Tech Focus: Cabrinha AER Wing

Cabrinha’s new AER Wing is built to raise the bar for downwinding, surfing, freeriding, and more. In this Tech Focus, we catch up with Cabrinha’s James Boulding to dive into the development process behind the AER, from cutting-edge material choices to clever design tweaks that deliver serious weight savings, improved control, and ultimate packability. Whether you’re a seasoned winger or just building your quiver, here’s everything you need to know about this exciting new addition!

What was the original goal behind the development of the AER Wing? And what materials and design choices helped achieve that?

The AER Wing was developed to create an exceptionally lightweight, high-performance wing suitable for various disciplines, including downwinding (wing up, foil downwind), surfing, and general freeride. It is also available in smaller sizes, which will open up options for kids and smaller riders. Don’t get me wrong, though; this is not a toy wing. It’s made with many of the durable features found on the Mantis and Vision wings. The featherweight strut and LE handles help reduce weight alongside featherlite bladders. Another area of weight savings was achieved through the use of handle inserts, while minor adjustments were also made to areas of the wing where reinforcements were less critical.

You mention the AER being great for downwinding—how does it pack down in comparison to other wings in the Cabrinha lineup?

The inclusion of Feather Weight Handles not only reduces weight but also facilitates an easier pack down, allowing the wing to be more compact when deflated compared to other models in Cabrinha’s lineup.​ It also goes upwind like a rocket and is super stable due to the extra dihedral, so you can afford to ride a relatively small wing for the wind strength. The two inflate valves also make for a simple and quick deflation, something you can do easily while out on the water. 

Harlem Kitesurfing | View in Mag

Dryrobe | View in Mag

What’s the weight difference between this and the Mantis, for instance? 

A 5m AER weighs 2.16kg, compared to a Mantis 5m of 2.5kg. That’s approximately 350g of weight savings. For some, that 350g makes all the difference. The AER is lighter than most Aluula wings on the market, and you can notice this difference in the bigger sizes. When you’re surfing a wave, it floats behind you, and that weight reduction changes the swing of the wing when controlled by the leading edge handle.

Did you do anything to the handles to make them better than the first soft handles that appeared on wings back at the sport’s inception?

We’ve taken everything we learnt throughout the wing development program around handles and tried to implement as many of the control elements as possible into the handles. They feel rigid to grip, which helps when controlling the wing, but with all the added weight savings. They’re also very user-friendly for kids, who tend to have smaller hands, and are softer than our fully rigid handles used on the Mantis and Vision, which makes them a bit safer. Another purposely designed feature of the AER handles is that they allow you to hold the paddle and handle simultaneously, making for a simple upwind journey with a paddle in tow.

The AER Wing has new window layouts—how does this enhance safety and visibility during sessions?

We’ve always been a strong advocate for windows, so people have complete visibility on the water. The AER retains this safety feature without compromising on weight. 

What feedback have you received from the riders so far?

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from our pro riders who used it at the photoshoot. It was a hit straight away in the waves and on light wind days, where the guys managed to head out to some mellow off-shore waves and make the most of things. Titouan was the one who was the most surprised, and who ended up racking up the most hours on it.

For someone completely new to winging, how would the AER support their learning and progression?

For beginners, we recommend the Vision wing due to its rigid handles and dihedral, which make it the easiest wing to ride in this range. The rigid handles will also help in control and facilitate quick learning. The AER’s benefits are particularly noticeable to intermediates or those focusing on waves who want the lightest possible setup.

Dryrobe | View in Mag

Cabrinha | View in Mag

How did you test the AER Wing across different conditions and rider styles to ensure its adaptability?

The AER has been a side project in the making for some time, I think partly because so many of Cabrinha’s staff have kids who are at the age where they are giving winging a try. There just weren’t specifically designed wings that were small enough. The smaller 1, 1.3, and 1.6 prototype wings were perfect, enabling younger kids to hold onto and control them, allowing them to learn and have a really positive experience. Then you have the big kids in the brand like Jon Modica, who regularly used the 2m in the gorge for downwinding. It’s this versatility and attention to detail in the small sizes that make the wing so adaptable and a great option to have in your wing quiver.

Thanks James!

Thanks, Jen!