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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 - w …

Traveling with Kite Gear Spring break is right around the corner! Hopefully, you have you planned your trip, packed your bags and are ready for some good times on the water. Quick question—how much are you planning to spend on travelling with your kiteboarding gear? Although there are creative ways to get around paying extra for your kite gear, It’s always a good idea to consult your airline’s policy on baggage fees beforehand. That way, at least you’re prepared for the w …

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 …

So I have been asked by several of our staff, “Why the Roca?” Well, it is basically quite simple. I have flown the Best TS 17 almost exclusively for the past 3 years and while I liked, more like loved, the 17 TS, I was always riding the 12m on the wakestyle setting to slow the kite down. The Roca was said to be a little slower and more stable. And since I am really just a freerider who rides to relieve stress and be on the water with friends rather than trying to throw down handle p …

An Exploration of the Death Loop You've watched the wipe-out kiteboarding videos, right? Where we see people crashing into the water, followed by a surrounding, "oooh" from your coworkers who have huddled over to your monitor? Unfortunately, some of those kiting videos end in tragedy and it can happen because of the "death loop". Anton Chernyshov has released a video on how to "survive the death loop". We've transposed it here to increase the knowledge and safety of our riders.  What is th …

Jake Reviews Kiteboarding Trainer Kites You may have heard of Jake. Perhaps it was for his friendliness, or the fact that he gives some of the best deals in the shop. Either way, Jake has decided to take over the reviewing session for a bit to chat about trainer kites. Trainer kites are a great option for those that are looking for a cheaper kite to learn basic flying skills before, during, or after a kiteboarding lesson. If you're just learning how to fly, we definitely recommend spending abo …

2015 Airush Lithium Kite Review Tucker's back with another installment of the "Tucker Reviews", a chance for him to chat about the things he pretends to know about.* This time, it's the 2015 Airush Lithium Kiteboarding Kite. You know the drill, fellow readers/viewers. Take a look at the video, then take a look at what we have to say about the 10 meter Lithium and the 18 meter Lithium Zero. Who's it good for: Beginners People who like to ride on the waves What Tucker likes: Super fun and …

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. Aft …

In the third installment of the #AddAKite Series, we find Matt heading to the local kiteboarding shop. When he arrives at the MACkite Boardsports Center in Grand Haven, Michigan, Matt is guided through the process of choosing the proper equipment by Nate from MACkite. Matt learns during this time that kiteboarding is really quite simple, and grabs some new Best Kiteboarding equipment for himself to start progressing! Check out the 2015 Best Kiteboarding Kites and also 25% off 2014 Best Kites …

In the second installment of the #AddAKite Series, Matt talks about the concerns he had getting into the sport after watching people get dragged down the beach by their kites on youtube videos and watching launches going bad on the local scene by untrained newbie/wannabe kiteboarders. The Best TS has changed all of that for Matt. Getting on the Best TS and getting great advice from a quality instructor has really put those safety concerns to rest. Matt acknowledges that the fear of the unknown …

Add a Kite, a video series documenting the progress towards becoming a kiteboarder follows Matt, a surfer from West Michigan. Matt has been a surfer his entire life, and is ready to take the steps in 2014 to becoming a kitesurfer. With the help of MACkiteboarding.com and Best Kiteboarding, Matt has invited us along to document his progress and show how easy it really is to just #addakite.   #AddAKite …

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Your first 6-10 hours of kiteboarding lessons depend highly on your kite flying skills. Virtually all MACkite students who have flown a trainer prior to a lesson progress twice as far and twice as fast. A great trainer will cost $100-$400 and has a fantastic return on investment versus the cost of learning kite flying skills during lessons. Kiteboarding skills are the similar to all athletic skills - the better your muscle memory is, the more successful an athlete you will be.Here is a breakdown …