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Hey folks! In the latest installment of MACkite’s Ride With Blake series, Blake Olsen chats about how to ride upwind - a critical skill in the learning process of kiteboarding for beginners. Blake: Today’s lesson is on how to ride upwind. Once you get your first start, you end up going back and forth on the beach and you end up walking back up the beach, and that’s all part of the learning process. Everyone’s got to do it, so don’t worry about the walk of shame - we’ve all been there before …

The Back roll hand drag is possibly the most stylish way to transition The last week in Key west has been epic. Exploring the islands with my kite, paddle boarding the mangroves and snorkeling the reef. The abundance of wildlife in the ocean never ceases to amaze me! For this week's blog I thought I would share five steps to nailing your first back roll hand drag transition. This is one of the most stylish ways you can transition with your kite. Like most kiteboarding tricks, th …

The inverted front roll is a slightly more advanced variation of the front roll.  The last few days in key West haven’t been that windy. In truth, it’s a much-needed break! I thought I would take a bike ride down to the White Street Pier and break down my favorite trick for you. The inverted front roll! One of the most fun aspects of our sport is taking these basic tricks and adding your own personal style to them.  This is an intermediate level trick, that said if you ca …

So, you've taken a kiteboarding lesson or two and you're ready to try your first water start. That's awesome! Welcome to a new reality, my friend! I have five great tips for you to remember when you're first starting out.  Tip One Learn to fly the kite in one hand. Kiteboarding is 80% flying the kite, so it's a no-brainer you should have some serious kite time under your belt. I recommend finding a clear area and just hanging out with a friend. Remember to keep your hand on the middle of …

In the second episode Blake gives us a glimpse into his life on a sailboat in Key West.  Kite dreams Quit your job, move somewhere south. Pick up a sailboat and spend your days kiteboarding with friends. Live a care-free life. It sounds impossible, I know. I'm here to tell you it's not. Four years ago I moved to the Florida Keys. Since then I've lived in more than a few apartments and surfed a lot of couches, some nicer than others. Along the way, I've learned a lot about myself and …

Blake Olsen will be covering a variety of topics including trick tips and the basics behind foilboarding for the first time. Foil boarding is beyond fun Many claim it's akin to snowboarding in endless powder. That said it can be intimidating for first timers looking to get on the water. I have a few tips to make the process easy and reduce those pesky crashes. Tip One Keep your weight centered over your front knee. This is as simple as keeping your shoulders lined up with your front knee. …

MACKite Location Review on C2SKY kite Center 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The location:  Location: Mũi Ne,Southern Vietnam, South China Sea. Nearest airport:  Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) 4-6 hour bus ride.  Season: November- April with winds all year. Wind: 25-35 knots Average kite size: 4-9m during windy season. Beach: Miles of sandy coastline with 27 kite schools. Break: Flat water close to shore and sandbar break with kickers 100 meters out. Kite School: 12 multilingual IKO instru …

Four years ago, I moved from Michigan in search of endless summer. I found a piece of paradise in Key West, Florida where you can Kiteboard in gorgeous, neon-blue water, ride with board shorts in January, and explore the southernmost islands of the Florida Keys. This winter was unusually windy and cool due to El Nino; as a result, temperatures stayed around the 70’s and the average wind speeds clocked in at around 15-25 mph. Locals who have lived in Key West for over 30 years said they ha …

Blake Olsen: Smathers Beach Ah, Key West, Florida. Home to warmth, simple pleasures, and to Smathers Beach. If you have the gumption to wake up early, take a walk down the beach and catch the sunrise. Sit down and enjoy the sun, the waves, and the surf as you soak in that much-needed Vitamin D. Sounds perfect, right? That's what our Team Rider Blake Olsen thought as well. As he catches a sunset sesh in the month of January, you'll see him pop, glide, and rock the big blue.  …