![]() ![]() Some of newest wave models in this group have ideal handling for that aggressive strapless rider. ![]() The new school of wave riders are also pushing the limits in the surf with bigger off the lip aerials and more technical strapless freestyle manoeuvres. Pushing limits off the lip and in the pocket Ultimately, both the Slingshot SST and Cabrinha Drifter are high-performance, dedicated, wave masters that can take your wave riding to new levels. And the gadget-free bridles are ultra-compact, which eliminates the chance of the bridles wrapping up with the wingtips when the kite gets rinsed in the waves. The wide and chopped tips of the SST ensure that you can direct the kite while completely depowered. It’s also one of the most direct steering kites of the test and the lower aspect, compact C canopy grants some smooth pivoting turns. The cushioning stability of the SST really put this kite in a class of its own. This enhances the power conditions for freeriding where you want better upwind drive and more lift and hang time. This year Drifter is even more versatile with new bridle setting adjustments that can flatten the kite and sit it more forward in the window. The Drifter has a touch more low end power than the SST and heavier riders always love the Cabrinha kites for their reliable range. The Drifter and the Wave SST have some of the smoothest and cushiony pull of any kite on the market and their balance and stability are ideal for making the most out of every wave. The two kites in the test that have the greatest emphasis on this ‘set and forget it’ smooth driving power, with no back-stall tendency and direct feel, are the Cabrinha Drifter and Slingshot Wave SST. Having a kite that can sit slightly deeper in the window and float down the line, completely depowered, while you carve your line, is component to a successful wave riding session. Sideshore or side-off wind conditions typically produce the smoothest and most hollowed wave breaks and it’s also the best wind direction for getting into the pocket and slashing some quality lines. Set and forget: controlled, balanced, drift masters The accessibility of learning to ride a surfboard in waves has also been enhanced by the evolving performance of both kite and board design. The advanced performance of today’s dedicated wave kites are helping the world’s top kite surfers push the boundaries of wave riding and strapless freestyle. Each kite has handling that enhances the wave riding experience and they do this with their own distinct feel that’s derived from different combinations of power and depower, pull and pivot speed, drift, lift and handling. Most of the truly dedicated wave kites are not tuned for big air or freestyle riding, but focus more on control, stability and steady pull. Hassle free and reliable water relaunch is also essential when things go wrong in the surf and all of the wave kites have quick and reliable relaunch systems. This helps when you’re riding waves as you can change the kite’s direction or position without getting pulled off your board. Their central pivot allows the kite to turn, loop or change direction with less power generation. Wave kites are also designed so they don’t generate as much pull as their freeride counterparts when they turn. This is vital for quick transitions whether on the wave or if you need the kite to power up and get you out of the impact zone. While highly trimmed or depowered, these wave models are also designed to initiate turns and pivot quickly. Their quick depower also combines with the right balance, float and drift, enabling the rider to surf the wave while the kite stays airborne and inert. Built to be both light and durable, with three-strut frames supported by advanced bridle systems, these wave specific designs offer enhanced depower and enhanced handling suited to riding waves. This is an elite group of the industry’s top wave specific designs that all have specific flying and handling characteristics that can enhance your wave riding experience. This past fall, Kitesurfing Magazine’s Test Team rode some of the industry’s most prolific, wave-specific, kite models, in real world test conditions at some of the best surf spots in Cape Hatteras, NC. Surfing waves with a directional surfboard continues to be one of the fastest growing disciplines of kiteboarding. ![]()
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