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Rubens of the Brazilian Brothers had a chance to meet up with strapless wave legend, Gray Foster. Gray's been on the Duotone Neo wave kite almost exclusively for the past five years, and Rubens thought it'd be fun to put him on some three-strut freeride kites to see what he thought. Normally Gray looks for a fast, responsive kite for wave riding and a lifty kite with good catch for freestyle, so it was going to be an interesting test to see how the freeride kites stacked up. The Conditions fo …

The Brazilian Brothers are back to compare two heavy hitters in the Cabrinha lineup: the 2026 Switchblade and the 2026 Nitro. Both are five-strut designs, and both feature the high-performance Apex series material. They share some DNA, but they're built for very different riding styles and conditions. The Swiss Army Knife vs. The Big Air Machine The Cabrinha Switchblade requires almost no introduction. It's arguably the most-sold kite of all time, backed by over 20 years of development. With P …

Aaron catches up with Kevin Wade to break down two of Eleveight’s most popular wings—the WFS and the WFS Pro. The conversation blends real-world learning with performance-driven design details, offering a clear view of why these wings have become standouts in the freeride and progression categories. WFS | The Bread-and-Butter Progression Wing The WFS has been in Eleveight’s lineup for six years and continues to be one of the most accessible and widely used wings in their …

Brainchild DNA | Two Very Different Big Air Personalities The Brazilian Brothers are back with another high-level big air showdown—this time comparing two of the most hyped five-strut kites in the game. Both are built at the Brainchild Production facility and designed by Ralf Groesel, but that’s where the similarities start to diverge. On paper, they look like close cousins. In the sky, they feel radically different. This breakdown covers: Jump performance Loop characteristics B …

The Brazilian Brothers are back with a comparison that many riders have been waiting for—a direct breakdown of the Trigger Brainchild versus the Bandit Brainchild. While both kites share the same design lineage and manufacturing DNA, they deliver drastically different experiences on the water. This is not a subtle tuning difference. These are two kites built for different missions. If you are deciding between explosive big air performance and all-around versatility, this breakdown will …

Choosing between the North Reach and the North Orbit is one of the most common questions riders ask when building or refining their quiver. On paper, both kites come from the same design DNA, share North’s build quality, and cover overlapping size ranges. In practice, they are built for very different riding styles, wind ranges, and priorities. This comparison breaks down how each kite actually performs on the water, where each one shines, where each one falls short, and how to spend y …

Foil Drive riding has pushed board design in a very specific direction. Efficiency, foil feel, and clean integration now matter more than ever, and few brands have leaned into that reality as effectively as Appletree Surfboards. After riding both the Appletree Zapple and the Appletree Zapple S back-to-back for a full season, Ryan and Hunter from MACkiteboarding break down where these two boards overlap, where they clearly diverge, and, most importantly, who each board is actually for. This i …

This episode brings together three purpose-built five-strut big air kites and one of Brazil’s most exciting big air talents, Josue “Baby Shark” San Ferreira (Instagram @josuesanf), for a true side-by-side comparison. No hype, no marketing spin—just real feedback from a rider throwing powered tricks in challenging, gusty conditions. The Brainchild lineup: Reedin MasterModel F-One Trigger Harlem Peak All three are five-strut designs aimed squarely at big air riders wh …

Choosing the right big air kite can feel overwhelming, especially when brands offer multiple high-performance options with overlapping capabilities. In this comparison, the Brazilian Brothers from MACkiteboarding take a closer look at two of Reedin’s most performance-driven kites: the Master Model and the HyperModel. Both kites are designed for riders who want serious airtime, fast handling, and progression potential, but they approach those goals in very different ways. This breakdown …

When it comes to modern big air kiteboarding, few comparisons spark as much interest as the matchup between the North Orbit and the Cabrinha Nitro. Tested in Brazil by the Brazilian Brothers under real overpowered conditions, this comparison digs past marketing claims and into how these two kites actually feel, perform, and differ when ridden hard. At first glance, the Orbit and Nitro share a lot of similarities. Both are designed squarely for big-air riding with a twin tip under your feet, …

The Brazilian Brothers love big air kites, but they also know that they're not all created equal. They'll all boost you high enough to pull some impressive moves or just enjoy the view from up there, but each kite has its own personality. In their Versus series, the Brothers break down the differences between two kites to help you find the perfect match. Up this time are the 2026 Duotone Evo D/LAB and the Harlem Thrive, and testing day brought 25-30 knot winds, perfect for a big air sess …

Foil Drive has just released a new model, the Fusion. What is it, and should you get that or the Max? They're similar but have some important differences, so Ryan and Hunter are here to go over those and what sort of rider might enjoy each one. What Is the Foil Drive Fusion? Some people enjoy using their Foil Drive in eFoil mode, with the propeller low on the mast so it's always in the water. The Fusion has embraced that use and offers a longer, more powerful runtime. With the ability to …

You've probably noticed an eFoil or two while out on the water. Two of the most notable brands on the market today are Foil Drive and Waydoo. We’ve been riding both here on Lake Michigan and at our spring demo sessions, and each system fills a pretty different niche once you get it out on the water. Ryan and Hunter wanted to break things down as honestly as possible so you can figure out which one fits your riding, your crew, and the type of spots you hit. What These Systems Actuall …

Ryan and Caden were out testing wake gear in Lake Michigan. Caden's been behind wake boats for a while and is currently a Junior on the Michigan State Wakeboarding Team. Ryan's no stranger to the foil but can usually be found riding the wind with a wing. They started out testing various brands, but then a screw decided to take a swim, so the guys switched their focus to the toolless, no-hardware-needed One-Lock foil system from Slingshot. What did they ride, and did they agree on the best …

Introduction Mast length is one of the most important, and personal choices a foiler makes. It determines how high you ride, how stable you feel in chop, how much lean you can throw into carves, and how easy it is to get started in shallow or tricky water. Code Foils simplifies the decision with just three length options: 75 cm, 80 cm, and 85 cm. Each available in both High Modulus carbon and the stiffer Ultra High Modulus Plus layup. This streamlined lineup avoids overwhelming choices, while s …