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Jeff and Ryan went out for a session together in Muskegon but had very different experiences. Ryan was on a wing, while Jeff opted for a parawing. He's had a couple hours on parawings, but it's still a new skill for him, while Ryan had never used one before. They'd originally planned to swap gear during the session, but the conditions weren't ideal for parawinging and Ryan decided to wait for a better day to give it a try. What were those conditions like, what did each of them ride, and h …

Ryan and Caden have spent plenty of time behind the boat testing North's Sonar foils, and they've found two stellar options for progression: the Sonar MA1500 V2 and the SF1080. First, you focus on the MA1500 V2 to get your progression going. Then, a shift to the SF1080 gives you the play to perform and start learning more intermediate maneuvers. What is the North Sonar? The Sonar from North is a fully modular system. You can swap wings, masts, fuselages, and more based on your individual …

"Should I ride a carbon mast or stick with aluminum?" It's a common question here at the shop, especially for those progressing in their wake foiling skills. Honestly, both have their place. We're spoiled here at the shop with access to nearly everything, and we've spent plenty of time on both setups. Caden and Ryan go over the differences, how each impacts your riding, and when to use each option. Pros & Cons of Aluminum Masts Aluminum masts are a smart option for those learning to w …

Mast height can be a confusing concept. From super short beginner masts to taller setups, the choice can feel overwhelming. The truth is, the right mast height depends on where you are in your progression and how you want your ride to feel. Caden and Ryan recently broke down the pros and cons of short versus tall masts, sharing their on-the-water experience to help you make the right call. The Perfect Length: 70-85cm Masts For most riders, a mast between 70 and 85cm is ideal. Shorter than …

You've been winging for six months to a year, maybe even more. By now, you've got your first setup dialed in and logged plenty of water time. Maybe you've added a second or third wing to handle different wind ranges. So what's the next piece of gear that's really worth upgrading? If you're thinking board, take a pause. The the move that will unlock your biggest jump in progression and performance? Upgrading your foil. Why Your Next Investment Should Be a Foil Starting out, you probably le …

So you've purchased your first wing foiling package and have started to get pretty comfortable on it. You're up and foiling, and you've even got your first transitions pretty dialed in. You're having a blast and want to keep progressing. What should your next gear purchase be? What Are the Options? There are essentially three components in a wing foiling setup. The wing and the foil, of course, and your board. Should you downsize your foil? Or maybe the board? A new wing might be nice... …

A new foilboard has been getting checked out of the demo room quite a bit. The F-One Rocket Wing Crossover bridges the gap between the Rocket Wing S and the Rocket Midlength. While it still falls into the midi board category, it's shorter and wider. So who is this board for, and what are the advantages of this shape? What Is the F-One Rocket Wing Crossover? As the name implies, it falls between a couple other boards in the F-One range. It's longer and narrower than the Rocket Wing S, but …

MACkite has a new addition to the crew and the winging team, but Skip is no stranger to wind sports or even the shop. Follow along as Jeff and Ryan ask Skip about his journey on the water and how it led to winging. What challenges did he face, and did his prior experience help? Skipping Across the Water Skip is far from a new face around MACkite. As a windsurfer, he thought this new kiteboarding thing looked interesting and asked his local kite shop if they'd be bringing any kiteboarding ge …

If you're just getting into Foil Drive, the options can feel a little overwhelming. What's the difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2? Should I get the Max or the Slim? Do I need 3 props on my motor or are 2 enough? And perhaps most confusingly with four options now available for the MAX Gen 2 unit, which battery do I need? The MAX is the larger unit of Foil Drive's current generation. While the Slim is lighter with a little less drag, the extra power and runtime the MAX offers is well worth it fo …

In a way, a Foil Drive is an "easy button" for foiling. You can get up easier, it's easier to stay out longer, and it's easier to progress your skills with that extra time on the water. So if you like easy, you may like the Konrad Click Nut System for Foil Drive. What Are Konrad Click Nuts? Ryan's been using the Konrad Click Nuts with his foilboards for a while now, and he's excited to have them as an option for the Foil Drive. These replace your existing track mount hardware with a too …

If you've ever had a chance to ride a board that came out of the Appletree factory, you know it's something special. These boards are designed and built by the people who use them. The Foil Drive was also designed and tested by actual riders. The Zapple lets you combine the two, and it's magic. Getting a Foil Drive may be the best upgrade you could make to your foil setup, but at the end of the day, it's still an add-on and adds some drag. Going with an integrated mast helps by getting the cab …

The MACkite Foil Crew sat down to talk about which foils they like best for waves and swells. As you can guess, there isn't one right answer to this question. In addition to personal preference, it depends on your skill level, the conditions that day, and what sort of wave riding you plan to do. However, they do hope to help you build the best quiver for yourself with these concepts and insights. Waves... What's in a Name? So you've been foiling for a little while now and are looking to get in …

Since Foil Drive is an accessory that can be fitted to virtually any foil setup, the options are nearly endless. If you're already a foiler and love your setup, adding a Foil Drive to that is a no-brainer, but what if you're starting from scratch or want to reboot your setup? Ryan from MACkite has been Foil Driving for a while with the shop's gear and is ready to share what he ultimately settled on and why. 1. Foil Drive Gen2 Assist Max The Foil Drive Gen2 Assist Max gives you the most runtim …

Judging by the number of calls we get about the Gen2 Foil Drive, it's a popular choice for foilers wanting to get more out of their sessions, but the number of battery options can be a little overwhelming. There are two main units to choose from, each with two battery sizes (three if you count the travel batteries, though it's pretty obvious when to choose those). Ryan and Aaron are here to clear up the confusion and help you confidently choose the right combination for your Foil Drive needs. …

When you embark on your foiling journey, it's all about big, stable gear that'll get you up and riding. Falling and getting back on your board takes a lot of time and energy, and the less of that you do, the faster you'll be successful and begin to progress.Now you're on foil and cruising without too much trouble, and you're starting to think about that next step. Your buddies are on mid-size boards and downwind boards, so you're thinking it might be time for you to pick one up. We get it. …