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MACkite's thoughts on the 2017 Cabrinha Fireball!  Like a comet from the sky set to change the landscape as we know it, Cabrinha’s newest offering to the kiteboarding community is Fireball – a kite connection system. Fireball is specifically designed with kiteboarding in mind, with features that will most definitely change the way you ride. Fireball changes the most important piece of equipment in kiteboarding The connection point between you and the kite. Before Fireball, we w …

MACkite Talks 2017 Cabrinha Fireball Hey guys, it's Nathan from MACkite. We’re going to talk about the all-new 2017 Cabrinha Fireball system. The big question this year is going to be - ‘why to get a new Fireball system?’ We’ve been used to loops for years and they’ve worked very well for most situations, and now Cabrinha really threw a wrench in our entire plan for how we connect to our kites. Now, for the last however many years, we’ve been using a loop-and …

To the novice traveler, the world can appear daunting, distant and imposing. Yet with every mile interpolated into your story, it becomes just that. A piece of your story, in a way a piece of you. Over a long enough timeline staying in your routine is like days erased from your life. I have found that when looking back on my life two things stand out, change and adversity. Both can inspire growth. In a way, they are the catalyst behind our love of the sport. Kiteboarding brings novelty and new …

An Inflatable Kiteboard? Yes, you read that title correctly. This is the real deal; finally, a product that will let you ride but also be able to pack everything down conveniently. No more packing nightmares here!  Not only is the Brunotti RDP Glider a twin tip kiteboard, it also serves as a foilboard. A foilboard that can foil in either direction? Color us intrigued!  Information is still coming soon about this product. It seems that any information we try to obtain is pretty much …

Julien Leleu Returns  After being out of the kiting scene for seven months due to an injury, Airush team rider, Julien Leleu, is back with a vengeance. To celebrate his return, Leleu decides to take a trip down to Southeast Asia, where he is greeted with the beautiful Islands of the Philippines. It’s here that he encounters not only breathtaking scenery, but also some of the most ideal kiting conditions in the world.  Join Julien as he soaks up the hot Southern Hemisphere rays, …

2016 Best Red Bar & Roca Session What’s a good way to end the week? Kiteboarding with friends with the winds in the upper twenties all while riding new gear and loving every minute of it. After burning out a long week at the shop bouncing between customer support, sales, marketing, and the shop handy man, a session was pretty high on my list of wants before the end of the week. It just so happened the NE wind forecasted shifted to a NW and the race was on. With wind in the mid to uppe …

Airstyle is THE Style We love this video of Flysurfer rider, Lukash Vogeltanz, and his highlights of 2015. The only thing crazier than Vogeltanz himself? The tricks he whips out. With his unique old school kitesurfing style, or “airstyle” as many call it, Vogeltanz is all over the place. I swear the board if off of his feet more than he’s on it! Whether he’s running on water (yes, it's a thing), tossing his board through the air, or performing wild acrobatic flips, Voge …

Memoirs of a Kiteboarder Yesterday morning, I had the chance to take my 2nd ever kiteboarding lesson. As a new member of MACkite’s team, I felt it would be a crime to not at least attempt the adrenaline-pumping, whirlwind sport. I’ve had my go at board sports over the years: wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, but I had never before challenged the beast of kiteboarding. After being securely hooked into my Dakine Chameleon harness. I could see the appeal. My eyes glazed over the …

A Fresh Kite for A Fresh Rider What’s the definition of versaility? Slingshot’s newest RPM kite for 2016. And what better way to debut a new generation of Slingshot kites than with a young, Brazilian Slingshot rider: Carlos “The Freak” Mario. At 17 years young, Carlos sure has made a name for himself in the freestyle kiteboarding world. He throws down with massive air that rivals some of the most talented and weathered pros. For a rookie, he sure knows how to put on a sh …

Best Kiteboarding - Feel The Flow Ah, Sweden. Home of vikings, rich culture, and...kiteboarding? Yes!  From Habo Ljung to Lundakra to Mellbystrand, Sweden is growing in popularity as an alternative riding location to Brazil or Australia. Not only are the waters a unique combination of fresh and salt water, but the snowkiting is on-point and lasts for a good portion of the year. Niklas Langseth embraces his ancestry to conquer the cold, sweet waters with the 2016 Best TS. Video Synops …

The Golden Glow Never have I seen a video title so accurately represent its content as does Cabrinha's "The Golden Glow." The film is literally glowing, as though a sepia Instagram filter was poured over the shot. Viewers are transformed back to the 1920's film era, while Cabrinha rider James Boulding effortlessly floats through the air, over rolling waves and plastic freestyle features.  "What would you like to do if money were no object? Better to have a short life that is full of what …

2016 North Mono...Shop Tested, Aaron Approved So, a 2016 North Mono 12M showed up at the shop today. I walked in just as it came off of the truck and Jake offered first dibs. Bam; I’m out the door. Gear Used & Riding Conditions Kite: 2016 North Mono 12M Conditions: Side-onshore around 13 knots Rider Weight: 190lbs Years Riding: 16 Board: 6’0” Surfboard Experience Riding the Mono Single Strut Kite There was already plenty of buzz about the 2016 North Mono, well be …

Wave Day w/ the 2016 Slingshot Rally Conditions Water temperature: Low 40s Wind: 20 - 25 knots Gear Used Water wear: NP Mission 5/4 Wetsuit NP Neoprene Hoodie NP Thermal Pants NP Mission Booties Xcel Gloves Ion Beanie Kite: 2016 Slingshot Rally w/ Slingshot Guardian Bar Kiteboard: 2016 Airush Cypher Experience Having made it to May without a session, I figured it was long overdue that I get out on the water. With water temperatures in the low 40s, I grabbed my NP Mission 5.4, neoprene hoo …

Freeride Project 3: The Movie We've heard of great riders like Ruben Lenten, Craig Cunningham, Aaron Hadlow, and Tom Court, but do we really know them? Their lifestyles are as unique as the waters they ride. Their stoke is beyond measure. Their ability to transcend beyond the traditions of kiteboarding make team riders some of the most innovative, creative individuals in the kiting world.  What do you get when you take these eclectic riders and pair them with videography? An edit that is …

Growing With Kiteboarding It's time to get back into the water. As we begin to approach the kiteboarding season here in the Midwest, I start to get excited about returning to the water. Yes - others have been kiteboarding for months now (Marc Hoeksema has over 25 sessions so far!) while I've yet to dip a toe into Lake Michigan. This is actually a first for me in years, not rushing to get back into the water as soon as the ice clears. I'm taking advantage of the mild weather with some of my other …