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2016 Best Red Bar & Roca Session What’s a good way to end the week? Kiteboarding with friends with the winds in the upper twenties all while riding new gear and loving every minute of it. After burning out a long week at the shop bouncing between customer support, sales, marketing, and the shop handy man, a session was pretty high on my list of wants before the end of the week. It just so happened the NE wind forecasted shifted to a NW and the race was on. With wind in the mid to uppe …

Best Kiteboarding - Feel The Flow Ah, Sweden. Home of vikings, rich culture, and...kiteboarding? Yes!  From Habo Ljung to Lundakra to Mellbystrand, Sweden is growing in popularity as an alternative riding location to Brazil or Australia. Not only are the waters a unique combination of fresh and salt water, but the snowkiting is on-point and lasts for a good portion of the year. Niklas Langseth embraces his ancestry to conquer the cold, sweet waters with the 2016 Best TS. Video Synops …

2016 North Mono...Shop Tested, Aaron Approved So, a 2016 North Mono 12M showed up at the shop today. I walked in just as it came off of the truck and Jake offered first dibs. Bam; I’m out the door. Gear Used & Riding Conditions Kite: 2016 North Mono 12M Conditions: Side-onshore around 13 knots Rider Weight: 190lbs Years Riding: 16 Board: 6’0” Surfboard Experience Riding the Mono Single Strut Kite There was already plenty of buzz about the 2016 North Mono, well be …

Wave Day w/ the 2016 Slingshot Rally Conditions Water temperature: Low 40s Wind: 20 - 25 knots Gear Used Water wear: NP Mission 5/4 Wetsuit NP Neoprene Hoodie NP Thermal Pants NP Mission Booties Xcel Gloves Ion Beanie Kite: 2016 Slingshot Rally w/ Slingshot Guardian Bar Kiteboard: 2016 Airush Cypher Experience Having made it to May without a session, I figured it was long overdue that I get out on the water. With water temperatures in the low 40s, I grabbed my NP Mission 5.4, neoprene hoo …

Growing With Kiteboarding It's time to get back into the water. As we begin to approach the kiteboarding season here in the Midwest, I start to get excited about returning to the water. Yes - others have been kiteboarding for months now (Marc Hoeksema has over 25 sessions so far!) while I've yet to dip a toe into Lake Michigan. This is actually a first for me in years, not rushing to get back into the water as soon as the ice clears. I'm taking advantage of the mild weather with some of my other …

First Impressions with the 2016 Best Roca Rygo's Riding Conditions & Gear It was a cold 40-degree morning, with the water ranking in at a not so balmy 30 degrees. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of a quality session. Of course, this is a reality for most of us during the winter months. A quick session before work, in frigid water. Whatever it takes to get it in right? Rider weight: 179 lbs. Wind Speed: 16-17 mph Kiteboard: Cabrinha Custom CBL - 144 cm with Rad Bindings K …

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 …

Also check out Jake V's take on switching to the new 2016 Roca Rider Weight:179lbs Wind Speed: 16-17mph Board: 144 Cabrinha Custom CBL with RAD Bindings It was a cold 40-degree morning, with the water ranking in at a not-so-balmy 30 degrees. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of a quality session. Of course, this is a reality for most of us during the winter months. A quick session before work, in frigid water. Whatever it takes to get it in, right?  The first thing that struck …

2016 North Mono Kiteboarding Kite New for 2016, North Kiteboarding is debuting the Mono, a one strut kite that finds itself in the company of the Airush Lithium One and Liquid Force Solo. Able to be flown on both a 4-line and 5-line control bar, you can expect a light-weight, quick turning kite that’s perfectly suited for light to medium winds. With one strut, expect some canopy flutter. This will make the kite slightly more difficult to handle in heavy winds that require consistent depowe …

#RPMISWHAT: FUN Alex Fox has been flying the RPM since day one and over the years he's figured out that having fun on the water is key. The versatile RPM keeps him on the water longer and more often where he can focus on having fun. If you're not having fun, what are you doing? Check it out as Alex Fox the fun, weapon-of-choice for tricksters, soul-searching surfers, and casual weekend-warriors alike known as the 2016 Slingshot RPM. 2016 Slingshot RPM The legend continues with the 2016 RPM: Th …

Sam Light on the Slingshot Refraction: Sam Light Model Sam Light, team rider for Slingshot, offers his expertise on the 2016 Refraction Sam Light Model. We love seeing riders give their opinion, especially one that lets us sit back and think, "man, we've got a good board on the shelves".  Opinions from Sam Light on the Refraction: Incredible graphic, a tribute to Sam Light The board slices through the water smoothly while offering loads of pop Durable and tested for ultimate balance …

2016 Ion Apex & Vertex Select w/Ben Skaggs Sometimes you have questions. And, well, we don't always have the answers. In those cases, it's better to get the answers from the person who would know the product best, our brand reps. Ben Skaggs, one of North's representatives, was able to give us the low-down on the 2016 Ion Apex Select and 2016 Ion Vertex Select harnesses. 2016 Ion Apex Select & 2016 Ion Vertex Select Wire_Tec on both harnesses allows even load distribution, thanks t …

Keahi De Aboitiz at Teahupoo (Cabrinha Kitesurfing) Keahi is no stranger to the well-known surf break Teahupoo, with it’s heavy, glassy waves offshore, it’s arguably the most dangerous surf breaks in the world. For those brave enough to face it, it’s one of the most intense session of their lives. The waves have a unique combination of size, power and speed. Enjoy this hypnotic show as Keahi’s smooth style with slow mo camera work make it look like a walk in the park. Sp …

2016 Ride Engine Overview feat. MACkite's Nathan The 2016 Ride Engine harness has broken through the kiteboarding industry with a revolutionary design and fit. Sticking to a classic form, the Ride Engine is able to be customized based on your desired riding. The exchangeable spreader bar is a nice touch, with the ability to change sizes as well as material. Nathan breaks down the differences in the Ride Engine harness types as well as getting the perfect fit.  The Line Up: Hex-Core Widest …

2016 Best Roca - The First Feedback Best Kiteboarding unleashed the Roca for 2016, and they've taken it to the test in Tarifa to gather feedback from riders, dealers, and distributors. The first feedback seems promising, with some of the major highlights featured below: Very durable and strong Easy to turn Great low-end Tons of power Quick relaunching Perfect for kite schools Good for basic unhooked maneuvers  Nice upwind performance What Best has to say about the Roca: "The new Roc …