Cabrinha Moto Apex

We got a surprise message from customs about a duty payment for a package from Sri Lanka and we had no clue what it could be! Fast forward one day, and a brand-new, freshly-made 2026 Cabrinha Moto Apex arrived straight from the factory. We’re used to seeing older versions almost every day, as a few kite schools here in Tarifa use them for lessons, so we thought we knew what to expect. But once again, we were completely wrong.

As we unpacked the kite and laid it out for the first time, we immediately noticed its high-aspect, three-strut design, with the two outer struts constructed with Aluula Gold. The center strut and leading edge uses 140g Dacron and the canopy features the classic Teijin D2 ripstop, finished with a refined coating that gives it a premium feel. One detail that caught our attention straight away was the ultra-thin seven-point front bridle, paired with a pulley to connect the front lines and two rear attachment points. The kite feels light, with reinforcements exactly where you’d expect them and an overall sense that every detail has been carefully considered in its construction. At rest, the kite’s shape already looked intriguing but once we launched it, everything clicked. At first glance the design seems like it might benefit from five struts rather than three but then you notice the super-stiff Aluula outer struts. These serve to maintain the structural integrity while, at the same time, saving a lot of weight.

Our first session was in light wind and from the very beginning we could appreciate the Moto Apex’s exceptional low-end performance, combined with light to medium bar and steering pressure. It’s an incredibly easy and comfortable kite to ride. The feedback from the front-line pulley connection proved to be precise and intuitive. In fact, it is integral to the very noticeable and effective power range as you move the bar from full power to depower. The biggest surprise came with the first jump. We weren’t expecting that level of vertical lift, especially in such light conditions. The hangtime was equally impressive, but what really stood out was how effortless it all felt. By the end of the session, we were already looking forward to getting back out, ideally with more wind to really push the kite further.

It seems the wind gods were listening. The next day brought gusts of up to 35 knots, which, on a 10m with such a high-aspect design, definitely made us hesitate. Still, turning back to swap kites wasn’t an option! We can confidently say we pushed the kite to its upper limit for our weight and not once did it feel out of control or lose its shape. The Aluula struts clearly make a difference; it’s hard to imagine the kite performing this well with any other materials. Bar pressure did increase, but never to the point of feeling very heavy and the same applied to the steering. Despite the stronger wind, the kite remained comfortable and composed, showing an impressive high-end range. The vertical lift was massive, matched by equally solid hangtime. It took a few minutes to commit to the first loop, but once we did, it felt incredibly intuitive: tight, pivoty and quick to climb back to 12. Well-timed downloops set us down gently, almost like landing on a cushion of air. What started as a challenging session quickly turned into a fun, and surprisingly easy, Big Air experience.

After that, we had several more sessions with the kite and the impression remained consistent every time. From low to high wind, it performs beautifully, combining top-end performance with real ease of use. We even took it out on the foil a couple of times and thanks to its light weight, strong low-end and impressive lift and hangtime in marginal conditions, we had a blast pushing our board-off skills. Our first sessions testing the Moto Apex were on the standard low-V setup, but Cabrinha also recommends flying it with a high-V setup (around 6m above the trim). We went out a few more times using the high-V, and noticed a softer bar pressure and more speed and pivot in the turns, so it's definitely worth giving both a try to see which suits your riding style best.

So, who is this kite for? In short, it’s a very versatile option that works for a wide range of riders, from beginners to advanced freeriders on a twintip and even those who enjoy occasional foil sessions. That said, after all these sessions, we found a very clear sweet spot. This kite is ideal for riders looking to learn and progress in Big Air, especially those who prefer riding in low to mid wind conditions. With its impressive lift and consistent hangtime across the entire wind range, it becomes the perfect tool to build confidence and push progression, whether that’s boosting higher, dialing in board-offs or getting comfortable with kiteloops and all their variations.