Cabrinha Switchblade Vs North Rebel

The Switchblade vs The Rebel 

The aim of this video series is to remain as objective as possible.That being said, we made sure to get opinions from our entire crew. Rygo and Lucas collaborated to communicate the group consensus to you, and you can expect more videos to come soon.

So, you're debating between the Cabrinha Switchblade kiteboarding kite and the North Rebel. Not an easy choice, but this should give you plenty of insight when making your decision.

Both of these kites have been a staple in their respective brands’ lineups for a very long time. Since their inception, they have reached an insurmountable level of refinement, not to mention prestige in kiteboarding circles all around the globe. They are at the top of their class for freeride-style kites. They have the best build qualities and have the most refined systems in the industry.

We find the Rebel to be better-suited for airstyle and big air - of course, it can do it all. The Switchblade is a more well-rounded kite for riders looking to expand into surfing, freestyle, and just about anything kiteboarding has to offer.

Let's start with a brief objective side by side comparison.

The Switchblade has heavy bar pressure while the Rebel has moderate pressure.

The Switchblade is a 4 line and the Rebel uses a loaded 5th line.

The Switchblade is an all around freeride kite, and the Rebel is a freeride airstyle kite.

The Switchblade has the quickloop safety system that flags on one line while the Rebel has the longstanding Iron Heart system with a 5th line flag.

The Switchblade has 3 bar offerings, including:

• The adjustable 1X Overdrive bar with recoil or trimlite.

• The fixed 1X bar with recoil or trimlite

• Of course, all bars can be used with a traditional chicken loop or the revolutionary Fireball control system.

• Quite a few folks believe that within five years, all brands will have some variation of the Fireball system.

The Rebel is compatible with:

• The adjustable 5th Element 5-line control bar, famous for its light wind 5th line relaunch capabilities.

• The Click Bar, one of the best recent innovations on the market for its ease of use, fast trimming options, and the fact that it caters to people with a shorter arm reach.

• On a side note, the Click Bar comes standard as a 4 line bar. You will need the 5th line adapter to fly this bar with the Rebel.

Visit our website for a control bar compatibility chart 

So what kite is right for you? Well, it really depends on your personal style.

Regardless, we can rate each of these kites in six categories.

1. Windrange
2. Upwind ability
3. Jumping
4. All around performance
5. Depower
6. Safety Systems

Let's start with the wind range.

The Rebel and the Switchblade are known for having an enormous wind range in contrast to all other kites.

• Wind range makes a big difference when you are learning or riding in gusty conditions.

• Not having to get off the water because the wind is too strong or too light is priceless, no matter your skill level.

• Of the two, we’ve found that the Rebel has a slightly larger wind range.

• The Rebel has a little more low end wind range. Low end translates to power when the wind gets light.

• The Switchblade leans a bit more towards the high end of the wind range.

• High end wind range translates to control and depower when the wind gets strong.

• This might be surprising to some as the Switchblade is renowned for its amazing low end - in fact, we often recommend this kite for new riders due to its ability to pull in light wind.

So what about upwind ability?

Upwind ability is of utmost importance for new and seasoned kiters alike.

• The great thing about these kites is they will do most of the work for the rider, making progression a breeze.

• We found the Rebel to ride upwind only slightly better than a Switchblade.

• Realistically, a seasoned rider will not notice a large difference in this regard.

On to what you’ve been waiting for, jumping.

The Rebel and the Switchblade have what we like to call pull-and-go boosting. By this, we mean that it does not take much rider input or skill to jump with these kites. Obviously, jumping in and of itself takes a certain level of skill and a more seasoned rider will be able to jump higher.The good news is that both of these kites level the playing field, especially for new riders.

So, what kite jumps better?

• The Rebel wins again - of course, still only by a small margin.

All around performance

By all around performance, we mean big airs, freestyle/wakestyle, surf, and freeride.

• In this regard, the Switchblade will absolutely outperform the Rebel.

• As we said, The Rebel is more of a freeride/airstyle kite, while the Switchblade really is suited for anyone looking to do a little bit of everything kiteboarding has to offer.

Depower

Depower is important particularly for new riders or if you happen to live somewhere with gustier winds.

If you don't feel safe, odds are you're not going to move forward.

• Again, we consider these two kites to be the pinnacle of the industry.

• We find the Switchblade to have more depower than the Rebel.

• It should be noted that pairing the Click Bar with the Rebel will give you faster depower.

• Overall, the Switchblade is able to dump a little more power.

Safety systems

The final point to chat about is the safety system. In this last regard, we find both systems to be equal. It really comes down to a matter of preference.

• When deployed, the 5th Element control bar will dump more power, but only slightly more.

• Another thing to consider is that there’s a chance the 5th line could wrap around the kite.

• While this isn’t a big deal, it will require a self-rescue to remedy.

• Granted, if you are deploying your safety, there’s a good chance you were already initiating a self-rescue.

We hope this helps. At the end of the day, there is no wrong choice.

Both kites will foster growth for new and seasoned riders. It’s up to you to decide what features and benefits appeal the most to you. If you enjoyed this video, please hit the subscribe button.

Don't hesitate to give us a call at 800-622-4655 and we can talk about your needs and what kite will help you accomplish your goals. We also offer free Live Chat support. Feel free to chat in with any questions you might have

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people. About eight years into a postal career, he decided to change everything and travel as a freelance videographer & writer. This took him from coast to coast and a variety of countries. Nowadays you can catch him on the phones, doing lessons, or working on videos. Of course, he still makes a point to travel as often as possible. He is passionate about helping people and sharing the stoke with his customers and students alike.