Latest News, Blog & Videos

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. …

If you want to take a good kite and make it even better, replacing the frame with Aluula is a great place to start. That's what Duotone has done with the Evo D/LAB, but you could be forgiven for not recognizing it right away. We've grown so used to seeing that bright yellow, but Duotone has released the first limited edition Blue Aluula fabric, or "Bluula", as we at MACkite like to call it. This kite is only available in the US, so you may want to preorder if you plan to rock this special …

Fans of Dustin, rejoice! He's returned at long last from a back injury he sustained in October. It was a long road to recovery from a herniated L1-S5, but he's back in the saddle- er, harness, that is. He wasted no time getting out on the water and taking the new North Code Zero Pro for a spin with a foil. The white canopy with a black leading edge makes a good first impression with its clean and sharp look, so how does its performance stack up? What's New on the 2025 North Code Zero Pro? …

Jeff from MACkite had a chance to meet up with Kevin Langeree of Reedin in Cape Town, South Africa. Aside from the beautiful weather and scenery, Jeff was there to get an early look at the WhisperModel, Reedin's new light wind kite. Although the wind isn't usually lacking at the Cape, Kevin recognized that this isn't the case in many places and felt that was a problem he could solve. The WhisperModel was developed with Damien Girardin and Ralf Groesel of Brainchild and is a kite for people w …

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 …

As you can tell from its "V14" designation, Airush's Lithium kite has been around a while. It's a staple of their lineup as an all-around kite, and after this many versions, it's become quite refined. Rather than release a new version with minimal changes every year, Airush takes their time to develop a Lithium with impactful and meaningful changes every two years. Kristen is familiar with the V13 Lithium and has spent some time on the new V14, so she's got some insights to share about what …

Have you ever tried what seems like a million of something, only to find they all fall short in one way or another? And then you finally find THE ONE, and it's the greatest feeling, knowing that your search is over and you can enjoy using that perfect thing. For Kristen, that perfect thing may well be the AK Durable Supply Co. Method RS harness.The Ratchet SystemThe standout feature of the Method is the ratchet system, which is what RS stands for. With more of an hourglass shape, Kristen fo …

David is in Prea, Brazil, where he's had a chance to get a couple sessions on the new 2025 Orbit Pro from North. How does it fly, and how is it different from the 2024 Orbit Pro?Which Sizes Did He Test? David got out on both a 10m and the 8.1m, thanks to North Team Rider Josue San Ferreira, aka "Baby Shark" (named after his dad "Shark", not the epic song). Dave has been flying the 2024 Orbit Pro in an 8 and 10m for the past year, so he could feel the differences right away. What …

Big air kiteboards deserve a big review, and no one is more up to the task than guest vlogger Jason Montreal. Although he's from New Zealand where it's notoriously difficult to get one's hands on a wide variety of gear, Jason has managed to beg, borrow, or steal a session on three viewer-requested boards: the Carved Imperator v7, Lieuwe Falcon, and Duotone Jaime SLS.Carved Imperator 7Jason has been wanting to try the Imperator for years, but it's a spendy board, especially to get in New …

Guest vlogger Jason Montreal is back with another big air kite review. He's going to cover two kites in this edition: the Slingshot Code v2 and the Code NXT. Even though they're both Codes and are quite similar in shape and flight characteristics, the Aluula in the NXT does add something extra, and many people are probably wondering if it's worth it for them to spring for the upgrade. Jason's been excited to try these kites, and especially the NXT since it was developed and ridde …

Dustin is here to share his thoughts about the new 2024 Slingshot Code NXT, along with... Jeff? As you may know, Jeff used to kite a lot, but now is primarily a wingfoiler. So what's so special about this kite that it was able to pull him away from his wing for a session?What is the Code NXT?The Code NXT is Slingshot's new school big air Aluula kite. What's so new about it? Big air is dominated by five-strut kites, but the use of Aluula allows the Code to move to just three struts. It's …

Kristen Cooper is back to share her thoughts on the Airush Team control bar. She's taken a lot of time to really get a feel for it and she found a lot to like about it. Is it the right bar for you as well?Overview The Airush Team control bar is a bar for any level rider. It's a great bar to start on, but you won't outgrow it, either. It's designed to withstand even the hardest riding, yet is customizable and doesn't sacrifice performance. Features Kristen's first impression of …

Pat's back for a guest appearance! Now with North Kiteboarding, he's on the beach to chat with MACkite's Dustin about the new North Orbit Ultra Aluula big air kite. What's new, does the Aluula make that much of a difference for big air, and is it right for you? Pat: The North Orbit Ultra is our big jumper this year. We took the tried and true DNA of the Orbit, one of the bestselling big air kites over the last couple years, and added Aluula. Last year we added the Orbit Pro to the l …

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 …