Latest News, Blog & Videos
2024 Reedin Kite Lineup Explained
Reedin has a fairly modest kite lineup with only 3 models, but they're essentially different versions of the same kite, so Dustin and Jake are here to explain what the differences are and which one might be right for you.Out with the Old, In with the New
Although the Reedin kite range has been expanded for 2024, they did retire the original SuperModel in favor of the SuperModel HTF2. HTF stands for Hybrid Torsion Frame, and it's a significant upgrade to the leading edge that allows
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7th Jun 2024
2024 North Navigator Pro Bar | Smooth Swivel, Auto Untwist, and Ergo Grips
Dustin has been riding the new 2024 North Navigator Pro control bar, and he's super stoked on it. Is a control bar really something to get that excited about? What makes it so special?Auto-UnswivelThe auto-unswivel feature is absolutely amazing. The ceramic bearings are like butter, and nothing's going to get caught up there. There isn't going to be any wear and tear on it.Quick Release and LoopThe release is rock solid. It's got 20mm of travel before it releases, so you won't accident
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31st May 2024
2024 Reedin Supermodel HTF V2 Review | The Perfect "Desert Island" Kite?
Dustin from MACkite got a chance to get out on the 2024 Reedin Supermodel HTF V2. It's had some tweaks and upgrades, but do they make a difference?What Is the Supermodel?
The Supermodel is Reedin's 3-strut do-it-all kiteboarding kite. If you like to cross over disciplines but want just one kite, this is one you should look at. You can get big air, foil, it's fast, and it even drifts so well you can ride right at it, so you'll be very happy if you like to surf in the waves. Although
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24th May 2024
Kiteboarding Through Ice Chunks | Lake Michigan in January
Don't try this at home, kids! Pat and DC brave the frigid Lake Michigan water to ride among floating chunks of ice. ...Wait. You can do that?
Well, sort of. It's a bit of a trick to get in and out past the densely-packed area of iceballs near the ice shelf, and both guys take a refreshing dip. Once out a bit further, it becomes a thrilling game of dodge-the-asteroids. Hey, no fair jumping over them!
Would we recommend trying this adventure? Pat readily admits this is one of his
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29th Jan 2024
2023 Cabrinha Moto X | Session Impression
This is Dustin and Cado here with the all new Cabrinha Moto X. We just got off the water with it, and we're going to do a quick session impression with beginner vs. advanced viewpoints on the kite.Dustin: It was a windy day, and I was out on the 12m. It was blowing a pretty sustained 25-ish knots. It's a super boosty, lofty kite with jumbo jumps. It feels like an old Vector, for the people who've been with Cabrinha forever. It's a tuned-up Moto, and an unbelievable advancement for Cabrin
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26th Dec 2023
Reedin HyperModel vs. Duotone Evo D/Lab
The Reedin HyperModel and Duotone Evo D/Lab are both freeride kites made with the premium Aluula material, but is one better for you? Pat and Dustin rode both 9m kites on the same day in order to see how they compare.
Dustin: As soon as we swapped kites, I immediately noticed that the Reedin bar pressure was so much lighter than the D/Lab.
Pat: I thought the exact same thing. When I got on the D/Lab, I thought the wind had ticked up because the bar pressure on the Evo was that muc
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19th Dec 2023
The Aluula Kites Breakthrough | Who Should Make the Switch?
Dustin and Pat take a look at some kites made with Aluula. What is it, and is it worth the hype? Is it right for you?What is Aluula?Dustin: Aluula is a step up from your normal kites. It's like the carbon bike of the kite world.Pat: Absolutely. It's that carbon fiber frame mountain bike in the kite industry. Is aluminum or steel good for most people out there? Yes. Do you need carbon? Probably not, but is it a nice upgrade and do you get some performance benefits from it? Absolutely.What
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29th Nov 2023
2024 Naish Pivot NVision Review
The 2024 Naish Pivot NVsion is here. What's special about this version of the Pivot? Pat and Dustin got some water time with it and are ready to share some insights.
