Latest News, Blog & Videos
Foilboard Transitions: Heelside to Toeside - Ticket to Glide Ep 2
This video will kick off a new series of videos showing some foil trick tips that you can look to learn in your beginner and intermediate stages of kiteboarding. We will be trying to drop one of these every week or so for the foreseeable future. So... keep an eye out.... and get ready to progress through some basic techniques and tricks.
The Heelside to toeside transition
This week we are going to start with a familiar obstacle for new foilers...your first tacks. I spea
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8th Nov 2018
Kiteboarding How To: Jumping With Style - Ride With Blake Ep 01
How to Jump with Style So you want to learn how to jump with style? You’ve come to the right place. In this video and blog, we’ll break down five practices to implement into your kiteboarding every session. Regardless of your level, adding these concepts to your riding will give you something fun to try and it might turn a few heads or two when you seemingly upgrade your style overnight. For season three of Ride with Blake, we wanted to take things up a notch or two. Blake and I thought it
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8th Nov 2018
Hydrofoiling: Learn to Surf Foil - Ticket to Glide Ep 01
The printable steps are at the bottom of this blog
So you want to learn to hydrofoil surf? Congratulations! We too have caught the foil bug for all of our board sports. Surf foiling is truly a one of a kind experience that makes even the most marginal days into magical sessions.
Aside from the silent, smooth, and effortless glide, surf hydrofoils tap into the most powerful part of the wave just beneath the surface. This allows you to keep momentum and connect sections on the
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25th Oct 2018
Foiling Tip: How to Sit On Your Hydrofoil - Ticket to Glide Ep 02
The printable steps are at the bottom of this blog
Learning to sit on the foil is one of the first tricks everyone wants to learn. It's not that intimidating, it looks awesome and its really fun to try and incorporate this into transitions later onStep 1 – Practice getting low
This isn't a trick you want to just dive into. You'll want to work your way into it progressively. You can start by building muscle memory and squatting while riding. Simple bring your knees to your chest
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25th Oct 2018
How to Wakefoil Without the Rope. Foil Fridays Ep 15
Foiling has changed everything. With so many applications, we find ourselves practicing a lot of crossover sports.Wakefoiling included. One of the most fun aspects of the sport is the freedom of just riding the foil be that on a wave or behind the boat. We decided it would be fun to do a tutorial on how to do this. In case you're new to foiling, we did a video on learning to foil behind the boat. You can check that our here.
If you're watching this, there is a good chance you alre
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9th Aug 2018
kiteboarding: How to Butterslide "Ride with Blake"
The Butter Slide is hands down the easiest trick I’ll ever teach you. Just remember to come into this with good seed and power. The rest will sort its self out.
Once you learn the butter slide, try to incorporate into tricks you already know like transition or even front rolls!Step OneStart Small
Come in with good speed on your heel side edge, kite at 45. Ride slightly downwind lean back your your tail and put most of your weight on the back foot. At the same time, pull up wit
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24th Jul 2018
Kiteboarding Jumping Transition - Ride with Blake
If you can do a transition and jump, then you are ready for this trick!
4 Printable Steps for the BeachStep One: Start Small
The smaller you go at first, the easier this trick is. It should feel similar to a regular transition except your doing it a few inches or feet off the water. This is going to help you build a good foundation to progress this trick into bigger variations that require more height and time. Step Two: Pop Hard & Early
You will want to stomp yo
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10th Jul 2018
Backroll Revert Downloop Transition | Ride with Blake
If you can do a backroll and you know how to pop toe-side, then you are ready for this trick!
4 Printable Steps for the Beach
Step One: Pop Harder
You are going to want to edge a little harder so that you can pop harder. Fly your kite a bit higher (around 11 - 1 o'clock) for this as well. This will help offer you a little more time in the air to finish that full 180* rotation into a back roll. Make a tight, arching, smooth, carving turn and pull in on your bar righ
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25th Jun 2018
How to Waterstart | "Ride With Blake"
This is Blake Olson here at Smathers Beach in Key West, Florida. I'm about to teach you how to do your first starts on a kiteboard. Ben, the person behind the camera, is going to be demonstrating as he's learning. Here are five simple steps for a successful waterstart. 5 Steps to a Waterstart
1) Fly the Kite with One Hand
The first thing you need to do is to practice flying the kite with one hand while holding the board in your other hand. Be sure to grab the bar in th
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19th Jun 2018
Basic Grabs - Mute and Nose | "Ride With Blake"
Breakdown for two really fun pop grabs that every kiteboarder needs to know: The Mute Grab and the Nose Grab. These are simple grabs that are easily improved and tweaked out as you progress.
If you have any questions, give us a call 800 622 4655
We're going to keep these short and sweet. Use these steps to visualize the trick in your mind. If you can see it, you can do it!
Printable Steps for the Beach
Tips for getting started:
Use your thumb for more control on the bar when r
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19th Jun 2018
How To Give a Piggyback Ride | "Ride With Blake"
This week we thought it would be fun to teach you something a little unconventional. While it's not your typical trick tip, giving a piggyback ride with your kite can be pretty fun! This is a great way to share the stoke with anyone!
If you have any questions, give us a call
800.622.4655
Printable Steps for the Beach
Step 1
Be Comfortable
You're going to get close! Be confident and comfortable in your skill level before taking anyone out with you.
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19th Jun 2018
Learning to Foilboard Behind the Boat: Foil Fridays
Learning to Foil Behind the Boat
What's the easiest way to learn how to hydrofoil? Starting behind a boat! Learning behind the boat allows you to fully focus on the foiling itself, rather than worrying about the kite. It's essentially the trainer kite for foiling. This controlled environment allows you to understand how foils operate based on small adjustments.
Before You Hit the Water
You can foil behind a multitude of different watercraft, from a wakeboard boat to a jetski t
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15th Jun 2018
How to Darkslide | "Ride With Blake"
Excellent flatwater trick to start expanding out of your comfort zone all while incorporating other more basic trick skills
We're going to keep these short and sweet. Use these steps to visualize the trick in your mind. If you can see it, you can do it!
Printable Steps for the Beach
Step 1
Ride Powered.
Have a sufficient amount of power to ride while not being overpowered (which will end up pulling you off of your edge if you are). This also works best in flat/sli
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12th Jun 2018
How to Pop to Blind | "Ride With Blake"
Living in Key West Florida has it’s perks. You know, perks like kiteboarding off of a friends boat in shallow blue water.
In Episode four Blake gives you five simple tips for learning how to pop to blind. Believe it or not, riding blind is a simple progression you can learn once you are adept at riding toe side in both directions. It’s a cornerstone to spice up the landing in literally any trick you can imagine. Best of all you can learn to do it hooked in or unhooked!
We're goi
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11th Jun 2018
Ride with Blake | How to Toe-Side Transition
Hey Guys, Blake here!
This week, were going to cover one of the first tricks you can learn in kiteboarding and one that you can use to add style to your transitions. The Toeside Transition with a pop to toeside, a smooth carve and a downloop.
The aim of this progression is to add some serious style and energy to your transitions so pay attention, print of the written steps found at the bottom of this blog and practice!
When to Start Riding Toeside
Once you're r
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1st Jun 2018