Cabrinha 2026 Moto Apex 10m 2026
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
For 2026, the Moto Apex had a full redesign. This isn’t just a tweak; the kite has been reworked with a higher aspect ratio, a lighter airframe, a thinner leading edge, and a more refined bridle setup to push it further into the performance freeride category.
Key to that is the use of HT140 material in the leading edge, combined with Aluula composite struts, which helps reduce weight while increasing stiffness. The result is a kite that feels lighter in the air, more responsive on the bar, and more efficient through the window. The updated wingtip design and thinner Apex bridle also reduce drag, helping the kite fly forward faster and generate speed more easily.
The Moto Apex is designed to run on a 6m High V setup, which gives the kite a more supported and composed feel, especially when riding powered. By bringing the front line split higher, it helps stabilise the centre of the kite, resulting in smoother, more controlled turning and a more predictable pull through loops. This added support is particularly noticeable in stronger winds, where the kite feels more locked in and easier to manage without sacrificing its responsiveness.
It’s still a three-strut platform at its core, so versatility remains a big part of the package. This is the kite in the Cabrinha range that can do it all, freeride, big air, waves and foiling. The Moto Apex can handle all of that just like in previous years. This year, with the major updates, everything is geared towards improving responsiveness, efficiency and overall performance.
In The Air
Once you’ve launched the kite, you instantly feel where all that development is; the Moto Apex really stands out. The first thing you notice is how quickly it moves through the window. It’s fast, direct, and very alive in the air, giving it a more dynamic feel than previous versions.
The depower is particularly impressive. It has a relatively short throw, so you can dump power quickly with small movements on the bar. That makes a big difference when you’re riding overpowered or dealing with gusty conditions, giving you a lot of control without needing exaggerated input, and more importantly, allowing you to hold your edge.
Jumping offers a powerful, explosive vertical take-off. The kite lifts you straight up rather than pulling you downwind, and it’s easy to time take-offs thanks to the responsive steering. There’s good hangtime too, helped by the kite’s ability to fly forward quickly and maintain efficiency through the jump.
Turning is pivotal, which makes it a great platform for learning loops. It comes around quickly and predictably, giving you confidence as you start to send it. If you slow the rotation slightly, you can get a more drawn-out, powerful loop, so there’s progression built in as your riding develops.
Throughout all of this, the kite holds its shape really well. The stiffer airframe gives it a stable, controlled feel, even when you’re pushing it harder.
The Moto Apex keeps that same lively character from previous versions. It builds speed easily and tracks upwind well, thanks to reduced drag and a more forward flying position in the window.
The lighter construction is noticeable here too. It feels nimble and more reactive to input, which makes general riding more engaging without becoming demanding. Bar pressure is on the lighter side, but there’s still enough feedback to know exactly where the kite is.
In gusty, overpowered conditions, it stays composed. The three-strut platform gives it enough stability to smooth things out, while the added stiffness keeps everything feeling tight and controlled.
It’s also surprisingly adaptable. Whether you’re cruising, riding a surfboard, or even getting into foiling, it is very versatile. That’s always been a strength of the Moto, and the new version builds on it without sacrificing any particular discipline. The riding experience is improved no matter what you are doing on any given day.
Overall
The Moto Apex takes what made the Moto so popular and pushes it further into performance territory. It’s faster, more responsive and more efficient, but still keeps the versatility that makes it such an easy kite to live with.
For intermediate riders, it’s a great progression tool. The pivotal turning makes loops more approachable, the vertical lift helps build confidence in jumping, and the quick depower adds control when conditions get tricky.
At the same time, there’s enough performance here to keep more experienced riders interested, especially if you want one kite that can cover a lot of disciplines without feeling compromised.
If you’re looking for a do-it-all kite with a more dynamic, high-performance edge, the Moto Apex is well worth considering.
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By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
