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Whether you're new to the kiteboarding scene or are an old-timer who learned on a C-kite, chances are you've heard of the Cabrinha Switchblade and perhaps have even owned one or two. The Brazilian Brothers have been putting an early release of the 2026 version through its paces and are ready to share their thoughts now that it's available to the public. What is the Cabrinha Switchblade? It's been two decades since Pat Goodman designed the first Switchblade for Cabrinha. It introduced mas …

Confidence at Your Fingertips The Cabrinha Unify Control System represents the next evolution in kite control technology—a streamlined, high-performance bar that blends safety, comfort, and precision into one cohesive system. Designed for riders who demand both simplicity and innovation, the Unify marks Cabrinha’s most refined bar to date, setting a new standard for intuitive control and long-term reliability. A Legacy of Innovation For years, Cabrinha has been at the forefront …

The Brazilian Brothers have been using the Cabrinha Nitro in their kite clinics since it was released in 2023, so they're very familiar with it. Now they've got a fresh 2026 Nitro. What's new, how does it stack up to past versions, and who is it for? What is the Cabrinha Nitro? The Nitro is a 5-strut big air kite developed by Pat Goodman, who also designed kites like the Switchblade and North Orbit. The Brothers love it for its ability to perform heli-loops and help students up their big …

You've heard that you "should" wear an impact vest, but do you really need one? And if so, what's a good one that won't get in your way? The Brazilian Brothers think they have the answer to both questions in the Ride Engine Empax V2. What's an Impact Vest For? Protection Buoyancy Warmth Harness Positioning An impact vest has a few benefits, not just the obvious protection from impact. You get some buoyancy, which is very helpful when you're in the water trying to relaunch your kite. Yo …

We've been seeing some exceptional kites coming from brands collaborating with Brainchild, so the Harlem Thrive has got the Brazilian Brothers excited to do a review on it. It excels at freeride, wave and the Brothers' favorite, big air, so they took it out to test its jumping and looping ability, as well as to figure out just who this kite is right for. What Is the Thrive? Like other kites made in Brainchild's facilities, the Thrive takes advantage of Proweld technology, which ultrasoni …

The Brazilian Brothers covered an exciting strapless big air competition in Prea, Brazil. It was organized by strapless pioneer and 2008 World Champion Mitu Monteiro. The weather could hardly have been better, with the wind pumping at 25-30 knots. The brothers were especially stoked that their friend Baby Shark would be participating in his first strapless competition, and they felt he had a good shot at placing, if not outright winning. Ready... Set... Go! First up was the racing compet …

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 …

The Brazilian Brothers had a chance to hook up with big air legend Baby Shark (Josue San) and see what he thought about the 2026 North Orbit. The wind there in Prea was 30 knots and the kite's purple colorway matched Baby Shark's Astra board perfectly, so Baby Shark was pretty stoked as he headed into the water. What's New with the 2026 Orbit? The Orbit and Orbit Pro have been combined into a single offering, and the shape has been refined into a higher-aspect design that sits further fo …

Helmets are for kooks, right? Real kiteboarders ride with the wind blowing through their hair. Yep, tell that to an increasing number of pros and everyday riders who swear by the benefits of protecting their noggin from a knockin'. There are enough people out there with helmets that you won't look out of place, and it may just save you from a painful concussion or worse. Do I Really Need a Helmet? If you do freestyle or big air, a helmet can protect your head from a hard impact with the …

Choosing the right kite is important, but how you interact with that kite can make a big difference too. The Brazilian Brothers took the North Navigator Pro bar for a spin, and it's got some features they really appreciated, but a couple they wished it had as well. Overall, is it still a bar they'd recommend, or should you keep looking? Get a Grip The brothers feel that the Navigator Pro Bar has one of the most comfortable grips on the market. When they get in the water, they're out ther …

The Brazilian Brothers, Arthur and Rubens, are back with another review. Up this time is the 2025 F-One Trigger BrainChild, and it turns out that it feels right at home in the windy conditions of Prea, Brazil. It's designed for big air, which is the brothers' favorite style, so does it measure up to their standards, and what makes the BrainChild edition special? Pro-weld Technology The BrainChild edition of the F-One Trigger uses the innovative Pro-weld technology, which ultrasonically w …

There's hardly a better testing ground for the Duotone EVO D/LAB LTD than Prea, Brazil with its consistently strong wind. The Brazilian Brothers are based there and have reviewed the big air capabilities of this Blue Aluula kite for us. How does it jump and loop? And have there been any improvements over the 2023 Evo D/LAB? How Does the 2025 Duotone Evo D/LAB LTD Jump? The previous Evo D/LAB was one of the brothers' favorite kites of all time, so the bar was set pretty high for this year …

At MACkite, the only thing we love as much as getting out on the water is helping others to get out there, too. So we're stoked to announce a new content partnership with a couple guys who are just as committed to making kiteboarding accessible to everyone. This is just a quick introduction, but you'll be able to find more by clicking the "Brazilian Brothers" tag. Who Are the Brazilian Brothers? Arthur: What's up, guys? You guys might be wondering, who are these two random dudes? My name …

So, you're nailing your board-offs from the handle. The next step is learning how to grab the fin and tic-tac the board into your hand. This move adds flow and control to your riding while setting you up for cleaner, more advanced board-offs. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you progress in your board-offs: Step 1: Set Up Like a Normal Board-Off Go into this trick just like you would with a standard handle grab board-off. Keep your kite steady overhead, get a solid pop, and prepare t …

Can I Use Stick-On Strap Inserts? You love your board, but the board designers decided that it would be a strap-free zone and you'd really like to have the option of straps. Or maybe there aren't inserts at your preferred foot position. Now you can make your board fit your feet like it was custom made just for you. NSI's stick-on footstraps inserts come in sets of 2 or 4, and screws are included. You'll need two stick-on inserts for each strap (one for each end of the strap), so be sure …