Latest Kiteboarding Review

Two Reviews from Hatteras:

2012 Slingshot RPM 14m

by Nathan, MACkite Crew

Being the lazy kiteboarder that I am, I found myself going after kites already pumped up and ready to go. I'll even go as far to steal a kite out of someone's hands - especially Jake Mitchell. He looked tired on the water as he usually does, so I put on my harness, grabbed my board and headed out to flag Jake down to take his 2012 Slingshot RPM 14m from him while he attended to someone that "needed to ask him a question" - smooth move by yours truly. This was my first time in a while on an RPM, and I found myself quickly at home. It has a ton of low end power! Even in winds around 15 knots and me at 195 lbs on a wakeboard with boots, I was able to go upwind and throw powered unhooked moves. One of my favorite things about the RPM is its ease of use for a variety of riding types and skill levels. I had a student that was learning board starts at the beginning of the week, and I grabbed the 14m RPM for him to use during our lesson. He popped right up, and was riding upwind within the hour! In fact, this customer was so pleased with the 14m RPM that he had to leave Hatteras with one, and I reluctantly sold him the kite at the end of the week. I am very confident in the overall build quality, performance, and safety of the 2012 Slingshot RPM and if you like to kiteboard with well-designed equipment, you will be also.

Age: 27
Weight: 190
Years Riding: 3
Preferred Gear: Switchblades, Wakeboard with Boots, Strapless Surfboard

2012 Slingshot RPM 8m

by Randy, Nathan's Dad

When the wind exceeded 23 knots, I finally had to put away my 2012 Cabrinha 13m Crossbow that had been my go-to kite for most of our week in Cape Hatteras. I came back to the beach to steal the 2013 9m Cabrinha Switchblade and found that it had been snaked by someone else. Fortunately, I found on the beach pumped up, rigged, and ready to go a 2012 Slingshot RPM 8m. After a short briefing on the operations and adjustments of the Slingshot bar and RPM, I was ready to roll. Being not a fan of small kites, I didn't have high expectations when I headed out. But, after a quick launch and getting on the water with it, I found that the RPM had a ton of low-end power, yet maneuvered rapidly and had a snappy response with the winds approaching thirty knots. This was my first experience with a Slingshot kite, and I was very pleased with how comfortable I felt with the RPM in my hands having most of my experience with Cabrinha products. After finding such enjoyment on the water with the RPM, I'll be having the crew at MACkite ship me one to add to my quiver very soon.

Age: 50
Weight: 195 lbs
Years Riding: 1.5
Riding Style: Freeride on snow and water
Equipment: 2012 Cabrinha Crossbow 13m, 2012 Cabrinha Spectrum 140, 2013 Dakine Vega Harness

Check out the Slingshot RPM here

Highlighted Knowledge Center Article

Deciding Between a Waist or Seat Harness

by Jake Mitchell

One of the more frequent questions we get from new kiteboarders is whether they should get a waist or a seat harness. Despite a few notable exceptions, that answer is going to boil down to preference. While it is a decision best made in a kiteboarding shop where the different styles can be tried, not everybody has that option. For that reason, I'll compare the major differences.

Seat harnesses are generally quite popular with people just learning to kitesurf. They tend to fit around the hips, with leg straps similar to those found on a climbing harness. Because seat harnesses sit lower, they have a lower tow point, or spreader bar location. This lends itself to greater stability, which in turn allows for easier water starts. Seat harnesses are ideal for people with back sensitivities or problems due to the lower pull point, and heavier set riders. Disadvantages include that the fact that they tend to be bulkier, and can constrict one's range of movement. They also are more apt to be compared to large diapers, so the wearer should be comfortable in their self-image.

Read the rest of our harness article here

Kite Boarding Lessons at MACkiteboarding.com

Well, if you are here then you have done some research on what it takes to start kiteboarding. At MACkite, our Kiteboarding Lessons Program has a kiteboarding lesson that will suit your needs- from the basic to the advanced, our kiteboarding instructors can get you where you need to be.

If you are at the first stage of learning the ropes of kiteboarding and you need some help learning to steer the kite, MACkite Kiteboarding Ground School will get you started off on the right foot, and for only $100, it is an inexpensive way to get introduced to the sport of kiteboarding. After your Ground School Kiteboarding Lesson, we urge you to continue to hone your flying skills with at least 8-10 more hours on your power trainer kite. Students who have taken the time to do their trainer kite homework progress much faster in the second stage of our kiteboarding lessons.

The next step in the MACkite Kiteboarding Lesson Program would be a one-day kiteboarding lessson for $249 or a two-day kiteboarding camp. In both the one day lesson and two day camp, you will be taught the safety aspects of kiteboarding, body dragging, and self-rescue so you will feel confident in your own abilities to take yourself to the next level after only one session with our trained kiteboarding instructors. If you would like more than 4 hours of instruction and supervision, be sure to schedule yourself for a two-day camp and receive 8 hours of instruction from our trained kiteboarding instructors for only $549. During the two-day kiteboarding camp you will have more time learning the basics, as well as an introduction to board starts and possibly getting your first real ride on a kiteboard.

From there, if you need a refresher or would like some one-on-one personal coaching time with a Kiteboarding Coach, we do offer Private Kiteboarding Lessons for $100 per hour. These lessons are tailored to help you meet your exact goals. Need some coaching on how to stay upwind, master jumping, or do basic tricks? Our Kiteboarding Coaches can take you to the next level of kitesufing.

So what are you waiting for? Call us at 800.622.4655 and schedule your MACkite kiteboarding lesson today!