Cabrinha Nitro Apex

The third generation of Cabrinha’s high-performance Big Air kite, the Nitro Apex, has landed and, of course, we’ve tested it! But… who remembers the original Nitro back in 2004 (or was it 2003?) with its classic C-shape and 7-strut design? Sorry, we got a little nostalgic here… let’s dive into the review.

First, let’s talk about that “Apex” designation. For the Apex series, Cabrinha uses their highest-performance materials, including Ultra HT Dacron for the entire airframe, which makes the kite stiffer and more responsive. They’ve also implemented thinner bladders that reduce weight by 20%, along with lighter bridles that improve both weight savings and aerodynamics.

The latest Nitro maintains its 5-strut, high-aspect-ratio design with 7-point bridle attachment. Our first surprise came when examining the canopy – Cabrinha has switched to Teijin D2 ripstop this year, replacing their previous canopy material. From our perspective, this gives the kite a more premium feel and should enhance long-term durability. Teijin’s D2 fabric has been an industry benchmark for nearly two decades, offering proven performance and durability while shaving precious grams off the total weight. As mentioned earlier, the Ultra HT airframe feels incredibly solid and resistant, adding to the kite’s high-performance character.

During the days we had the Nitro Apex on test, we only encountered Tarifa’s classic offshore gusty winds of varying intensities. While far from ideal, it turned out to be a perfect opportunity to see how the kite performs in unpredictable scenarios and to catch some epic gusts! The first standout feature we noticed is its remarkable stability. The kite maintained an incredibly rigid and compact profile in the air, handling even the wildest gusts with composure while keeping its shape intact. It stayed locked in and behaved predictably, never losing control or dropping out of the sky like some other kites we saw during those sessions.

Its high-end range is impressive, easily handling strong winds and sudden gusts. We were riding a 9m when most others were on 7m kites and it still felt comfortable and manageable. Power delivery is smooth and progressive, with small adjustments to the bar having a noticeable impact on the kite’s response. Thanks to its optimal positioning in the wind window, upwind performance is effortless, making for an overall comfortable ride. The Nitro delivers that classic 5-strut feel with medium bar pressure, even when fully powered. And, while it’s certainly fast, the speed feels controlled rather than intimidating.

As a Big Air kite, we naturally focused most of our testing on this aspect, so let’s start with lift and hangtime. The Nitro Apex delivers exceptional vertical boost and hangtime with an intuitive, wide sweet spot for easy takeoffs. As the jumps got higher, the kite began to show a more technical side as it tends to shoot back to 12 quickly and stay behind, which might be a bit tricky for less experienced riders but for skilled ones, this trait adds a ton of excitement and control. With the right gust, especially paired with a clean kicker and solid vertical lift, the Nitro Apex allowed us to crank out endless downloops on the descent, sometimes even getting a second lift mid-air. It turned even basic jumps into a blast when timed well. So yes, the boosting and hangtime are dialed in, but what about loops and variations? We were stoked to find that the kiteloops are precise and deliver a solid, satisfying pull, something that’s becoming rare in today’s loop trends, where many kites offer little to no yank. The Nitro Apex’s loops cover good horizontal distance and remain smooth and predictable throughout, making it easy to build confidence and start adding tricks and rotations.

The Nitro Apex is clearly a top-tier boosting machine, especially for experienced riders. But thanks to its predictable nature, responsiveness, massive wind range and effortless upwind performance, it’s more than just a Big Air kite. It’s also a good freeride option, as it is perfect for riders who want to enjoy every session, from cruising around to going huge when conditions are on fire.