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Latest News, Blog & Videos

Ready to dive into your hub for all things windsports? Our collection of articles include helpful tips, reviews, comparisons, and more - all featuring our incredible crew with thousands of hours spent on the water. 

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Dre Solo Session From Above - Kitesurf Antigua

Dre Solo Session From Above - Kitesurf Antigua

Drone footage sure makes watching Kiteboarding videos much more interesting. Who thinks we can talk Steve into popping for a drone to film while we all Kiteboard in Grand Haven and Muskegon? Chack out this bird's eye view of Dre's solo session at our private spot in Antigua. Shredding on the 2014 Slingshot RPM and his new signature Tona board...The Flow.  All drone footage shot by Justice Bentz of Pigeon VisionMusic by Justin "Jus Bus" Nation …
2nd Apr 2014 Jake VanderZee
Julien Kepski - Crystallize Edit

Julien Kepski - Crystallize Edit

"Enjoy my latest video recorded in the Turks and Caicos Island shot by Chris Bobryk with the help of Soloshot, GoPro and Lifeproof. Riding by the mangroves, enjoying the secret flat spots the island has to offer and discovering the secret slider park with my homie definitely made that trip a blast !!!" - Julien Kepski
20th Mar 2014 Jake VanderZee
Joint Ops - Brazil From NA BLEND!

Joint Ops - Brazil From NA BLEND!

Check out the second installment of NA BLEND's JOINT OPS series featuring: Eric Rienstra, Craig Cunningham, Sam Medysky, and Brandon Scheid as they session in the Northeast of Brazil. slingshotsports.com northkites.com bestkiteboarding.com liquidforcekites.com …
11th Mar 2014

Maintaining Your Kite Pump

One of the most frustrating things to have happen as you're prepping your kite on the beach is to have something with your pump go awry. Whether a kink in the hose, a missing attachment, faulty seals, or your dual action pump suddenly becoming a single stroke, if a spare pump isn't around, the above scenarios can quickly sully a would-be great kiteboarding session. Fortunately, with some routine maintenance and general care, you can keep your inflation companion pumping strong for sessions to …
16th Dec 2013

Exercises for Kiteboarders

Arguably one of the most common questions posed by those unfamiliar with kiteboarding is, "Does it take a lot of strength?" The default answer is 'no', as that question is almost always in reference to the process of attaching yourself to the harness, which alleviates much of the pull on your arms. In reality, kitesurfing does require power, along with core strength, balance, coordination, and stability. If your aspirations are limited to merely riding, then physical fitness will have very littl …
23rd Nov 2013

Frozen Fingers

Welcome to November. Up here in Michigan that means November gales, some 10'-12' wave days, cold water (50 degrees) and even colder air. Riding in cold weather takes a special mindset, but even more importantly, it demands the right gear. At MACkite we ride until Lake Michigan freezes over, with some days pushing a total temperature (water plus air) of only 75 degrees.Modern wetsuits with extra layers and a floatation vest will keep your core warm in just about any weather. Your head, feet and h …
21st Nov 2013

Kiteboarding Trainer Kite Reference Guide

Your first 6-10 hours of kiteboarding lessons depend highly on your kite flying skills. Virtually all MACkite students who have flown a trainer prior to a lesson progress twice as far and twice as fast. A great trainer will cost $100-$400 and has a fantastic return on investment versus the cost of learning kite flying skills during lessons. Kiteboarding skills are the similar to all athletic skills - the better your muscle memory is, the more successful an athlete you will be. Here is a breakdow …
4th Nov 2013

Stand Up Paddle Boarding: Board Selection

With roots in ancient Hawaiian tradition, stand up paddleboarding, or SUPing, has gained incredible traction over the past few years. Its appeal is almost universal, with different boards allowing for a wide range of uses, including surfing, flat water touring, yoga, racing, and exercise. Oftentimes, those new to SUPing will want to opt for an all-around board, which will function in a variety of conditions, allowing you to really experience the sport to its fullest potential! Still, with an alm …
5th Sep 2013

What Does a Trim Strap Do?

When kitesurfing, a trim strap allows the rider to make further adjustments to the line lengths (generally the front) to alter the power of the kite. The trim strap is always accessible from the bar, more popular configurations delivered in the form of fabric straps, stopper balls, or strap/cleat systems. Identifying the trim strap is something that should be done during your pre-flight check when on a new kite. The major difference between sheeting and trimming is that sheeting adjusts the kite …
24th Aug 2013

How Does Sheeting a Kitesurfing Kite Work?

Put simply, sheeting is changing the angle of your kitesurfing kite relative to the wind. When you move the control bar closer and farther away from yourself, you are sheeting the kite. Pulling the bar towards you, or sheeting in, changes the angle of the kite so it has greater interaction with the wind. Vice-versa, sheeting out, or pushing the bar away from you, flattens the angle of the kite, in turn reducing the power. This back-and-forth adjustment is how you essentially control the power in …
22nd Aug 2013

Choosing a SUP Paddle

Now that you are finally giving this Stand Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, thing a try, you are inevitably facing the tough choice of determining the right gear in an oversaturated market. If picking a board wasn't enough, there is also a smorgasbord of different accessories to sift through, all complicating the decision of what to get. By understanding the core differences between different options however, selecting the right equipment to meet your needs becomes far easier. In this section, we will …
4th Aug 2013

Chris Bobryk Video Preview

Local Boy Cris Bobryk has more to come. Stay tuned with MACkite Surf Shop and BEST Kiteboarding https://youtu.be/BpVOZh-xPwQ …
24th Jul 2013