Latest News, Blog & Videos
The Best Kites for Learning Freestyle - Sessions w/ Rygo Vlog 02
The Best Kites for Learning Freestyle
Hey guys! As I promised I'm going to write about my current three favorite kites for learning freestyle. Now, just because I favor these kites doesn't mean there aren't a lot of other great kites that offer similar benefits. I’m going to write about these as well.
As I said, these are the best kites for learning freestyle. I know some of you are going to start shouting about C-kites and I’ve addressed this before. Check out my video on the topic.
A
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30th May 2018
2018 North Evo Vs the 2017
We’ve had a lot of requests for a solid review on the 2018 North Evo and how it compares to the 2017. I can’t say I’m surprised there is very little content beyond the basic brand notes on the 2018 Evo. I’ve been really curious to compare these two kites myself, but it definitely took me some time, to say the least!
The reality is that this kite has become a completely different animal designed to meet the same end, yet with a new approach. It’s rare for a kite to undergo this much redesi
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16th May 2018
Board Report: 2018 North Pro Whip CSC
OK, I’ve officially found my favorite kite-surfboard of all time, and it only took me 18 years. Ha!Nah—seriously though, you’ve got to have a look at the NEW 2018 North Pro Whip CSC. This little blaster will have you grinning from ear to ear the first time out. I’ve spent a bit of time on the North Nugget and the North WAM, but the Pro Whip is my jam!The first thing you’ll notice is how light the board is. North utilized bamboo and carbon in this board and it really shows. The next thing yo
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11th May 2018
Testing the 2018 North Evo with Danny Barnette
Sessions Blog - Testing the 2018 North Evo
For the
2018 North Evo, I really had to put in the work to get my review right. In most of my previous videos, I'd already had years of experience testing the gear. Demand was high for this review and I was struggling to get any real information on the kite. I decided to get as much time in on the kite as possible and take notes on my sessions. The problem was I only had a 12 meter and the conditions never seemed to line up. I had tested the
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8th May 2018
Naish Hover 112 + Thrust Surf L Review
Working at MACkite has some unique benefits. Working with friends in an industry that we are passionate about makes most days feel less like “work”. The huge amount of demo gear available is also well appreciated by our staff. However, it is hard to monetize the value of our “Board Meetings”. Our "Board Meetings" are not the typical drudgery that is associated in most workplaces. Rather, it is a meeting of employees where we can go play and test gear during work hours.
Last week, we ha
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20th Apr 2018
Kiteboarding Travel Bags Explained: North and ION
There are a lot of different travel bags out there for kiteboarding and kitesurfing. North offers the "Combi Bag" and "Team Bag Surf", while ION has the "Gearbag TEC". Here's the breakdown from Ben Skaggs, our North and ION Kiteboarding rep from Hood River, Oregon.
North Combi BagColors: Black and BlueAvailable sizes:
140cm155cmSurfboards up to 5'6"Surfboards up to 6'2""This is a lightweight travel bag that uses the method of “use your gear and clothing as padding to save weight” for protecti
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20th Mar 2018
The Cabrinha Drifter vs The Switchblade - Versus w/ Rygo Ep 20
So if you’ve watched the last few videos, you might have caught Freeride Kites vs Freestyle Kites where we talked about how most kites that undergo years of development slowly get so well rounded that they cross over into all-around territory. The Cabrinha Drifter is one of those kites. While it is a surf specific kite, it is a great contender as an all-around freeride kite. It’s even decent at unhooking.
So the first thing to consider would be the most obvious, and that is where these ki
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7th Mar 2018
The 5 Best Kiteboards for Jumping and Big Air
So you’re looking to go big! One of the most fun aspects of kiteboarding is going all out at full speed and just sending it. On those days where the wind is so strong that the beach is empty except for a hand full of wind junkies.
Your heart is pounding, all you hear is the constant hum of the wind in your ears and the shouting of your friends as you set up.
Cars line up to watch the show, people venture out to the pier to see what's going on. It’s one of the most exciting and eye-catch
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28th Feb 2018
2018 Liquid Force Legacy—The Freerider's Kiteboard
With so many freeride kiteboards on the market, it’s hard to choose between them all, right?The 2018 Liquid Force Legacy is one of those all-around freeride kiteboards that bridges the gap for a wide range of riding styles. Freeride, freestyle and waves. Even hook up some boots and get your wakestyle on! Big jumps? Yup.FreerideFreestyleBig-AirWakestyleStokestyle (I just made that one up, but it fits!)Rider, Jason Slezak and shaper, Jimmy Redmon have combined their many years of kiteboarding and
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27th Feb 2018
Freeride vs Crossover Kiteboarding Kites: Versus w/Rygo Ep 18
Kiteboarding has come a long way since the early days. What was once an extreme sport is now only as intense as you’d like it to be. Whether you want to experience the freedom of sailing and exploring, you want to wakeboard without a boat. Maybe you want surf in any conditions or you want to get 40 feet of air and push the limits. Best of all it’s an all season, all terrain sport.
Basically, kiteboarding is freedom. It’s gravity, it’s your lift pass for life. All the hype aside, wit
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22nd Feb 2018
North Dice Vs Cabrinha FX - Versus w/Rygo Ep 17
The two leading performance kites that bridge the gap from freeride to freestyle. Both appeal to intermediate to advanced riders looking to push big air, kite loops or unhooked freestyle. Often, when I review kites there are a lot of trade offs and the differences are very clear. Between these two kites, the water can get a little muddy. All that said, I hope to clear this up for you.
These kites are designed to fill the gap between C-kites and user friendly Freeride kites. What’s a
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14th Feb 2018