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It's Wing Wednesdays, and this week Jeff and Tucker have the North Nova Pro. They had a chance to ride it and have some insights to share on how it feels and how it's different from the Mode Pro and what's been upgraded from last year's version of the Nova. North is a brand that is known for quality materials and design, and the guys have high expectations.ShiftLock Handle/Boom SystemThe 2024 Nova Pro has the new ShiftLock System, which is a rail that you clamp your choice of handles or bo …

Tucker and Jeff are back with some more winging goodness for Wing Wednesdays. Today they're looking at two wings from F-One, the Swing and the Strike. What's new with these wings for 2024? How do they compare to one another and previous versions? They got some time on the early releases of these wings and have some insights to share.Low-End vs. High-End PerformanceLast year, the Strike lost some of that low-end grunt in exchange for more performance at the high end. Some Strike fans even m …

Welcome to Foil Fridays with Tucker! Today, Tucker introduces Code Foils, and-...Wait, MORE foils? Tucker, what's up with that? Care to explain yourself??Does Tucker Have a Foil Hoarding Problem? You Decide...This is a new brand for us in the shop. Arguably, we probably don't need another foil brand; we do have a ton of amazing foil brands, but after riding the Code foils, we had to add them to our lineup because they are just that special! Their system is pretty simple and straightforward …

The Reedin HyperModel and Duotone Evo D/Lab are both freeride kites made with the premium Aluula material, but is one better for you? Pat and Dustin rode both 9m kites on the same day in order to see how they compare. Dustin: As soon as we swapped kites, I immediately noticed that the Reedin bar pressure was so much lighter than the D/Lab. Pat: I thought the exact same thing. When I got on the D/Lab, I thought the wind had ticked up because the bar pressure on the Evo was that much stronger. …

Dustin and Pat take a look at some kites made with Aluula. What is it, and is it worth the hype? Is it right for you?What is Aluula?Dustin: Aluula is a step up from your normal kites. It's like the carbon bike of the kite world.Pat: Absolutely. It's that carbon fiber frame mountain bike in the kite industry. Is aluminum or steel good for most people out there? Yes. Do you need carbon? Probably not, but is it a nice upgrade and do you get some performance benefits from it? Absolutely.What a …

Ryan and Cole have been fielding a lot of questions about how the Axis ART and Spitfire front foil wings compare. Here, they take time out to discuss where each excels and what sets them apart.Pumping Ryan: How does the ART pump compared to the Spitfire? What are the differences that you've noticed there, Cole? Cole: For pumping, the clear winner is going to be the ART. The ART is a sick wing for pumping because of that high-aspect design. This thing just glides through the water, with …

The Duotone Unit is now available in the Aluula construction, known as D/LAB. How is it different from the standard Dacron construction, and is it worth it?Benefits of Aluula If you compare a 5m standard Unit with a 6.5m D/LAB Unit, one of the first things you'll notice is that the leading edges are very similar in diameter. This isn't because they stay the same across the range; the D/LAB material is so strong and stiff that it becomes possible to reduce the diameter of the leading edge …

Getting Up and Riding | Ease of Use The primary purpose of a light wind wing is to get you up and riding with ease. Jeff and Ryan both agree that when it comes to “get up and go,” the North Loft Pro takes the win. It's easier to handle and builds speed effortlessly. The Loft Pro offers excellent stability and doesn't require aggressive pumping to get moving, even in sub 10 knots conditions. The Duotone Ventis, on the other hand, isn't far behind. It may require a bit more technical handli …

Tucker from MACkite is at KoGL Test Fest with Dave Tyburski from Ozone. They chat about two new wings in the lineup: the Flux and the Fly. Tucker: With these two wings, you cover the whole gamut for anybody that might be into winging right, Dave?Ozone Flux V1 Dave: Absolutely. You've spent a lot of time on the Flux, Tucker. The Flux is a high-performance wing with nice, high lift. It has rigid carbon handles and it's got the lightweight Dacron, so it's a very lightweight, stiff wing wi …

In the exciting world of wing foiling, choosing the right equipment can significantly impact your overall performance and enjoyment. Today, we'll delve into an insightful comparison between two popular options—the 2023 Duotone Slick and the 2023 Duotone Slick D/Lab. A Look at the Two Wings Jeff and Tucker, renowned experts here at MACkite, carry out a comprehensive review comparing the Duotone Slick D/Lab and the Duotone Slick, both 2023 editions. While both models may seem pretty similar o …

Duotone has introduced the Evo D/LAB, a high-performance all-rounder kite that is designed to take freeriding to the next level. The Evo D/LAB is an improvement of the popular Evo kite, and it offers riders a unique experience on the water that is hard to come by with regular kites. The kite is built using Aluula frame construction technology that reduces its overall weight by up to 30%. This reduction in weight makes the kite incredibly light and ensures it can fly in the lightest of …

Duotone is one of the most popular brands in the wing foil industry, and they have a reputation for producing quality equipment that is well-suited for riders of all skill levels. In this blog post, we'll be discussing their latest wing, the 2023 Slick, and how it compares to its predecessor, the 2022 Slick SLS.What is the Duotone Slick Wing All About? The Slick is a popular model from Duotone that is known for being versatile and easy to ride. It is suitable for beginners to advanced r …

Kiteboarding enthusiasts, get ready for an exciting new series of the Blank Kite Test! Season 2 BIG AIRWhat's the Blank Kite Test? Series 2 of the Blank Kite Test features Ruben Lenten, Giel Vlugt, and Marc Jacobs. They'll have two hours to narrow 8 unbranded big air kites down to the top 3. However, they won't have any guidance on how to do that; that's part of the fun, and hopefully it'll be a little bit chaotic and make for some good content.The Rules Each blank kite is a 9m. The pros a …

Today we're going to have a look at the new Cabrinha Mantis v3 and Vision v1. These are two of the wings from Cabrinha for 2023, so there's some exciting stuff out there with the Vision being a new model in their lineup and the Mantis continuing its legacy as their standout wave freeride wing. I'm going to give you a quick review on these, how they differ, how they're the same, and which one might be right for you.Wing Features The outlines are very similar. They're both 5 meter sizes, a …

Aaron from MACkite is on the beach at King of the Great Lakes with Ben from Duotone to find out what makes the Evo SLS such a popular kite. Aaron: Why is the Evo SLS Duotone's best-selling kite? What's the magic sauce there? Ben: The Evo has always been the all-rounder kite in our lineup. It does everything great. It's not spectacular at one specific thing, but you can do everything on it. You can unhook on it, it's great for jumping, it does boost--not as good as the Rebel--but it's us …