Latest News, Blog & Videos

We’ve had a lot of requests for a solid review on the 2018 North Evo and how it compares to the 2017. I can’t say I’m surprised there is very little content beyond the basic brand notes on the 2018 Evo. I’ve been really curious to compare these two kites myself, but it definitely took me some time, to say the least! The reality is that this kite has become a completely different animal designed to meet the same end, yet with a new approach. It’s rare for a kite to …

OK, I’ve officially found my favorite kite-surfboard of all time, and it only took me 18 years. Ha!Nah—seriously though, you’ve got to have a look at the NEW 2018 North Pro Whip CSC. This little blaster will have you grinning from ear to ear the first time out. I’ve spent a bit of time on the North Nugget and the North WAM, but the Pro Whip is my jam!The first thing you’ll notice is how light the board is. North utilized bamboo and carbon in this board and it really shows. The next thing yo …

Sessions Blog - Testing the 2018 North Evo For the  2018 North Evo, I really had to put in the work to get my review right. In most of my previous videos, I'd already had years of experience testing the gear. Demand was high for this review and I was struggling to get any real information on the kite. I decided to get as much time in on the kite as possible and take notes on my sessions. The problem was I only had a 12 meter and the conditions never seemed to line up. I had tested the kit …

The two leading performance kites that bridge the gap from freeride to freestyle. Both appeal to intermediate to advanced riders looking to push big air, kite loops or unhooked freestyle. Often, when I review kites there are a lot of trade offs and the differences are very clear. Between these two kites, the water can get a little muddy. All that said, I hope to clear this up for you. These kites are designed to fill the gap between C-kites and user friendly Freeride kites. What’s awe …

This week I’m going to a compare two kites that really fall into two different categories.  Two kites built for similar but different reasons  The Juice is North’s go to lightwind freeride kite while the Mono is their Freeride and foil kite. With that said, these are two very different kites built for different reasons but they do have crossover applications.  So where do we begin? Let's start with the Juice. The North Juice has many of the characteristics one can ex …

North has redesigned one of the best freeride kites on the planet, and now it's available to you. Introducing the 2018 North Evo! Historically, there were too many similarities between the North Evo and North Rebel. Many riders used to make the decision between the two by whether or not they wanted to fly with 5 lines or not. Of course, they were more different than that, but it seems like line configuration was a big deal for many riders. In 2018, North has increased the gap between …

The North Neo Vs the Cabrinha Drifter. Both of these kites are kitesurfing kites in the same vein. On paper, they don’t look that much different but once you get on them water it’s clear that they are very different kites.If I were to define each in a paragraph, I would describe the Neo as controlled, powerful and constant. The Drifter, I would say playful, well-rounded and aggressive. When it comes to deciding which one is for you, it really comes down to what sort of feel you’re looking for …

The North Neo put a smile on my face the very first time I flew one a couple of seasons back. And it's only gotten better with time.New for 2018, North incorporated what they call, "flex segments", into the leading edge of the kite. This allows the kite to have a more pivotal turning characteristic. I thought it was great before—now it's even better. The low-end power is by far one of the best in the industry when compared, pound-for-pound, with other surf kites. You can definitely fly one size …

My first session on the 2018 North Dice 13m was solid! Yeah, man—I can actually still stick a few basic unhooked tricks after riding nothing but surfboards for the past season—old-guy stoked.The 2018 North Dice received some significant mods but is still the same intermediate to advanced-level performance kite that we've come to know. North tweaked the radius of the kite, along with the leading edge diameter and steering speed to give us an even more progressive freestyle kite this year. The Dic …

Jake M's 2018 North Rebel Review We get it, you're busy, so let's start with the TL;DR. The 2018 Rebel is everything you've loved about the past iterations, but better and now 4 line compatible. Having finally gotten the chance to ride the 2018 Rebel, I can absolutely attest that North knocked it out of the park with this year's kite. I mean, for those of us who could stomach the 5th line we always knew North had something special with the Rebel. It was truly a premium freeride kite that of …

Are you thinking about stepping up your freestyle/wakestyle game? Maybe you're looking for a mega-looping machine? Something with the most direct steering, explosive lift, and mad pop? Look no further, amigos—it's Vegas time. The North Vegas is a kite that will blow your mind—just be sure you're ready for it. While the performance capability is unquestionable, the level of forgiveness is also a bit less. Meaning that you will have to actively fly this kite to get the most out of it. It's not a …

In this episode, Crystal meets with one of kiteboarding's hardest working riders, Colleen Carroll. She tells how she got her start in kiteboarding, what she is up to now and breaks down the 2018 North kiteboarding line up. Crystal rocking her Ion Jewel up in Squamish, BC. Thanks again, and see you next time on Chasing the Dream! *Written & produced by Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic and Crystal Veness Crystal Veness Originally from Canada, she now calls the entire world her playground and simultan …

The top two performance freeride kites in the world. How do they stack up?  A little history. The last decade and a half, kiteboarding culture has come into its own. In the formative years, we had legends like Pete Cabrinha, Robby Naish, Lou Wainman defining the sport, and the list goes on and on. Most kiteboarders lived in Hawaii and other tropical locations. At first, the sport wasn't accessible to everyone. The gear wasn't safe or efficient - albeit, it was fun if you had the fortitu …

Have any of you ever had one of those "ah-ha" moments with a new piece of kiteboarding gear? Something that made you grin from ear to ear the first time you tried it? Here are my thoughts after spending a whole year riding the North Click Bar.At first sight, I was blown away at how simple the Click Bar appeared. Ben Skaggs, our North sales rep, put one in our hands last August, at the North dealer meeting in Hood River, Oregon. It actually looked less complex than the North Trust Quad or 5th Ele …

2018 North Rebel Product Clip Diehard North Rebel fans—take a deep breath—everything is going to be OK. Your 2018 North Rebel kite is now a 4-line powerhouse! For many years, we have been recommending the North Rebel to that premium freeride kiteboarder. Historically, the Rebel has had amazing qualities, like huge jumps, ripping upwind ability and massive wind range. While those are all things that a freerider wants from a good kite like the Rebel, they don’t seem to want the 5 …