Same Questions - Cabrinha
Issue 80 / Thu 16th Apr, 2020
This issue Cabrinha get issued with the same questions, but as ever the answers are always different. Find out what makes the brand tick and where their ethos lies right here!
This issue we go behind the scenes with one of the biggest kiteboarding brands on the planet, Cabrinha. They’ve been in the sport since the very beginning and making some of the most ground-breaking equipment throughout their history. Long time kitesurfers will remember their dedication to improving the safety of our sport with innovations like the Recon and the first ever bow kite, the Crossbow, which changed the face of our sport and continues to impact the kites we ride today!
What is your core focus as a brand, and what do you think makes you different?
Cabrinha’s main focus and DNA is innovation, specifically the innovation that really makes an exceeding difference to our customer's kitesurfing experience. Over the years, fundamental production decisions have always centred around what can make positive changes to equipment, that improves safety and enjoyment. There have been some bold decisions throughout the years, based on what can greatly enhance the user's experience, and this has led to some of the industry's key products.
The avid curiosity that runs through the team keeps questions being asked when other brands follow trends and cut corners.Who makes up the main team behind the products and what experience do they have?
We have a diverse team of professionals from around the globe that work on the product development program. Lars Moltrup, from Denmark, heads up the Cabrinha product development program from the Maui HQ. He is joined by Pete Cabrinha, Dudu Mazzocato, Phil Sobolev, Patrick Dunne and Brodie Sutherland. They work together with a whole network of test team riders on Maui, as well as international riders, that have input on various projects from around the world. Each member plays a vital role in the development program, and the combined input is key to making highly durable, performance products for the customer.
How much testing and product development goes into making a final product?
Depending on the product, we work on timelines stretching from between one to three years. This timeframe covers disciplines ranging from initial sketching and brainstorming of an idea to CAD design, prototyping, design for manufacturing, defining QC procedures and maintaining a steady quality throughout the manufacturing cycle. However, once the product is finalised, the tasks for the brand does not finish, as we continue to track manufacturing while inspecting suppliers and shipments.
The majority of Cabrinha's testing, headed up by Phil Sobolev who has been with Cabrinha for over 15 years, is done on Maui. In the case of a kite, up to 100 prototypes are worked through before a product range is ready to be released. Dudu Mazzocato, Cabrinha's Chief Kite Designer, who has been part of the kite industry since its genesis, working on kite and windsurfing design software in the infancy of the sport, works on all Cabrinha's kite and wing designs that are prototyped and shipped to Maui for testing. Multiple iterations go back and forth within the test team, fine-tuning bridle layouts and tweaking settings to the mm for the exact bar pressure and feedback desired. This is where their experience is second to none, and the attention to detail is at its finest.
For 2020, Cabrinha released a new canopy with a new and innovative production technique called 'Nano Ripstop' across the entire Cabrinha kite and wing range which has set the new standard in performance, strength and stiffness of the canopy. In the factory, the materials are rigorously tested during development, in terms of tear strength/elongation/UV stability and several other performance and durability tests, which ensures that the material will finally hit the target performance, which is set out in a design brief. Alongside rigorous lab testing, the development team works together with the Maui state lifeguards who set up test canopy kites, attach them to buoys in the ocean for weeks, where the materials can be monitored alongside benchmark material for long durations in Maui's harsh environment. It is here where extensive scientific testing meets the real-life testing that kiteboarder put their gear through. Maui is one of the windiest places on earth, with over 330 days of wind a year, and combined with extensive laboratory performance and cyclic testing, ensures the unique high-end Cabrinha quality across product categories. It's one of the reasons our entire operation is now entirely based here.
Which product are you most proud of in your line and why?
The Switchblade kite is a firm favourite amongst customers and staff. It's such a versatile kite that continues to astonish with its countless accolades.
We've seen it crown champions, take top spot at King of the Air, broken world speed records and tow up world records. All of this, while remaining such an incredibly user-friendly kite that is a go-to for kiteboarder of all levels. Its versatility is unparalleled, and as it approaches its 15th birthday, its intrinsic to the brand's heritage and success. It is the product of choice for so many kiteboarder's and has taken them on their journeys through the sport. It will undoubtedly have some good stories for its grandchildren one day!
What's the hardest part of running the brand?
There are always challenges when it comes to making a product. Decisions need to be made all the way through the process that changes products characteristics. The ones that are tough to handle are the unforeseen challenges. Right this minute, the COVID-19 virus brings challenges to all the departments. This is where having good problem-solving staff is key, and the experience that comes with the brand being in the industry for over 20 years absolutely vital.
Every problem encountered and mistake made over the years has lead to valuable lessons learnt and strategies and solutions put in place for dealing with issues. These are exceptionally challenging times that everyone inside and out the industry has to deal with, but the strong bonds that tie staff to the kiting community make them work extra hard behind the scenes to make sure everyone comes out the other end and can get back to doing what they love with the products they trust.
What's the most rewarding?
Interaction with stoked customers is always so rewarding for the Cabrinha team, and it keeps the creative fire burning to work on new products and ideas that will hopefully help grow the industry to the wider public. Whether that's seeing the smile on beginners first runs first jump or rotation all the way through to seeing an experienced kiter scrambling to pump up as quick as he can to hit the water. We love the excitement and thrill our sport gives to people. It's a great motivation and one reason the team get a lot of time in the water. Weekends are spent at the beach riding the very equipment they strive to better. There's a lot of value in this while at the same time making sure there is an open dialogue between customers and team.
What does the future look like for Cabrinha, what innovations, different areas and new products are in the pipeline?
The future is looking incredibly bright. Last month Cabrinha returned to its roots as Water Bound Investments, a small group of passionate investors alongside Pete Cabrinha bought back the Cabrinha brand and trademark. Water Bound is headed up by long term Cabrinha ambassador and talented waterman Jon Modica. This allows Cabrinha to be a lot more agile in the market and expand its product development. The core distributor and dealer network, so valuable to Cabrinha's customer experience remains the same, but the stabilisers are off in terms of capabilities in product design, so Cabrinha HQ is a hive of activity and excitement. The foil program is something the development team have been putting lots of design work, prototyping and testing into as well as the Crosswing program. There is a huge potential to innovate here, and these are areas Pete especially is avidly involved in on and off the water. It's the rise of these new avenues of progression that gets all the team motivated and creates a buzz behind the scenes.
Can you describe who the typical Cabrinha rider might be? - By this, I mean the guy who buys your gear, who are you pitching yourselves to, not the pro riders.
The typical Cabrinha customer is someone who puts performance, craftsmanship and reliability above all. Cabrinha prides itself on making products that seamlessly blend innovation with ease of use. We always aim to let the technology work in the background so the customer can focus on the experience; it's a party in the front and business in the back. Since we make such a wide range of products, our customer base is diverse. But the common thread that weaves through the Cabrinha family is the appreciation of the surf culture and the lifestyle that goes with it.
What phrase best sums up the brand?
#livefreeridefree
Through our eyes and the individuals we surround ourselves with, our ethos is all about living with freedom and not taking ourselves too seriously. We want to make sure we've done everything possible our side, so all you have to do is take our product out the box and go enjoy yourself.
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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!
