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Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Crash and Relaunch Your Kite In critical situations, it can be necessary to use the quick release on your kite. In doing so, your kite will remain connected to your harness via one line, and most of the kite’s power will be lost. To open the release, let go of the bar and push the quick-release mechanism away from you. In doing so, your kite will fall into the water and waiver in the wind. Once you're ready, you'll need to prepare your gear for relaunch. Hold the …

Learn how to land your kite in shallow water, with lots of free space around you. When you're ready to land your kite, be sure to signal clearly to your helper that you want to land the kite by tapping the top of your head with a flat hand.  Once the helper is ready, slowly lower your kite down along the edge of the wind window, using your top hand only to steer the kite. The lower hand should be free. Slow down the kite's descent by gently pulling on the top hand.  Once it's w …

Five steps to better kite control. Hey guys, today I want to talk about five things you can do to dramatically improve your kite skills. After all, kiteboarding is mostly about flying a kite. I mean, kites have been around for thousands of years. Most people can have fun flying a small kite on a string. We have these amazing highly engineered tools that propel us across the water and into the sky. So it goes with out saying you need to spend a lot of time flying your kite and frankly just have …

In this weeks episode I’ll be going to my sisters bachelorette party in vegas, then I’ll be making my way to interview my good friend Kara Mulder. Kara is a kiteboarder, the author of the flight attendant life and a digital nomad like myself. She has some amazing insights behind the community to be found in kiteboarding and travel. Before we get into the rules: A quick reminder, like driving it's always your responsibility to avoid a collision, even if you have the right of way. Yo …

The relaunch is one of the most important steps in learning how to kiteboard. After all, if you can't get your kite out of the water you're not going to get very far in the sport. One of the biggest concerns people face in the early stages is the fear of the unknown.  What happens if I crash?  How do I get back in if I drop my kite? Will the kite keep pulling me if I drop it?  To counter these fears, I recommend starting small. You need to practice your relaunch on the beach, …

New kiteboarding locations can be intimidating. In this Vlog I'll be covering how to assess a new spot, as well as a few important reminders. These tips will be especially helpful if you're traveling to a location like Hood River, OR. A busy month  Speaking of the Hood, I've spent the last few weeks wrapping up some work in the Pacific North West. From Seattle to Squamish back down to Hood River. It's been eventful to say the least. Fortunately, I was able to get some time on the water my …

We've all been there. You've just learned how to kiteboard or you are in the research phase. You find yourself asking a lot of questions. How much wind is too much? What are the safe wind directions? Is it too cold to go kiteboarding? What size kite do I need for my weight? There really is a lot to take in. Fear not, this episode I break down almost everything you need to know about kiteboarding riding conditions.   Last week I was working in San Fransisco and I payed a visit to Crissy fie …

You've take a kiteboarding lesson and mastered the Waterstart that's awesome! However, there is one little problem... How do you go back the other way? Fear not, I've broken down the kiteboarding transition into five easy steps. The next time you hit the water give these a try and see if they help! Step one Practice on the beach with a trainer kite. Visualization goes a long way with learning anything. If you can get your hands on it that's even better. I recommend taking a day or two m …

In this episode we're going to be talking about what kiteboarding is, how you can get started, and how learning to kiteboard will impact your life and your travels.  What is kiteboarding  Kiting brings together a lot of different sports. From board sports, to watersports, to knowledge of wind. So if you're a snowboarder, a wakeboarder, a sailer, a para sailer, a surfer or even a skateboarder, you absolutely have what it takes to become a kite boarder. Even if you are none of those th …

How to do a transition on your foilboard! It's Friday so you know what that means. Another episode of Ride with Blake. The last week was incurably fun as some old friends from MACkite came to visit. Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic, Steve Lee and Chris Bobryk. There is nothing like kiteboarding with friends and having some adventures. Like when we helped some F-16 pilots get a session and they were quick to reciprocate by letting us fly in their in single engine plane. It's amazing what life will bring …

Hey folks! In the latest installment of MACkite’s Ride With Blake series, Blake Olsen chats about how to ride upwind - a critical skill in the learning process of kiteboarding for beginners. Blake: Today’s lesson is on how to ride upwind. Once you get your first start, you end up going back and forth on the beach and you end up walking back up the beach, and that’s all part of the learning process. Everyone’s got to do it, so don’t worry about the walk of shame - we’ve all been there before …

So, you've taken a kiteboarding lesson or two and you're ready to try your first water start. That's awesome! Welcome to a new reality, my friend! I have five great tips for you to remember when you're first starting out.  Tip One Learn to fly the kite in one hand. Kiteboarding is 80% flying the kite, so it's a no-brainer you should have some serious kite time under your belt. I recommend finding a clear area and just hanging out with a friend. Remember to keep your hand on the middle of …

Bit by the bug... I was bitten by the kiteboarding bug on a visit to Tarifa. I returned from Europe and decided to save up for my first kite. It took me all summer, but I managed to snag a 2009 Cabrinha Switchblade from MacKite when it went on sale at the end of the season. Even though everyone recommended buying a trainer kite, I didn't have any extra money to spend and thought it was something I had already outgrown. If I had only known back then what I know now!  The year of the trainer …

Memoirs of a Kiteboarder Yesterday morning, I had the chance to take my 2nd ever kiteboarding lesson. As a new member of MACkite’s team, I felt it would be a crime to not at least attempt the adrenaline-pumping, whirlwind sport. I’ve had my go at board sports over the years: wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, but I had never before challenged the beast of kiteboarding. After being securely hooked into my Dakine Chameleon harness. I could see the appeal. My eyes glazed over the …

Check in with Matt Smolenski, our favorite newb, as he takes to the water for the first time with his Best TS kite.His progression has been very fast, and I bet he'll be right there with us in the swells this fall. Cheers, Matty! Get stoked! -AJ In the fourth video of the #AddAKite series, Matt is finally able to get in the water with his 2014 Best TS! On a windy day in Grand Haven, Matt spends some time on the beach flying the kite, then heads to the water for simulated board starts. …