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Blake Olsen will be covering a variety of topics including trick tips and the basics behind foilboarding for the first time. Foil boarding is beyond fun Many claim it's akin to snowboarding in endless powder. That said it can be intimidating for first timers looking to get on the water. I have a few tips to make the process easy and reduce those pesky crashes. Tip One Keep your weight centered over your front knee. This is as simple as keeping your shoulders lined up with your front knee. …

Congrats, Nick Jacobsen! Cabrinha team rider and all-around goofball Nick Jacobsen has won the 2017 Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town, South Africa. In the final, Jacobsen battled kiteboarding legends Aaron Hadlow and Ruben Lenten in front of the large crowd, coming out on top with his signature trick the "one footed boogie loop".  A terrifying, confounding trick where Nick jumps over thirty feet, whips his kite in a vertical loop whilst doing a full rotation himself, all this...one.. …

Richard Branson vs. Barack Obama: A Kitesurfing Story I know, it sounds crazy, right? Perhaps it sounds like something you would read in one of the tabloids you casually glance at while in line at the grocery store. Believe it or not, the former first couple, Barack and Michelle Obama, were enjoying a well-deserved vacation, and Barack Obama took the leap of faith to learn how to kiteboard.  Image by Jack Brockway // Source: Virgin It's not every day you catch a former POTUS learning an a …

Three things that you can do today to reset and find happiness... Why do we do adventure sports like snowboarding and skiing? I can sum it up in one word. Freedom.  When we were kids, life was about three things: discovery, creativity and play. Somehow, the older we got, the less we played, the less we discovered, and the less we created. With so many obligations from family, bills, and personal goals, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Along the way, we lose that passion and sense of adve …

Cabrinha Contra vs. North Juice The last few years, light wind kites have seen some very real improvement. Gone are the days where companies simply take their 12 meter kites and blow them up to slow, clunky 17m or 18m kites. All modern light wind kites are designed specifically for the demands of light wind and fly surprisingly nimbly and easily for their large size. North and Cabrinha have built a serious reputation over the years and established themselves as leaders of the industry. Let's s …

Deciding Factors for Foilboarding Hydrofoils are being ridden for more than simply racing and are now accessible for most riders. For goodness sake, Kai Lenny is riding them without a tow on waves.  What was once a simple choice has now become a convoluted but potentially beneficial choice. Like eating at a cruise-ship buffet the right choice can leave you smiling and satisfied while the wrong one leads to a feeling of sickness and regret. With over 50 foil/ board combinations in our catalo …

Tips for keeping your car clean, even after those sandy kiting trips... As we were about to leave the beach one hot July afternoon, my 5-year-old son, River, turns to my wife, Lesa, and says, “Remember, Mom—NO sand in the whip!” Hahaah! I about fell over laughing - my poor kid has OCD like me! You know that one friend of yours that never cleans their car, truck or van out? Especially if they’re a fellow kiteboarder that always has all of their kiteboarding gear with them …

MACkite Foil Showdown: Who Wins? If 2016 was the year of the foil (according to the ancient kiteboarder zodiac calendar), then 2017 is the year of foil refinement. Hydrofoils are being ridden for more than simply racing, and are now accessible for most riders. For goodness sake, Kai Lenny is ridding them without a tow-in on waves.  What was once a simple choice has now become far more convoluted. However, with more options comes the opportunity to get something that better fits your riding …

One kiter’s pilgrimage to Hood River and what she learned along the way. Kallie and her husband Andrew exploring the hood A few years back, my husband Andrew and I were traveling through Colorado. It was late on the Fourth of July, and we found ourselves driving from campground to campground only to hear, “Sorry, we’re full.” We finally found an RV park after ten P.M. where an awkward teenage host said we could pitch a tent, but with a warning: “Just make sure you …

What should you bring on your next big kiting trip? A checklist. So, you've booked tickets to head toward warmer climates, have you? Or, haven't you? It's time to get that done, as it's travel season for many of us - we're here to help your upcoming trip go as smoothly as possible. Here at MACkite, we don't just sit at our desks all day checking emails and answering phones - we actually leave the office with kite gear in tow and head south as well! After years and years of experience, we feel th …

The Switchblade vs The Rebel  The aim of this video series is to remain as objective as possible.That being said, we made sure to get opinions from our entire crew. Rygo and Lucas collaborated to communicate the group consensus to you, and you can expect more videos to come soon. So, you're debating between the Cabrinha Switchblade kiteboarding kite and the North Rebel. Not an easy choice, but this should give you plenty of insight when making your decision. Both of these kites have been a …

Rough feat. North Kiteboarding The Magdalen Islands: a small island located in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Here, you'll find the chilly but no less beautiful landscape of the great hockey and maple syrup loving country of Canada. Here is also where you'll find Craig Cunningham, Aaron Hadlow, Stefan Spiessberger, Noe Font, and Colleen Carroll.  While watching this video, you'll be able to see some amazing shots and thoughtful insight from some of the leaders in the kiteboarding industry.&nb …

 Traveling, Kiting, and Working Around The World It sounds too good to be true, an unattainable adventure. Traveling full time, working remotely, and kiteboarding as much as you want?! How is that even possible? Relax… it is. 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 …

As winter approaches, we're all in need of a little warmer weather. Cabrinha's crew heads to Indonesia in their most recent kitesurfing video, encountering difficulties from rain to no wind to everything in between. Despite the setbacks, the waves and the culture provide plenty of entertainment for the kiters.  Indonesia is famed for its deep-ocean swells, creating beautiful conditions for kitesurfing even when the wind is kicking. However, there's no real way to tell when the wind is comi …

North Kiteboarding - 2017 North Evo The Evo is the arounder of the range—best suited for free riders at home at all disciplines. The five-strut design, combined with the new Dacron frame 3-D shaping and updated strut-tip design intern an even cleaner profile and faster turning than the previous years. The Evo works on four or five lines, depending on your personal preference. When hitting the waves, the Evo wants the rider to use a proactive riding style. If you want to boost, you can tak …