Latest News, Blog & Videos

With so many friends coming to visit recently, I haven't been working nearly as much as I should. The last week I've mostly logged a lot of hours at work. That said, I thought I would talk about a really fun event that takes place in Key West. The Havana Classic, a Hobie cat race from Key West to Havana Cuba. Last year a few close friends and myself followed the racers quite a ways out. We didn't make all the way to Cuba but it was an incredible experience non the less. One of my long term goal …

Get your pump on The WMFG is the largest pump we've ever seen. Chances are if you need this pump, you need everything to be fast! Well, I have great news. Every Monday morning you can catch brief, cheeky and fun gear reviews from our very own Jake M.  

My name is Crystal Veness, and I’m living the dream. I’ve been traveling full time for more than two years, with no home base and nothing but a kite bag, a carry-on suitcase, and a backpack in tow. This journey has spanned 5 continents, 19 countries, and created more than 1,000,000 memories, and the journey continues today. I’ll be honest, my bank account isn’t exactly growing, but I have accumulated an indescribable wealth of experiences, wonderful connections, and sk …

How to do a transition on your foilboard! It's Friday so you know what that means. Another episode of Ride with Blake. The last week was incurably fun as some old friends from MACkite came to visit. Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic, Steve Lee and Chris Bobryk. There is nothing like kiteboarding with friends and having some adventures. Like when we helped some F-16 pilots get a session and they were quick to reciprocate by letting us fly in their in single engine plane. It's amazing what life will bring …

Aaron's Journey Being the "New Foil-Guy" April 20th, 2017 Sitting on the sidelines watching everybody else having all the fun is NOT fun. No matter what it’s about. Those goofy guys with their kite foiling boards. Who do they think they are, out there having all of the fun? I’m over it—can’t watch one second longer. I’m diving in now! Committing to learning something new can be challenging. Plus, no relatively experienced kiteboarder or kitesurfer wants to revisit t …

Robby Naish & Damien Girardin Talk Naish Kite Tech With all the kites on the market and so many kites be marketed as fast turning, easy relaunch, good power, it can get confusing as to why one kite is actually different than another. Most of us don’t truly understand the differences that go into making a freestyle kite great for that particular discipline or a wave kite great for wave riding. Thanks to Robby and Damien for sitting down and walking through some of these specific differe …

Let's Chat: Aaron's Spring Kiteboarding Check List For those of us that don’t live in the tropics, you’ve probably been tweaked, out of your mind, waiting for the weather to warm up so you can go kiteboarding. Hopefully, you’ve already had opportunities to get on the water before now. And hopefully, you put your gear away neat and dry at the end of last season.    Just to be sure that everything is in top shape, I recommend that you take your kites out and pump t …

Let's Chat: Tucker's Explanation on How to Get Into A Front Zip Wetsuit Getting into front zip wetsuits is all about technique. I can get into my front zip 6mm just as quickly and easily as my 3mm back zip wetsuit (maybe faster since I can find the zipper easier). Even if it takes you a little longer until you get the hang of it, the benefits of front zip suit far outweigh the negatives. Back zips leach cold water in and warm water out, they also limit the stretch of the suit.&nbs …

Hey folks! In the latest installment of MACkite’s Ride With Blake series, Blake Olsen chats about how to ride upwind - a critical skill in the learning process of kiteboarding for beginners. Blake: Today’s lesson is on how to ride upwind. Once you get your first start, you end up going back and forth on the beach and you end up walking back up the beach, and that’s all part of the learning process. Everyone’s got to do it, so don’t worry about the walk of shame - we’ve all been there before …

The Back roll hand drag is possibly the most stylish way to transition The last week in Key west has been epic. Exploring the islands with my kite, paddle boarding the mangroves and snorkeling the reef. The abundance of wildlife in the ocean never ceases to amaze me! For this week's blog I thought I would share five steps to nailing your first back roll hand drag transition. This is one of the most stylish ways you can transition with your kite. Like most kiteboarding tricks, th …

The Dakine Option spreader bar is an awesome option for kiteboarders looking for more freedom in their riding. The option spreader bar is a new offering on the market that combines the benefits of a rope slider bar and a hook. You will have the option to choose between the two. Riding with the hook  Using the hook is similar to a traditional hook and will work very much the same way. The only real difference here that that it will rotate up and down. You can also remove a nylon …

Lift Introduces the World's First Electric Foil At MACkite, we carry electric bikes and skateboards. We also carry hydrofoils. What better mesh between the two than an electric hydrofoil?  Lift is back, stronger than ever, with a whole new array of performance foils.   While the eFoil isn't out yet, riders can pre-order and gather information from their website. The takeaway? The Lift eFoil is going to be for all riders and with the classic, elegant design. Video Synopsis Lift pres …

Traveling with Kite Gear Spring break is right around the corner! Hopefully, you have you planned your trip, packed your bags and are ready for some good times on the water. Quick question—how much are you planning to spend on travelling with your kiteboarding gear? Although there are creative ways to get around paying extra for your kite gear, It’s always a good idea to consult your airline’s policy on baggage fees beforehand. That way, at least you’re prepared for the w …

The inverted front roll is a slightly more advanced variation of the front roll.  The last few days in key West haven’t been that windy. In truth, it’s a much-needed break! I thought I would take a bike ride down to the White Street Pier and break down my favorite trick for you. The inverted front roll! One of the most fun aspects of our sport is taking these basic tricks and adding your own personal style to them.  This is an intermediate level trick, that said if you ca …

So, you've taken a kiteboarding lesson or two and you're ready to try your first water start. That's awesome! Welcome to a new reality, my friend! I have five great tips for you to remember when you're first starting out.  Tip One Learn to fly the kite in one hand. Kiteboarding is 80% flying the kite, so it's a no-brainer you should have some serious kite time under your belt. I recommend finding a clear area and just hanging out with a friend. Remember to keep your hand on the middle of …