Cabrinha Kiteboarding, The Early Days

[ricki]

I vaguely remember some problem with the bladders in one year, it could have been 15 years ago in 2001. I could tell you stories about numerous perforated Wipika Classics and Arblasts going over several years, not just one production lot. Despite that I hung in with them for several years. I still have trouble blowing a kite up to full pressure due to the experience and changing out all those bladders and patching them. I have been riding Cabrinha for the last 8 years pretty much exclusively with no bladder problems or any other problems that come to mind. I have had some leaks but due to the normal causes, perforations, etc.. What do you think caused that one bladder to blow?

[Jake]

I think the bladder may have been twisted about 2" from the valve, or it could have been defective/thinner in that section. It blew out while the kite was sitting on the beach after a session. The kite had no crashes and had been hand launched and landed.

Back to kites, my first kite was a Wipika LTR 8.5/11.5m two line with an Airush reride bar, no depower, no safety QR. It was hang on and edge hard when the wind picked up. Learned on my own with help from www.kitesurfingschool.org.

[ricki]

A look back to 2000. Things have come a long way in that time.