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Yeah, what's up guys? Rygo here from MACkite. I'm here in Arizona picking up a new RV for the MACkite RV tour. I spent the last year living in a 27-footer, and then when we were in Oregon we actually swapped that out for a smaller 1985 Toyota, which was super sick. Oh man, it was so small. So we're here in the Southwest just picking something up that's a bit bigger, probably more practical for living full-time on the road, and I wanted to talk to you. Lately I've been thinking about new kites …

To say I'm lucky to work where I do is an understatement.  Not many places will allow you to take a week and a half off to travel to two weddings and work remotely in the in between. My trip started off with a weekend wedding and some hiking in Asheville, NC. From there I got the opportunity to work out of the Action Sports Logistics warehouse for a few days. It is always such a pleasure to get the opportunity to hang out with Kevin and his crew. Kevin was also awesome enough to tour me …

How did you size your harness? I am 6’2 175 lbs with a 32-33” waist. I wear a medium harness as it provides the perfect amount of adjustment to securely fit with a 1mm wetsuit top to 5mm wetsuit. I find the 25cm spreader bar is perfect as it extends just before my hip bones so the harness wraps properly around my hips.Why do I ride the Dakine Renegade? Its simple minimalist design provides the perfect balance of support, stability, and comfort. My lower back never hurts or gets sore after h …

It’s a question we get quite often: what’s new for this model year? Well, color, obviously. Maybe some new canopy material, and there’s probably a bridle tweak somewhere in there. What else? Well, you see… errr…We look forward to 2022 to the trends we expect to see in the kiteboarding industry. 1) Lighter Canopy Materials for Kites and WingsThe biggest innovations in recent years have come in lighter materials – first with the Ocean Rodeo Aluula and then the Duotone SLS. We expect this to conti …

Jesse Richmann | Pro KiteboarderJesse Richman, now sponsored by North Kites, is an absolute powerhouse athlete! With 2x Red Bull KOTA winner and countless championships, his content brings stoke and pure joy while hearing his hooting and hollering in the background of his videos. Boosting some of the most technical airs and tricks in the game, his focus as of late has turned back towards his home, family, and riding big waves for the winter in Hawaii. Charging a kite into some of the bigg …

I have had over 300+ sessions over the past two years on North kites and the Reach is what sold me on the “new” North brand. I would like to share the top 3 characteristics of the Orbit and Reach, do a comparison, and why both should be in your quiver. The North Reach is a one-kite wonder. It truly does it all very well. Medium to light bar pressure that delivers a direct and intuitive fast flying kite. Loops very fast and can be directed with very little bar input. Light 3 strut constr …

Hey guys, I'm Ewan Jaspan and today I'm going to be going over the board that I mostly use for big air these days, and that is the Naish Drive.  Naish Drive Kiteboard I ride it in a 138cm, and I really like that size because it's not too short. I'm not really a fan of short boards so I can still get in a super hard edge. It's really light, which is nice on your feet for some big air tricks, and it helps in the lighter wind as well, to get going easily and have a …

Today we're going to review the new 2022 Cabrinha Contra. The Cabrinha Contra has always been one of my top two favorite light wind kites. I've been using it on and off for probably a good five years now, bouncing back and forth from the Turbine, and I had some sessions on the Eleveight RS 17 meter. I think there's some really good things about the Contra. With the the latest iteration, there are some things that I don't care for as much, and we'll break down everything you need to know in t …

When I first came across kite compression bags, I didn't immediately see the value in them. After several years of using them as my daily driver, I have a whole new respect for how they improve my kiteboarding and wing foiling experience. Compression bags offer upwards of a 50% savings in your gear space, deter would-be thieves, and keep the "Accounting Department" at bay. I'll explain. Kite and wing compression bags are typically made of lightweight nylon with a draw-cord closure and …

  So you’ve purchased your harness and are ready to hit the water, right? Before you do, here are 3 important accessories to make sure you have with you. Kiteboarding Hook Knife Every kiteboarder should have a hook knife with them when riding. For when you get jumped in the parking lot by jealous surfers? No, rather for that one-in-a-million situation that you get tangled in your lines. Most harnesses come with a hook knife provided - verify yours does. If not, make sure to pick one …

 If it's your first time picking out a harness (or your fifth), the age-old question always comes to light. “Do I go with a seat or waist harness?” Usually, the best answer is to come in and try it on and feel it out, but if you’re like most of our awesome customers and don't have a kite shop locally accessible, this article should point you in the right direction: upwind. Beginner Kiteboarders Will Appreciate a Seat HarnessSeat harnesses draw a lot of attention to a wide range of riders …

  In kiteboarding, harnesses tend to be the last thing on a kiter’s mind as far as the order of importance. However, the harness should be of utmost importance as it’s a rider's connection point to the kite and the only point in constant contact with you. The moment you downloop the kite to pull yourself up on your board the harness transfers the power of the kite to your torso and harnesses the power for your entire session. The proper harness and size can make or break your …

 Picking a harness might be one of the most important decisions of kiteboarding that many people often overlook. It’s not a cut-and-dry decision, especially with so many different brands, fits, and features. Looking at all the harnesses on the market, you’ll see two major separating factors—soft shell or hard shell. Adding to the options we now have on the market, we have hook and slider spreader bar options as well seat and shorts harness. For this blog, we’re going to focus on soft and ha …

Ocean Rodeo teammates Giel Vlugt and Keh-Lung Su use the long waiting period for the Big Air Kite League’s Final Stop event to their advantage, enlisting camera guru Kyle Cabano as their tour guide as they explore some of South Africa’s most unique kite spots. From towering mountains to sharky bays, Giel and Keh-Lung get a chance to work on their respective freestyle and strapless Big Air disciplines far off the beaten track, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the South African coa …

Okay, I think we all can admit that 2022 has been another weird year and the weirdness hasn’t been limited to just current events. Over the last year or so we have seen some funky products start to pop up in the kite market from new travel accessories, safety gear, and even some new foils.Let's take a dive into some of these new kiteboarding accessories and see if you might need to add any to your arsenal of accessories. Eleveight Revo Kiteboard HandleWe’ll start this out strong with an interes …