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The Reedin WhisperModel makes some impressive claims for light wind riding. Jeff decided to put it all on the line and rigged up, heading out on a twintip in just 9-11 knots. So, are these claims fact or just a flaunt? Not only was he able to get up and ride, but he could even tack back upwind in choppy bumps. He had to stay focused, but he came ashore where he put in, no Walk of Shame required. It would seem that the Whisper is a win in light wind. Shop Kites MACkite Subscription Lin …

Jeff's got four decades of experience on the water but has only recently decided to begin wearing a helmet, and his pick is the Surf Convertible helmet from Gath. So far he's had two sessions with it, and he hasn't looked back. So why did it take him so long to start protecting his noggin, and how has the Gath SFC helmet overcome those objections? Do I Really Need a Helmet? Ultimately, it is up to you whether you want to wear a helmet. We know that they can feel heavy, especially if they …

Jeff had a chance to catch up with Kevin Langeree at the Reedin tent at KoGL to chat about the brand new 2026 MasterModel big air kite. Damien had been wanting to design a 5-strut kite, but they were just too heavy to achieve the turning speed, lift, and hangtime he was looking for. Now, with the weight-reducing technologies developed by Brainchild, that vision has finally become a reality. Who Is the MasterModel For? Before you write this off as a high-performance kite that's just for t …

Tucker and Jeff have an early review of the 2026 Cabrinha Union foil. Cabrinha sent them some prototypes to ride, and so far they're stoked about it. Now they're ready to chat about what it is, what each wing is for, and who might want to pick this new system up. What Is the Cabrinha Union Foil System? This is a complete redesign that uses a monobloc construction, with the front and rear wing pieces each forming half of the fuselage. It's streamlined and incredibly stiff, and a few brand …

Slingshot has designed a couple new foilboards for 2026, and Tucker and Jeff are pretty excited about them. When you think of Slingshot's Craft line of boards, you might envision a chicken nugget shape, but they've gone back to the drawing board with the Flow Craft and Glide Craft. These have been updated with a sleeker surfy approach and a clean white top that gives off surfboard vibes. What's the difference between them, and how do they feel out on the water? Flow Craft: Construction T …

Jeff is back for another session chat, this time with Skip. What did the day bring, what gear did they take out, and how did it go? How Were the Conditions? In West Michigan, windy days can be few and far between during the summer. We can get thermals that pop up for a few hours in the afternoon on sunny days, but genuinely windy days are a rare treat, and we finally got one. Jeff got up before dawn to catch an early session and arrived at the beach to be greeted with 27-32 knots from the …

Whether by divine will or simple serendipity, local surf legend Marc just happened to walk into the shop as Jeff and Tucker were getting ready to film a discussion on surf foils. Marc was even wearing an NP shirt, one of his favorite foil brands from back in the day. Naturally, the guys pulled him into the studio to join the conversation, totally unscripted, yet clearly meant to be. A few weeks ago, Tucker and Jeff talked about which wings they like to use in the waves, so this is a natu …

Jeff and Ryan went out for a session together in Muskegon but had very different experiences. Ryan was on a wing, while Jeff opted for a parawing. He's had a couple hours on parawings, but it's still a new skill for him, while Ryan had never used one before. They'd originally planned to swap gear during the session, but the conditions weren't ideal for parawinging and Ryan decided to wait for a better day to give it a try. What were those conditions like, what did each of them ride, and h …

In this video, Jeff breaks down one of his go-to harnesses for winging: the Mystic Majestic Wing Harness. It's not only one of his personal favorites, but also a shop favorite for good reason. When you're learning how to wing, you don't really need a waist harness. But, once you start progressing and can ride longer sessions, you're probably ready to step into one. Your arms and shoulders will thank you for the extra support! Why Ride With a Waist Harness? There are different schools of t …

You've been winging for six months to a year, maybe even more. By now, you've got your first setup dialed in and logged plenty of water time. Maybe you've added a second or third wing to handle different wind ranges. So what's the next piece of gear that's really worth upgrading? If you're thinking board, take a pause. The the move that will unlock your biggest jump in progression and performance? Upgrading your foil. Why Your Next Investment Should Be a Foil Starting out, you probably le …

So you've been wing foiling waves a while now and have had some downwinders, ridden swell, and maybe you've even gotten on some breaking waves. You can connect wave after wave, and it's an amazing feeling. But sometimes you wonder if there's more. What could you do to spice things up a bit and make it more exciting? Just to be clear, there's nothing wrong with a chill session of going with the flow, and if that's your happy place, then you shouldn't feel like you're doing it wrong. But if …

Welcome to another edition of Versus! This time we're looking at a couple Starboard foilboard models: the Take Off and the Above. While they're both for foiling, they do have some important differences, and Tucker and Jeff are going to try to help you decide which one is better for your quiver. Starboard has been making boards for a long time. Jeff rode them back in his windsurfing days. Needless to say, they're doing something right, and the Take Off and Above are both produced in the Co …

And now it's time for a PSA about parawing safety, brought to you by Tucker and Jeff. Are you an experienced winger? Were you raised in the water like a tadpole and you feel completely comfortable on a board? Are the waves your happy place? Have you decided to pick up a parawing so you can ride the swell hands-free? Great! And did you remember to wear your vest? No? Well, you don't wear one while you're winging, and a parawing is pretty much the same thing, right? That's what Jeff thought …

So you've purchased your first wing foiling package and have started to get pretty comfortable on it. You're up and foiling, and you've even got your first transitions pretty dialed in. You're having a blast and want to keep progressing. What should your next gear purchase be? What Are the Options? There are essentially three components in a wing foiling setup. The wing and the foil, of course, and your board. Should you downsize your foil? Or maybe the board? A new wing might be nice... …

A lot of the time, price gets overlooked as a factor when comparing products. Although we at MACkite usually bring it up to some degree in our blogs and videos since we talk to real customers every day and we understand the reality of having a budget, we're not completely blameless. After all, it can be hard to talk about the price when we're excited about an item that's using all the latest and greatest materials. In this edition of "Versus", we're putting price front and center and are …