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The YES Kite is the first freeride model from the Jacobsen Project, Nick Jacobsen's own brand. Known for sending himself off cranes, buildings, and just about anything tall, Nick has spent decades pushing kites to their limits. His experience shows in the clean, straightforward design of the YES. The Brazilian Brothers recently spent time putting this kite into their sessions, and they've shared their honest first impressions. YES Kite Design Characteristics The YES Kite is a three-strut, …

You've probably noticed an eFoil or two while out on the water. Two of the most notable brands on the market today are Foil Drive and Waydoo. We’ve been riding both here on Lake Michigan and at our spring demo sessions, and each system fills a pretty different niche once you get it out on the water. Ryan and Hunter wanted to break things down as honestly as possible so you can figure out which one fits your riding, your crew, and the type of spots you hit. What These Systems Actuall …

Appletree Surfboards continues to lead the way in premium board technology, and one of their most overlooked yet powerful features is the NFC tag embedded directly into every board. Located at the leash plug, this tiny chip connects the physical board to its digital identity—giving riders ownership protection, transferability, and peace of mind. In a recent update, Mik from Appletree Surfboards reminded riders why scanning and registering their boards is an essential step. Whether you& …

Jeff's got four decades of experience on the water but has only recently decided to begin wearing a helmet, and his pick is the Surf Convertible helmet from Gath. So far he's had two sessions with it, and he hasn't looked back. So why did it take him so long to start protecting his noggin, and how has the Gath SFC helmet overcome those objections? Do I Really Need a Helmet? Ultimately, it is up to you whether you want to wear a helmet. We know that they can feel heavy, especially if they …

SHOP Code Foils 810X The long-awaited Code Foils 810X has finally landed, and early impressions from Hobey Moss paint a picture of a wing that may quickly become a core part of every serious foiler’s travel kit. After months of anticipation, Moss took the first production 810X straight to the proving grounds—the Mentawais—and immediately confirmed what the design team had been chasing: a single foil that can handle nearly anything a rider throws at it. What stands out most …

At first glance, the 2025 F-One Trigger and Harlem Thrive seem pretty similar. Both are big air kites designed by Ralf Groesel and made at his Brainchild facility, have amazing digitally printed graphics, and use Proweld construction to make them extremely lightweight. But that's where the similarity ends, and one will probably meet your needs better than the other. The Brazilian Brothers have spent a lot of time on both and have some observations to help you sort out which one is right f …

Introduction Two years after unveiling the Gen 2 system—a system many riders would agree reshaped the assisted-foiling landscape—Ben and Paul from Foil Drive are back with something entirely new. They call it Gen 2.5. They call it Fusion. Based on what they’ve shared, this release isn’t a minor update or a simple refresh. It’s a third pillar in the Foil Drive ecosystem, designed to deliver more runtime, more power, smarter technology, and a flexible experience t …

As much as we’d all love to keep cruising all year, most of us eventually hit that point where the water turns slushy and the stoke has to wait for spring. If you’re getting ready to put your Waydoo away for a few months, a little prep work now will save you frustration, battery damage, and unnecessary service tickets down the road. This quick guide walks you through how we store our shop gear once the chill sets in, and what we recommend for every rider heading into winter. S …

Whether you're new to the kiteboarding scene or are an old-timer who learned on a C-kite, chances are you've heard of the Cabrinha Switchblade and perhaps have even owned one or two. The Brazilian Brothers have been putting an early release of the 2026 version through its paces and are ready to share their thoughts now that it's available to the public. What is the Cabrinha Switchblade? It's been two decades since Pat Goodman designed the first Switchblade for Cabrinha. It introduced mas …

Confidence at Your Fingertips The Cabrinha Unify Control System represents the next evolution in kite control technology—a streamlined, high-performance bar that blends safety, comfort, and precision into one cohesive system. Designed for riders who demand both simplicity and innovation, the Unify marks Cabrinha’s most refined bar to date, setting a new standard for intuitive control and long-term reliability. A Legacy of Innovation For years, Cabrinha has been at the forefront …

The Brazilian Brothers have been using the Cabrinha Nitro in their kite clinics since it was released in 2023, so they're very familiar with it. Now they've got a fresh 2026 Nitro. What's new, how does it stack up to past versions, and who is it for? What is the Cabrinha Nitro? The Nitro is a 5-strut big air kite developed by Pat Goodman, who also designed kites like the Switchblade and North Orbit. The Brothers love it for its ability to perform heli-loops and help students up their big …

Professional wakeboarders, wakesurfers, and wakefoilers are taking their craft to a new frontier, powered by Foil Drive. In this latest adventure, professional wakeboarder and Foil Drive ambassador Gunther Oka joined friends on a mission to explore how the Foil Drive could transform lake sessions into something completely new. Their plan? Load up the gear, take the boat out, but use it as little as possible. The real goal was to pirate some waves, using the Foil Drive to chase, catch, and ri …

For decades, wearing a helmet in the surf or on the water carried a certain stigma. It looked awkward, felt bulky, and often interfered with the natural flow of riding waves. But the level of performance and risk in modern water sports has evolved—along with the understanding that protecting your head just makes sense. Recognizing this shift, Mystic set out to design a helmet that riders would actually want to wear. The result: the Legacy Helmet, a breakthrough in comfort, function, an …

North has once again redefined the standard of innovation in the world of foiling. The North Boost Foil Drive Board is engineered from the ground up for electric-assisted foiling across flat water, surf, and open-ocean conditions. Designed to combine effortless speed, enhanced ride control, and intelligent efficiency, the Boost represents a new frontier for riders seeking to explore more waves, more often, in more places. Designed for Electric Assist Foiling At its core, the Boost was creat …

You've heard that you "should" wear an impact vest, but do you really need one? And if so, what's a good one that won't get in your way? The Brazilian Brothers think they have the answer to both questions in the Ride Engine Empax V2. What's an Impact Vest For? Protection Buoyancy Warmth Harness Positioning An impact vest has a few benefits, not just the obvious protection from impact. You get some buoyancy, which is very helpful when you're in the water trying to relaunch your kite. Yo …