Lately we’ve seen heaps of people kitesurfing outside the shop in Clontarf despite the nearest place to launch being miles away. They didn’t launch from nearby – in fact they launched way over at Sandgate or Brighton and did an upwinder from there. Yes, an UPwinder – much harder than the popular downwinder. We’ve even heard of kiters being spotted out near Mud Island and the Port of Brisbane, and even heard speculation of a Moreton Island trip! This new style of kitesurfing –kite touring as one Brighton kiter calls it – is becoming more mainstream as people tire of the usual back and forth routine often assumed by those not wishing to pursue freestyle riding.
So how do these people achieve such distances? Raceboards are the fastest way to get to a given point, but notoriously hard to ride. Surfboards also work but aren’t anywhere near as effective upwind, they are easy to ride though. And then there is of course the humble twintip – easy to ride but relatively useless upwind. What you need is something easy to ride, that trucks upwind and doesn’t make your legs hurt after five minutes…
Cabrinha answered with a compromise called the Transport:
“The Transport satisfies the need to wander upwind or downwind over greater expanses of water. A place where neither a raceboard, a twin tip or a surfboard would feel as comfortable. The Transport is made to track upwind in a hurry but really shines when pointed off the wind. The hybrid outline delivers manoeuvrability like a surfboard while providing the directional stability of a raceboard.”
I’ve spent quite a lot of time on the Cabrinha Transport this month and I’m finally ready to lay down the final verdict on what could be a very popular board this year.
First of all: is it a race board? No – so don’t expect it to be. The Transport is tiny compared to a race board, it’s narrow, short and has two less fins that it should have. It’s not a surfboard either – it’s wide, grippy and has one too many footstraps to work in the waves. What I’m trying to get at here is that you need to have an open mind and be prepared to rewrite a couple of rules when you ride it.
The Transport does ride upwind very well – especially when you’re powered up. It’s much quicker upwind than a surfboard, but – I won’t lie – a raceboard will leave you for dead, especially in the lighter stuff. Use the Transport as a light-wind board and you’re restricted to cruising back and forth and maybe visiting the next bay upwind. But as a normal-wind board – anywhere is within reach… Sandgate to Redcliffe Jetty? No worries, under an hour straight up wind…
Turn it the same as a surfboard: push on a rail and it carves around nicely, swap your feet and continue off merrily in the other direction. You can even stick some surfboard fins on it and have a great time in small waves, just be prepared for it to slip out occasionally.
The footstraps are comfy and placed well on the board. The Transport requires lots of front foot pressure to drive it forwards and a moderately flat riding angle so the fins can provide some lift. You can’t ride it flat like a raceboard, the fins simply aren’t big enough – and you can’t ride it on the edge like a twintip because your feet drag in the water. It’s actually a really comfortable riding angle.
It can be jumped – you won’t break it with normal use. The cork deck is resistant to heel dings, and the rails are tough enough to handle the occasional drop on concrete. I’ve landed some nice floaty jumps on it and although it lands hard, a well-timed landing will leave you with a massive grin on your face. And it’s a great way to pass the time on the downwind run after your upwinder.
I really enjoy riding the Cabrinha Transport – and I think most people will. I find the only drawback is the fact you need to tack and gybe it. After a bit of practice it becomes second nature and an incredibly valuable skill to have. Apart from that – what a fantastic concept! Come and grab our demo board whenever you get a free afternoon, you’ll love it.
Rhys Porter - KPQ
Click here to learn more about this kiteboard
