MACkite's 12 Days of Brandmas
12 Days of interviews with 12 awesome specials.
Bookmark this page to save December 8th-20th
Thanks for haveing a little fun with us this holiday season!
For a little extra cheer, our brands are giving away a piece of free swag! Simply like and comment on any or all the Brandmas Youtube Full Length videos. The videos featured brand is picking the best comment to win some swag. We will be dropping full interviews daily on Youtube at 11am Starting Monday,12/8. Be sure to subscribe and follow us to stay in the loop!
And Today's Special Is:
- Day 12 deal: $25 off all expedited shipping rates!
- Offer ends 12/25 at 12 noon
On the Twelvth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me Vids from two of the industry G.O.A.Ts:
A Brandmas Interview With Matt from North & Mystic.
We close out Brandmas with Aaron and Matt swapping gear nerd gold, early-days chaos, and a few “how did we survive that?” kite stories. From ultra-stretch Majestic wetsuits and clever key-saving phone pouches to five-line nostalgia and next-gen North tech, it’s a greatest-hits lap of past, present, and future. There’s travel envy baked in too, Cabarete classics and Portugal perfection included. A perfect wrap: good gear, good people, and just enough holiday cocktail talk to call it a season.
A Brandmas Interview With Neil from Slingshot & RideEngine.
Aaron and Neil also wrap up Brandmas with sunshine math, hoodie weather debates, and a Florida forecast that would make winter cry. Between friendly jabs, legendary injury tallies, and a few “those punks” jokes, Neil reveals why the Slingshot Machine V3 has him more excited than a 78 degree rainy day. From giant kites that took a day and a half to pump to foiling behind a sketchy old boat, it’s part gear stoke, part story hour. Big laughs, bigger jumps, and proof that even at 55, the stoke still rips.
On the Eleventh Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Ben from FoilDrive.
After a bit of a tongue-tied start, Ben Jamieson finds his groove and starts us off with a must-have product that Foil Drive didn't make. While his favorite new Foil Drive release should surprise no one, an upcoming 2026 product he's stoked about is a collab that isn't an integrated mast and should be in every foiler's bag. His top riding spot is somewhere warm and welcoming, though his home break isn't a bad option either. He also leaves us with enough video suggestions to spend an entire evening watching while enjoying his favorite holiday beverage.
On the Tenth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Benoit from AFS.
You will not find a more chill dude in toasty Texas than Benoit Rochard, the AFS Foils and Sooruz Wetsuits distributor for the Americas. He casually leaks some tidbits about what's just around the corner at AFS and shares why you need to visit his top spot right now. He also talks about some events you might want to put on your calendar for 2026. In the meantime, you should check out his favorite YouTubers while sipping his preferred holiday beverage.
Shop AFS Wings, Foils, and Boards
On the Nineth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Fred from Slingshot.
Slingshot's Fred Hope is doing it right. As this Brandmas interview begins, Aaron finds him escaping the cold in La Ventana, Mexico, where he's getting sessions every day. He's got other top vacation spots to share as well, but his favorite spot of all time often requires a wetsuit. His favorite gear for the year gets him boosting, and there's a new piece out for Slingshot's One-Lock foil system, which has Fred so spoiled that he won't assemble a foil with screws anymore. Then Fred reveals a fun fact: If you want to try before you buy, Slingshot's got demo centers where you can borrow gear for two days- for free! And if that's not mind-blowing enough, Fred sent Aaron a link to an Instagram Reel that had him scratching his head, wondering how the guy pulled that move off.
Shop Slingshot Kite and Wing Gear
On the Eighth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Travis from Duotone.
Shop Duotone Kite and Wing Gear
On the Seventh Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Ben from Duotone.
Shop Duotone Kite and Wing Gear
On the Sixth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Billy from F-One.
