Think Different

James Boulding and the Cabrinha team take a different approach to the annual photoshoot. Kitesurfing is about diversity; it always has been. Regardless of the current love-in with Big Air, the sport encompasses so much more. From foiling to wave riding and everything in between, it’s not always about the biggest jump of your life or the most remote location where you can take a photo that’s never been seen before. Sometimes, it’s about getting back to the sports roots. Sharing memories with great friends and well-trodden spots that still deliver the goods.

Cabrinha is a brand that is etched into the very essence of our sport. One of the originals, it cemented its place in kitesurfing’s storied history long ago. What better way to mark the 2025 product launch and photoshoot than to revisit one of the most iconic European kitesurfing locations? Fuerteventura has long been a melting pot for our sport, delivering a plethora of conditions depending on which beach you heat to. It embodies the essence of our sport.

“I can confess that I was guilty of falling into a comfort trap. I would wait for specific conditions for me to go out and session, skipping days as they didn’t look perfect. But then I realised that I was missing out on one of the best things our sport offers…Diversity. Once I was willing to think differently and break out of the mould, that fire and excitement to go out and ride was reignited. I realised those sessions didn’t look great, but they turned out to be some of the most memorable ones ever, and I came off the water with a smile that was hard to wipe away.   

Woo Sports | View in Mag

Ride Engine | View in Mag

Even at work, it is very easy to fall into the same comfort trap. Each product cycle rolls into the next; we follow the same timeline and process for development and marketing. But this year, we took another approach. We realised that things are not the same as they used to be, and much as I did in my kiting, we had to look outside of our comfort zones and Think Differently about how we do things and what matters. 2025 is a pivotal year for Cabrinha and our industry, and I can’t wait for everyone to join us on this new journey.” - Dave Hastilow - Cabrinha Brand Manager 

For Cabrinha’s 2025 shoot, we decided to take things back to the roots of kiteboarding at a place that has kiteboarding history running through its veins. It’s seen the sport develop from the early days and has played an integral part of kiteboarding’s journey through the ages.  For many years, it hosted the freestyle world tour on the east of the island, whereas the north shore dirt road is home to some infamous wave spots and is the chosen winter destination for many surfers. These days, wing foiling has also taken off, and the islands’ versatility makes it a great choice for passionate wind sports enthusiasts looking to flee Europe as temperatures drop and winter looms. With so many spots to choose from, you’ll need a set of wheels, and some local knowledge certainly saves some time on the daily spot checks.

While some sections of the kiteboarding public have gone in an all-out pursuit of big air, it’s not necessarily emblematic of the entirety of the kiteboarding public, for many other factors come into play when choosing a destination. For us, the shoot was all about FUN. Sharing sessions and road-tripping around an island on the daily forecast. It was about stripping things back to why we got into the sport, meeting new people and sharing sessions, whatever the conditions presented.  For once, the sole goal wasn’t to find spots where the wind would blow 50+ or find unridden ‘never been seen before’ beaches. The shooting combined a dealer meeting with some of Cabrinha’s European retailers. Cars were packed with versatile equipment and a versatile team and went in search of ‘Something Different’.

We spoke to key members of the Cabrinha family to learn about some of the standout products.

Jon Modica, Water Bound Investments Chairman, has been involved with the Cabrinha brand since he was a teenage grom. He’s come a long way and heads the investment group that owns Cabrinha. With a keen eye for product development and an unwavering passion to spend as much time outside of work in the water as possible, he finds himself at the cutting edge of some areas of the Cabrinha development program. This year, the Drifter underwent some major upgrades.

FacePlant | View in Mag

Duotone | View in Mag

“All the kites in our range have benefited from the new Apex construction, but I would argue that the Drifter benefited the most from it. Faster, more responsive, and lighter are all ideal qualities for a wave kite. Pat’s design changes also allowed a larger range for the kite, which I personally feel puts the Apex Drifter in a different class from any wave kite in the market. The Apex Drifter has far exceeded my expectations, and I hope everyone gets a chance to try it; it’s hard to ride anything else after.” - Jon Modica.

Alby Rondina also boasts an impressive 20-year history within the Cabrinha brand. He witnessed the first Switchblade release in 2005, as it re-invented the kite industry, setting new benchmarks of performance and safety utilising the bow kite design. It’s still going strong years later with a loyal freeride following and has just undergone a new design revamp with the APEX upgrade.  Alby spent much of the shoot putting it through its paces on the north shore of Fuerteventura, where the reefy lunar coastline offers some excellent kicker spots, if a little unforgiving.  

“The 2025 Switchblade is the cleanest kite I’ve ever flown; it never seems to wrinkle or deform. It is incredibly stable in the sky, partly due to the 5 strut platform and the ultra HT (high tenacity) leading edge construction, which is a standout feature with every APEX kite. I love using it for freestyle in the waves or just going out to boost in strong winds. Pat’s new design changes have made its handling far more sporty than the previous version, and if you want even more fun and fast turning, adjust the A-setting on the wingtip, and the traction control will be turned off! - Alberto Rondina

Hannah embodies a ‘have fun no matter the conditions’ attitude every time she hits the water and is a fantastic presence at any beach due to her infectious energy.  She’s been part of the Cabrinha brand for up to 3 years and manages to inspire other water users globally on a daily basis.  

“I gravitated to the Moto X as it suits my riding style; it just does everything exceptionally well and is so intuitive to use. For me, kiteboarding is about freedom and using a kite to do lots of different types of riding.  Whether in strong winds, light winds, used on a foil, or to ride waves, I like one kite that does it all. The Moto’s versatility and ease of use makes it the perfect kite in my quiver…” - Hannah Whiteley.

Harlem Kitesurfing | View in Mag

Ride Engine | View in Mag

“As you can see from the images, Fuerteventura delivered the goods and then some. It’s a location that should be on every kiters hit list. From flat water to huge waves, the island delivers all of it in spades. With constant trade winds offering you miles of smiles, it’s a location that will always be on your kiteboardings radar. 

It’s great to see it showcased once again. It’s been a while since we've seen a fully fledged shoot there, and as you can see, it produces some absolutely stunning conditions that are hard to beat. 

Add in the latest gear from Cabrinha with a big upgrade on the construction this year, leading to some big developments in the lineup, the team performing at their highest level, and more lenses than a camera shop, and you have a recipe for magic thats a feast for the eyeballs. 

We’re frothing to get our hands on the latest gear and get testing but in the meantime will just drool over these images and the video and get booking some tickets to Fuerte in the meantime!” - Rou Chater.