Latest News, Blog & Videos

The head honcho himself took the new 2017 Cabrinha Fireball system for a spin the other day and has deigned to pass along his insight. I first flew a Wipika 2-line 5 meter kite back in October of 1999. Over the years, kiteboarding gear keeps improving by leaps and bounds, but there have been very few moments when I have seen a new system or product that I feel will really change a complete segment of gear. The Crossbow / Switchblade release in 2006 was definitely one of those moments. Sling …

Modern kiteboarding equipment has come a long way in terms of durability, but it never hurts to have a quick refresher on how to properly take care of your gear and/or get a quick refurbishing in. We're going to help make sure you enjoy every moment on the water rather than worrying about your gear.Kite- Rather than just tossing your kite into its bag after every session, you'll want to make sure you've taken care of a few key things. First off, sand is terrible for your kite during storage. San …

One of our good customers recently took the time to review his Fireball/Apollo 14m setup and give us his first impressions. First Impressions with 2017 Cabrinha Apollo 14M and Fireballby Shawn EwingI've been kiting for 16 years. My first session with the 2017 Cabrinha Apollo 14M and the 2017 Cabrinha Fireball Control Bar w/ Trimlite was amazing. My friends and I spent the weekend at Sherman Island Beach Park in the California Delta. The usual strong winds at Sherman didn't happen. I'm gl …

Benefits of Adding A Surf-Specific Harness to Your Quiver Up until this last week, I was a firm believer that one harness was sufficient for any and all conditions. Having homed in on the Apex Select, that was my do-all harness. Leisurely cruise? Apex Select. Freestyle session? Apex Select. Slashing it up it the waves? Apex Select, although a little looser so it could rotate around my body. Hardcore wakestyle sesh? In my dreams I’m wearing the Apex Select.  But then came last wee …

2017 Naish Kites Unleashed Like kids in a candy store, the MACkite crew clings to the windows of the latest kiteboarding gear. This year, we're impressed with Naish and their ability to transcend the industry.  Innovations abound, Naish has been able to introduce Quad-Tex, the strongest canopy available on the market.  Not only that, but we've also become intrigued with the new Torque control system that are filled with function. If you're looking for some new gear, perhaps it's tim …

Relaunching Your North Trust 5L Element Control Bar In this new season, North introduced the 2017 5th Element Trust Bar, a product where safety and control meet performance and reliability. Not only is the 5th Element easy to use, but is also durable with its EVA construction and safe due to the Iron Heart IV safety release. When it comes to the 5th Element, you'll want to know a thing or two before going out and trying to relaunch. Our main North-tweaker, Aaron Johnson, gives the skinny on t …

Adjusting Your Stopper on the 2017 Click Bar The Sliding Bar Stopper keeps your bar in place and close to you, so that you can always be in control. The new North Click Bar comes equipped with a stopper that can be quickly and easily adjusted on the fly to suit different rider's preferences.  Simply press down on the black portion of your stopper, and the slider will move up or down.  Additionally, you can also permanently fix the sliding stopper by tightening the slider scr …

Replacing The 2017 North Click Bar Chicken Loop and Dig North is back with another installment on replacing your Chicken Loop and Dig. A relatively simple process, which we've outlined below: First, you want to open your Iron Heart safety system and see that your safety pin is across to hold your safety system open.  Use your Allen Key to undo the screw to the left of the Iron Heart. Slide your Chicken Loop away from the Iron Heart (also, you can slide your Dip off of the loop as w …

Replacing Your Push Button on the 2017 North Click Bar Your Push Button is your lifeline when it comes to depowering your kite on  the all-new Click Bar. Replacing this mechanism is as easy as pie, with whipped cream on top. Take a look at our sweet steps below to get started on replacing your push button. Take your Allen Key, and insert it into the screw on the click button, located on the right side of your bar. Unscrew your push button completely until it slides out from the end of t …

Adjusting Your 2017 North Click Bar Back Lines (Using Pig Tails) Because the back lines of your kite are subjected to less power than the front lines, it can happen that the back lines can shrink more than the front. North was kind enough to add three supplement back pigtails (20cm, 30cm, and 35cm), just for when you need them to trim your back lines. Replacing your pig tails is simple on the  2017 North Click Bar. Follow the steps below if you need a pig tail refresher. To take off your o …

Replacing the Covers on the All-New Click Bar Replacing the Left Cover Take an Allen Key, find the two screws at the end of the bar, and twist the key to release the screws. Pop the cover off slowly. Grab your replacement cover.  Take a look at the inside of the bar and make sure that the leader line is running through the middle two screws that attach your cover.  Replace your cover, insert the two new screws, and use your Allen Key to tighten them. Replacing the Right …

Cleaning The 2017 Click Bar So, when you buy a product like the 2017 North Click Bar, it's very important to look after it. If you use your Click Bar a lot, we recommend that you give it a good clean at least once every six months. If you notice that the depower function is getting slightly stiff, then it's probably time to give it a good clean. We recommend you use a toothbrush and some toothpaste and then give it a thorough wash with fresh water right away. Here's a breakdown of how to clean …

Keeping Your Click Bar Fresh: How-To Videos We've compiled the latest information about the North Click Bar, and have been able to now provide you with information on how to maintain your coveted bar. Not only will this allow you to become more intuitive to your bar, but maintenance and routine checks will continue your bar's life further. Here is a list of the North maintenance videos that we found would be helpful for you to keep riding, longer, with the safest bar available. Adjusting Your …

Hey guys this is Jake for MACkite and today I’m going to talk to you about the new 2017 North Click Bar. We’re going to talk about all the cool new features on this bar and figure out if it’s the right control bar for you. Over the past few years that have been all sorts of innovations in the kiteboarding world, some of them albeit a bit gimmicky. When we first heard about this click bar most of us here at the shop or rather skeptical; however, after getting our hands on it we …

2017 North Click Bar Overview Sky Solbach engages audiences globally with the latest in North Kiteboarding technology. This time, he's introduced what can be described as the "game changer",  properly known as the Click Bar. Is it truly a revolutionary control bar? Let's break down the big differences that makes the Click Bar stand out. Trim Unit Only control bar available on the market that allows you to trim your lines from the back lines, not the front. This technology is integrated in …