Although the Cabrinha H series foils are two years old, they are still one of the most stable agile platforms on the foiling scene.
Two years of use (no jumping mind you, being nearly 60) and in this time, trying different foils for winging...my trusty Cabrinha MK2 foil and hollow carbon mast still hold up quite well to the current third generation other branded foils.
Being fortunate enough to be part of a great winging crew on the Sunshine Coast, and having SCB store with all the latest bells and whistles in foiling equipment, allows me to try different foils. All the foils are efficient, they all feel a little different under foot.
Initially when I first began winging, I purchased Cabrinha H series MK1 because it was being promoted by Keahi, he looked good flying those foils on the waves. Ultimately, the intention was to fly amongst the waves.
Now two years on, once again being fortunate enough to demo new equipment. The F-One Eagle X 900, one can say this foil is better! However, not by an overwhelming margin. That is to say, the Eagle X is a great ride, and noticeably, incrementally better than my MKII foils. But does it warrant selling the still perfectly use-able efficient Cabrinha foil and shelling out $$ for F-One? Oh the problems we have in the first world.
I owned the MK1 series and demoed the MK2 quite intensivly including the hollow mast and its imo weight depenend how good it works. For my 97kg the hollow mast was still way to flexible (so was the Fone 14mm mast).
I can see that its a pretty good set up for lighter riders, but for those bigger boned guys like me it is outperformed with a margin by brands like Code, Axis, AFS.
Even the MKI is still a good foil but Cabrinha never made a mast stiff enough to do it justice. Would be interesting to try on a NL or Evo Cedrus.
It'sa great thing to be satisfied with the foils you have. I do not miss the days of hunting the used sections and flipping foils to gain performance.
Select to expand quoteJeroensurf said..
I owned the MK1 series and demoed the MK2 quite intensivly including the hollow mast and its imo weight depenend how good it works. For my 97kg the hollow mast was still way to flexible (so was the Fone 14mm mast).
I can see that its a pretty good set up for lighter riders, but for those bigger boned guys like me it is outperformed with a margin by brands like Code, Axis, AFS.
If I may ask, what are you riding Jeroen?
Select to expand quoteHdip said..
It'sa great thing to be satisfied with the foils you have. I do not miss the days of hunting the used sections and flipping foils to gain performance.
Wholeheartedly concur.
Select to expand quoteVelocicraptor said..
Even the MKI is still a good foil but Cabrinha never made a mast stiff enough to do it justice. Would be interesting to try on a NL or Evo Cedrus.
Cabrinha did not keep up with the pack in regards to the continued evolution of foils. If they could build a super stiff mast...just the mast alone, with their current MK2 foils, would put them in league with all the other top brands. For sure.
Select to expand quotedorothyinste said..Jeroensurf said..
I owned the MK1 series and demoed the MK2 quite intensivly including the hollow mast and its imo weight depenend how good it works. For my 97kg the hollow mast was still way to flexible (so was the Fone 14mm mast).
I can see that its a pretty good set up for lighter riders, but for those bigger boned guys like me it is outperformed with a margin by brands like Code, Axis, AFS.
If I may ask, what are you riding Jeroen?
I had a look at a few different brands, but it was the AFS line that I really loved. There 80cm 13.8mm thick UHM mast is hard to beat and there foils are excellent.
Their website is French (without any logic or sense in it) but their products are imo simply outstanding. Besides that I really appreciate that they are made in France instead of Asia.
I'm not sure about the factory where Cab and other brands are made, but I know that laws about labour, well-being and the environment are a lot less strict than in Europe. I surf more comfortably with gear that I know is made with wellbeiing for employees and the environment in mind. Might be stupid thats my take on it.
I am not 100% strict/hardliner in that because the first priority is that it should work well and some things are hard to get around, but where it is possible I do pay attention to it and weight it in what /where I buy stuff.
btw I do agree that with a top notch mast the MK2 series probably sit amongst the higher regions of the pack...but a brand/product is as good as the weakest link and that mast illustrates that pretty clearly imo..
