dakine Chameleon $150

2012 Dakine Renegade $190


2012 Dakine Pyro $230

Dakine has been making harnesses longer than anyone in the kiteboarding industry.  They started with windsurfing and sailing and have created a great following over the years in the kiteboarding industry as well.  They are known for bomb proof construction and great warranty support in case something does break.  Visit either XLKITES store and try on Dakine harnesses to see which one is the best for you.  If you’re a student your 15% off discount will apply to these harnesses as well as any other harnesses we have in stock.

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slingshot kites

SLINGSHOT RPM 2012 Kite Demo by XLKites from Vanessa Baumann on Vimeo.

We’ve done a test of the RPM on the water including light wind relaunch and a full deep water self rescue.  The setting on the kite changed and the cut of the kite changed a bit but for the most part it is very similar to the 2011 Slingshot RPM.  The kite performed almost identically to the 2011 RPM in all categories.  We still have the 2011 12m RPMs in stock but only have a few left…all other 2011 RPMs are sold out from us and from Slingshot.

Get your light wind Slingshot Turbine Kite 

Light Wind Kiteboarding Kites

Everything about the 2011 Slingshot Turbine light wind kite has been optimized to perform on days when wind ranges are in there low end.

Head to Head test between 2011 Cabrinha Crossbow and 2011 Slingshot Turbine in 8-10mph with same large light wind board. No comparison…the lighter 3-strut design of the Turbine coupled with its high aspect shape proved to be much more efficient on relauch and easier to keep in the air when trying to get up on the board. Light wind is when you prove the metal of a kite and the 2011 Turbine just proved it is the best light wind kite of 2011. With a skilled rider behind the wheel and a large board wind range down to 8mph is possible with this kite in your quiver.

The number one way to increase your time on the water is by extending what conditions make kiteboarding fun. The Turbine can be combined with a Competition Race board, surf boards or a Glide for mind blowing speed, power, upwind and downwind performance. Bottom line is this kite increases the fun factor and time on the low end of the wind range. The Turbine is the perfect example of the way we build, the way we ride and the way we live. Its our commitment to the core!

Kite Package Includes
17m Turbine Kite
Comp Stick Control Bar
Kite Backpack
Jena J XL Double Pump
Kite Patch Kit, CSS and Butter Box Bungee
Turbine Quick Start Guide
Lifetime Rider Service Hotline Support

Kites in light wind surf....17m Blade pumping the the 17m Turbine lit up!

Check your local shop to see if this great new light wind kite is in stock.

Florida
850 598 3735
sales@xlkites.com

Texas City
281 508 6485
houston@xlkites.com

Everything about the Slingshot Turbine has been optimized to perform on days when wind ranges are in there low end. The number one way to increase your time on the water is by extending what conditions make kiteboarding fun. The Slingshot Turbine can be combined with a Competition Race board, surf boards or a Glide for mind blowing speed, power, upwind and downwind performance. Bottom line is this kite increases the fun factor and time on the low end of the wind range. The Slingshot Turbine is the perfect example of the way we build, the way we ride and the way we live. Its our commitment to the core!

Turbine kiteboarding closeout

INTERMEDIATE TO EXPERTS FREERIDE, COURSE RACING, LIGHT WIND AND SURF

Includes: 2011 Slingshot Turbine 17m kite, Comp stick control bar and lines, leash, bag, pump

-Riders looking for a light wind specific kite. -Riders who demands performance in light wind and want to extend their time on the water. -Excels in efficiency, speed, power and upwind/downwind performance.

Features + Advantages

-Split Strut integrated 3 strut design Blends the core C kite performance characteristcs like power, stability, edging, control and direct feel with the advantages of the latest advancements in four line technology. Advancements like the positive Delta attributes of incredible low end power, maximized range, upwind ability, depower, speed, re-launch,hang time and safety.

-Accelerated power steering bridle Light and crisp in the sky with added durability, increased stability and canopy shaping control. Less struts and lighter profile will enable better water re launch in light winds. Packs down tight

-Custom fuel injection Allows for smooth responsive steering, power delivery and adds more support to the wingtip. Clean and tight to the leading edge to maximize performance and lightens up the bar pressure.

-Scalloped trailing edge Customize kite tuning performance from freeriding to course racing to maximize power and efficiency.

-Slingshot 1-pump The trusted original single point inflation system to get you out faster and easier

-Low profile wing tips Increases turning speed, while reducing drag and creating more efficiency

-Slingshot legendary construction Surf tough, abrasion proof, reduced flutter wear. Ensures long lasting durability and performance

-Lifetime rider hotline support Communicate directly with our friendly in houseprofessional customer service department

Kite Package Includes: 17m Turbine Kite Comp Stick Control Bar Kite Backpack Jena J XL Double Pump Kite Patch Kit, CSS and Butter Box Bungee Turbine Quick Start Guide Lifetime Rider Service Hotline Support

Bar: 23 Inches Lines: 27 Meters

Comp Stick Control Bar Truly innovative design and engineering with superior safetyand performance in mind, Slingshot introduces the COMPSTICK CONTROL BAR. This bar has the highest level of CSS safety and Center of the Universe performance / convenience in the cleanest 4 line configuration available. The clean and uncluttered 4 line configuration also allows for easy and speedy set up. Features such as the Surefire Spinner, Progressive Line Lengths, Auto Indexing Chicken Loop, Active Stopper Ball and Push Away Center Safety System makes it the first choice for crossover riders who demand more.

What the Kiteboarder Magazine has to say about the 2011 Slingshot Turbine:

On the Water: Even in really light wind, the Turbine remains stable and has no tendency to overfly when along the edge of the window. Is has a surprisingly light feeling in the sky for a 17m kite and the kite gives great feedback to the rider, making the Turbine a kite you can easily fly without having to constantly look at it. Bar pressure is in the light-medium range with the rear bridle on the rear setting and the Turbine delivers a very smooth pull. Low end power is fantastic and with a light wind specific board you should be able to ride upwind in less than 10 knots. The Turbine flies forward in the window and is easy to get upwind for such a big kite. Handling is relatively quick for a 17m and the kite handles well when depowered. Jumping performance is good and jumps tend to have a lot of hang time. Even unhooked, the Turbine remains very stable.

PROS:

• The Turbine is light-feeling and surprisingly nimble for such a large kite.
• Rock-solid stability, even in sub 10-knot winds.CONS:
• The trim system can be challenging to adjust, especially when under a lot of tension.
• When you depower the Turbine a lot, you are stuck with the excess line dangling near the rider.
  

  Turbine Kiteboarding Package