In this 12 Days of Brandmas episode, Aaron from MACkite catches up with Billy from F-ONE to talk holiday stoke, new gear, and where foiling is headed. Billy teases upcoming 2026 Rocket Free Surf and Rocket Free Downwind boards, including limited early-release colorways already headed to MACkite. The conversation dives into the growing pocket wing and parawing movement, from beach-break tactics to smooth, flowing downwind rides. They compare hand wings versus pocket wings, agreeing each has its place depending on conditions and rider style. Billy shares favorite home spots around San Francisco, along with dream trips to Maui and La Ventana. The chat wraps with a look ahead at F-ONE innovation, Brainchild construction, and a shared goal of keeping riders on the water and smiling into the new year.
On the Fifth Day of Brandmas MACkite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Ben Tardrew from Code Foils.
Ben Tardrew is a foil shaper with Code, and he's got answers to our Brandmas questions. His favorite product outside the brand is an interesting alternative to Foil Drive, and it wasn't what we expected. But one of his favorite upcoming Code products must have a lot of buzz, because he's not our first interviewee to mention it. He's also not the first to recommend his top vacation spot. Oh, and did you know Ben's in the 40+ club? If you peeked at his YouTube history, you would. Finally, he reveals his favorite holiday beverage, sipped with Mom on her balcony.
On the Fourth Day of Brandmas Mackite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With AppleTree's Wieger Buurma.
Today's Brandmas gift is an interview with AppleTree's Wieger Buurma. He's currently in New Zealand where it's summer, so his holiday beverage pick isn't a traditional toasty one. (Perhaps he'll change his mind when he gets back to frosty Europe shortly!) He spills the beans on an AppleTree release coming out in January, as well as an upcoming collab, reveals his favorite industry products, gives a shout-out to a community leader who will be missed, and shares what he's been enjoying on YouTube.
On the Third Day of Brandmas Mackite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Brendan from Cabrinha.
Today Aaron has Cabrinha's Brendan Healy in the interview hot seat, but he stayed cool and fielded the questions like a pro. His favorite Cabrinha product for 2025/2026 was no surprise, but his favorite holiday beverage was a bit unique (though Pat might find it tasty). He also revealed his top vacation spot as well as where he'd spend the rest of his life riding. He had some insights on an issue affecting the industry, and he shared who he enjoys following on YouTube and Instagram.
Shop Cabrinha Kite & Wing Gear
On the Second Day of Brandmas Mackite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Pat From North.
Pat reps for North now, but he used to work for us here at MACkite, so you know the conversation is going to be interesting. Find out what his favorite piece of North gear is and why he's so pumped on the WMFG electric pump. Then he gives a shout-out to Graham, a fallen watersports community leader from Cape Town. You'll also get a hint at a potential upcoming prank on a former co-worker, as well as the backstory on an epic prank that turned into a Christmas tradition. And if you want to know where to go ride next, Pat's got two spots that deliver.
On the First Day of Brandmas Mackite gave to me:
A Brandmas Interview With Ashlon Durham of Naish.
Ashlon Durham from Naish shares a sneak peek at the new Hatch parawing, set to release any day now. You'll also hear about the most important step of waxing your board. Have a guess what it is? He talks about what he feels the industry is missing and what it's getting right. Then he reveals his favorite Christmas drink and favorite riding spots... well, some of them. And... water buffalo??
Thanks for a great year!
MACkite Subscription Links:
YouTube | Instagram | Spotify Oddcasts
Contact MACkite Below:
800.622.4655 | Kiteboarder@MACkite.com | LIVE Chat Messenger
Recent Posts
-
Appletree Zapple S Breakdown | Short, Fast, Foil Drive Focused!
Appletree Surfboards has built a reputation for pushing foil board design forward, and the Zapple …2nd Jan 2026 -
King of the Air 2025: Inside Slingshot’s Wild Ride
A story of nerves, resilience, progression, and the mindset required to perform on kiteboarding’s bi …30th Dec 2025 -
How the F-One Bandit Redefined Freeride Kiteboarding
Banditry is not just a slogan at F-One—it is a state of mind. From the very beginning, the F-One B …29th Dec 2025