This is finally the year /2010 Cabrihna Nomad 11M Question

[Driver]

Hey all - new to the board. This is finally the year I step up to the plate and buy a set up. I've learned in a dispersed fashion over several years, culminating in my first water days last Aug in Hood River. Felt like my first powder turns years ago- I was hooked immediately. About to take a brush up lesson to make sure i'm ready to go out safely alone and buy my first kite. I'm going to try to make 3rd ave my home (if it is indeed a solid spot for begins/intermediate people as people say) - look foward to seeing people out there!

My question is regarding kite selection. I have the opportunity to pick up a basically new 2010 Cahbrina Nomad 11m for very cheap. I will also have a bigger kite (its 14m or 16 can't remeber which) my friend is giving to me (nice guy) for lighter days. I've studied the Cabrinha IDS system and really like it the logic of it (but judging from a very uninformed perspective!). I've read that the Nomad is not necessarily a "beginner" kite. If this is this true, how big is the potential draw back for someone in my shoes? I have the chance to potentially get a very good deal, so I feel like I need to at least weigh it. Sounds great on paper, but want to make sure I have a kite I can handle off the bat and grow with. Thanks!

[Aloha]

I haven't had much exp. with Cabrinha's at all--so you probably want to wait to hear what the Cab guys on here have to say but..

From what I understand Nomad is marketed as their wave kite -- most wave kites are open C (the top 2/3's or 3/4's of a C canopy) with a Delta Swept leading edge (leading edge protrudes forward in front of the tips). The kites are generally designed to bring together the best aspects of bow kites and the best from C-kites for a super-controllable light nimble kite. It should have a ton of instant depower and be fast flying / turning in the wind window. If you don't have anything to compare it to it probably won't be a big deal, just have your kite control skills really down because the kite may seem a little bit darty compared to a higher aspect kite that generates more lift and turns slower.

I think it's kind of hard to go wrong on kites that new--sure maybe it won't be as plug-n-play ez sauce as a freeride kite, but I'm sure it has all the standard features that you need learning: depower, good relaunch ability, oh shit safety systems etc.

I've seen people learn on a North Vegas and hell that thing is basically a depowerable C. I'm sure there's old school people on this board who might have even learned on a 2 line C-Kite!

Just make sure you plan your kite sizing according to your weight. The guys on this board can probably better speak to the conditions that you'd expect at 3rd for the rest of the summer as it's not my primary spot.. But keep in mind I'm pretty sure a kite in that shape is going to feel a little underpowered compared to the same bow-shaped 11m^2 kite in the Cab line

[behindThePeak]

How much do you weigh? That's also a factor.

[adamrod]

the 2010 nomad is known for being fast and good for kiteloops, and having rather weak low-end (i.e. it needs more wind than most kites of that size) (if you read the marketing blurb on 2011, the fixed the low-end issue for this year)

it's not known for being a good beginner kite. then again, you said you could get it for "very cheap" soo, i guess it depends on what you mean by "very cheap". doing a quick search, seems like you can get one for $600 or so. sooo, if you can get a 2010 nomad for $500 or less, probably not a bad option imho

if you like the IDS, get the switchblade. there are tons of them around in the bay area, i'm sure you can get a good deal on one. you'll be a lot happier on it.

[Driver]

Sounds good guys, thanks. I'm 6'1" 175 without gear on. I figured typical 3rd ave summer time conditions would be ~18 - 24 knots, with the 30 knot days possible. Given the concerns i'm going to look around a bit more. I was going to pick up the Nomad new for $850 - sounds like that may not be as good of a deal as I thought?

[Greg]

I suggest going to the site and hanging around.. see what's REALLY GOING ON...
Talk to the locals and I bet you'll even score a kite for a good price, AND they can open it, show it to you, disclose any issues or wear concerns right there in front of your face...

I see people asking lots of questions on boards like this ALL THE TIME--- and low and behold the respondents often have stuff on a shelf they wish to sell but never got around too...

I have one friend for example that must have 6 12m kites just taking up room in his closet because he doesn't bother trying to sell anything... Another example is: In Florida I was put up by a super friendly local who had at least 20 kites in his garage... every time someone told him about how RAD their NEW KITE was- he'd go straight away and buy one (FULL RETAIL).. I told him about my kites (at the time) and he said was going to buy TWO- When I asked him, "What are you doing?? you have a garage FULL of kites" He said, "I just want to try them out"" I responded by says "No-NO- NO!! I'll let you try mine first...." I was SO STUNNED how that guy spent money!

If you speak to the different REPS you'll get the INFORMATION DIRECT FROM THE SOURCE--- you might even get to demo a kite or two, sometimes you can even BUY ONE for a SCREAMING DEAL in the process.. thats what the Reps are there for, to EXPLAIN whats new and get you ON KITES!

If your interested in Cab's, TALK TO STEVE @ 3ed Ave.. If your interested in Wainman Hawaii contact ME or Chris or Maui Mike @ KiteNaked.. If you want Naish talk to Jane or Rebecca at Boardsports, they are at Cotote/3ed or Alameda..... A Slingshot rep is Ollie who owns BayAreaKite-

Welcome to kiteboarding!
ENJOY-
Greg

[windhorny]

Is IDS "irritable depower syndrome?"

[Aloha]

I wonder how bad a case of IDS can get?

Must be a Portugese thing -- never ran into it on my Italian kites

Everybody knows that Italian kites have huge depowers

[tomtuch]

I'm 6"1" and 180lbs so roughly the same size as you and I kite regularly at 3rd ave. I have two 2010 Cabrinha switchblades, a 9m and a 12m. I have kited before with RRD kites and found the Switchblades to be much more stable - never tried the Nomad but from what others are posting, it sounds like it's more of a kite for waveriding (of which there really aren't any at 3rd)...

I would strongly recommend the switchblades - there are two Cabrinha resellers (ones that I know), one is at Helm and the other is Ovi from Kite415 - they can usually get you a really good deal. If you are still learning, I would recommend having the same kite in two different sizes - for third ave with your weight a 9m and a 12m (at least for me) is really perfect - if you go with a 11m and a 14m, you will likely get overpowered on windy days.

Hope this helps

[Driver]

thanks a lot guys. Sounds like I have some things to think about. Talking to the resellers seems like a great idea.