Dustin: We got the all new Naish NVision Pivot, and it's pretty sick. It's the Ferrari of the Pivots.
Pat: Yeah, it's the Aluula version of the Pivot. It has slight tweaks to the same Pivot we've known and loved for last couple years, but has been brought to the next level with the Aluula material.
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29th Nov 2023
2024 Duotone Rebel SLS | An On-Water Review with Pat and Dustin
On-the-water review with the MACkite boys, Pat and Dustin, after their Grand Haven session on the new 2024 Rebel SLS from Duotone Kiteboarding.On-the-Water Impressions
Pat: The kite feels like a Rebel. It's a five-strut, higher-aspect design with pretty good low end power. It's probably about 20, gusting to 22. I'm on a 12 meter and I'm about 200 pounds. I'm pretty happy with the kite so far in the first couple tacks on it. The kite looks phenomenal in the sky. The new colorway is
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6th Sep 2023
2023 Slingshot Misfit V11 Carbon Review
This is Dustin and Pat from MACkiteboarding.com here to talk about the brand new Misfit v11 Carbon from Slingshot.
Misfit Carbon Characteristics
Dustin: It's a stellar board. Super lightweight, oh my gosh.
Pat: Yeah, this has to be the lightest board Slingshot has ever made.
Dustin: It definitely has a flatter profile. There's not a crazy amount of rocker.
Pat: No, pretty flat rocker, but it has enough flex, even with it being a carbon board. It's not a super stiff carbon.
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9th May 2023
Slingshot Asylum V6 kiteboard
This is Dustin and Pat from MACkiteboarding.com here to talk about the brand new Slingshot Asylum V6. Let's get into it.Slingshot Asylum v6 CharacteristicsPat: We both rode this board yesterday.Dustin: It's absolutely stellar. There's nothing crazy new with it, other than some pretty sweet new graphics.Pat: Yeah, this is the tried-and-true Asylum. If you've ridden any of the previous versions, it's more or less been unchanged. It's got a high rocker line, is more of a freestyle board,
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9th May 2023
2023 Duotone Evo D/Lab Review
Duotone has introduced the Evo D/LAB, a high-performance all-rounder kite that is designed to take freeriding to the next level. The Evo D/LAB is an improvement of the popular Evo kite, and it offers riders a unique experience on the water that is hard to come by with regular kites. The kite is built using Aluula frame construction technology that reduces its overall weight by up to 30%. This reduction in weight makes the kite incredibly light and ensures it can fly in the lightest
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24th Apr 2023
Waydoo Adapter for Moses and SABfoil - Foils Ridden and Reviewed
This is Pat, Dustin, and Ryan from MACkiteboarding.com. We just got off the water with the Waydoo. We're trying out the range of SABfoil front wings with a special new adapter that allows you to add them to your Waydoo. If you're looking to experiment and try something that's a little carvier and higher performance, there might be something in this range for you.
Waydoo with SabFoil W940 - 1100 cm2
Dustin: The 940 is probably the most high-performance wing we tested toda
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23rd Mar 2023
Waydoo Gliding Wing and Folding Prop First Impressions
Welcome back to MACkite! This is Jake and Dustin, and today we have some new Waydoo accessories. We're going to give you our first impressions with the new Waydoo Gliding wing and folding prop.Jake: We just got them in and we've been waiting a long time for these, so we were super excited. There's just one issue: it's currently winter here in Michigan, and although the lake is not frozen over, which is epic, it's about half a degree above freezing. We sent Pat and Dustin out to try these
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28th Feb 2023
2023 Duotone Rebel SLS Kite Review With Dustin & Pat
This is Dustin and Pat, and we're here to review the Duotone Rebel SLS.Dustin: So right off the bat, the Rebel SLS is the ultimate jumping kite. For loops or anything in the air, this is the kite. I got hooked on it this year.Pat: Yeah, it's super boosty, lofty, and has surprisingly good loops, which was not expected from my past experience with the Rebel I'm used to. I still have the old five-line Rebel with the weird geo-shaped leading edge stuck in my mind, so that's what I think of
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15th Feb 2023