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The Reedin SpaceAgency was one of Jake's favorite twintips last year, so he was excited to get on this year's. Much to his delight, not too much has changed, so it's still an absolute ripper. If you liked last year's version, you'll like this year's as well. If you haven't had a chance to try the SpaceAgency, what can you expect, and is it right for you? What Are the Key Features of the SpaceAgency? Not only is this board out of this world, but it's made with space-age tech. The paulown …

There are a lot of nice footstraps out there these days. The North Flex and Cabrinha Source are both great choices, along with Jake's longtime favorite, the Duotone Entity Ergo. For 2025, Reedin has released the Toasties, a binding that prioritizes weight, comfort, and adjustability. How does it stack up to Jake's favorites? What's in the Box? When you open the box, you'll find your two bindings, of course, and a baggie containing just one piece of hardware. Don't panic- that's the spare. …

Jake's back with a quick follow-up to add some more details about the Limited Edition Evo D/LAB, specifically the blue Aluula material. Why Is the Blue Aluula Really a Limited Run? Initially, the guys thought it was a limited run due to cosmetic issues with the first run of blue Aluula. They could see some lighter areas that looked like crease marks and took those to be a flaw in the manufacturing process, but it turns out that's a common trait of Aluula and not a defect at all. It's pres …

If you subscribe to our newsletter or follow our YouTube channel or blog, then you know that there's been a bit of hype about Duotone's new blue Aluula (which we've taken the liberty of dubbing "Bluula") Evo D/LAB kite. Dustin and Jake both finally got a chance to get a session on it to get a sense of how it flies and who it's for. What Is the "Bluula" Evo D/LAB? The blue Aluula isn't just a new color; it's actually a limited run of the latest version of the Aluula material called D/TX. …

MACwing v.5 Beta Single Skin Single Use   Jake and Ryan from MACkiteboarding unveiled an exciting new product in their latest video: the all-new MACkite Parawing, a lightweight, ultra-packable wing designed for simplicity, portability, and fun. This innovative release marks MACkite’s first foray into branded gear, developed in response to shifts in the industry such as rising prices, potential tariffs, and a growing trend toward direct-to-consumer models. Their goal was to deliver a …

Shop Latest Ride Engine Releases. Jake here from MACkite, I recently got my hands on the new Ride Engine Hyperlock harness line, and spoiler alert—I’m impressed. Ride Engine, the OGs of the hard-shell harness game, are back with a vengeance, and this time, they’ve added a ratchet system that’s as satisfying as clicking into snowboard bindings. I’ve always liked Ride Engine harnesses—except when they jabbed my ribs like a cranky toddler. But the new Hyperloc …

The all-new Waydoo Evo eFoil is here. How is it different from the Flyer One Plus? Does it replace it? What are the configuration options? Jake's spent a lot of time on both the Flyer One Plus and the new Evo, so he's got some answers.What Are My Options? The Evo does have a lot of options to customize your ride. Only a few are available right now, but there are more to come later. There will be two battery sizes: a smaller, lighter one and a larger one with extended runtime. There will …

Jake and Dustin had a chance to get out on a pre-release 2025 Moto X Design Works kite from Cabrinha, and it left them stoked. "Design Works" is the name Cabrinha has chosen for their premium line, and they started by giving the Moto X the Aluula treatment on both the leading edge and its three struts.Flight CharacteristicsThe Moto X Design Works is very user-friendly, even for beginners. Thanks to the Aluula being stiffer, it's going to have an incredible wind range on each size. It's …

We've got a new board brand at the shop, and Jake took one of their twintip kiteboards, the Awesome, out for a spin. The brand is Lieuwe, pronounced "lee-wa". Admittedly, that's even a bit harder to get right than "Naysh", "Cabreenya", or "Dakeen". Lieuwe is a Dutch company, but we're finding that name tricky, even being located just one town north of Holland, Michigan. However, in terms of performance, the Awesome is a really fun board that lives up to its name.Overview of Lieuwe's L …

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 …

It's been a minute since we've heard from Jake. He's been busy getting some all-important daddy time with his two lovely daughters, but he recently got back on the water with the Harlem Force. It labels itself as a "game changer", but does it live up to that bold claim? What Makes the Force a Game Changer? While "game changer" may be a bit of a stretch, it is an interesting kite that's worth a look. Harlem is a European company with their own factory that's powered 100 percent by …

With the amount of harness and spreader bar combinations, getting the right size Ride Engine can feel daunting. The good news is when you nail it, you get a precise, comfortable fit that translates to more time on the water. As a general rule, the size chart below gets you 80% of the way there. Here are a few sizing tips from the hundreds of Ride Engine harnesses we've sold over the years.What's Your Body Type? Consider your body shape. Leaner bodies are best represented by the above char …

Derek Sproul from Naish takes a few minutes to chat about the 2024 kiteboarding lineup with MACkite's Jake Mitchell at King of the Great Lakes Test Fest. What's new? Is there a must-have coming for your quiver?Jake: We're super stoked to have you all the way here in Michigan.Derek: The sun is shining and it's just so beautiful here in late September. There's nowhere I'd rather be. It's awesome.Jake: Amen to that. So you brought some new gear?PivotDerek: Yeah, we've got a bit of everything …

Jake Mitchell from MACkite is with Sam Medysky of Airush at the 2023 King of the Great Lakes Test Fest. Sam's been a name in the kiteboarding world for many years and has some insights into the Airush lineup and wind sports in general to share. Jake: We've got the man, the myth, the legend, Sam with Airush here. Sam, how long have you been working with Airush? Sam: I've been with Airush since 2017. I've been kiting since 1998, 25 years, and I've been coming to this event since 2004. I …

What's Old Is NewWe have the 2024 North Orbit here. North is going in a new direction with their branding, and I am excited about it because they're bringing back the old school North Sails. A lot of you who have been in the sailing industry for a while know that North Sails goes way back. I'm dating myself, but when I got into the sport in '82, North Sails was prominent. So that's something new you're going to see on the North lineup for 2024, and all of their North Sails gear is going to …