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The Orbit and the Reach are two offerings from North Kiteboarding. One's a big air specialty kite and the other is an all-around kite. The North Orbit 2021 North Orbit Let's start with the Orbit. This is a five-strut big air specialty kite. The Orbit implements a two-stage arc in the canopy. This means the top of the kite is flat to help with a hanglider-floaty feel. The wingtips are curved so the kite turns faster than it should. This makes the kite exceptional at kite loops. It's design …

These bars are similar in design. They use a clicking system to adjust the steering lines rather than the center lines. The Stick Shift is super soft on the hands The Ocean Rodeo Stick Shift is soft and floaty; while the Duotone Clickbar is a little less soft, it's more refined. The drawback to the Clickbar is that sometimes the centerline can bind. This is due to the automatic swivel feature. The Stick Shift's main drawback is that you must flush it out between each use. Obviously, …

The shop asked me to try to compare Duotone's SLS kites and the Aluula kites from Ocean Rodeo. I've decided to do a couple videos on this to share my experience and that of friends who tried it. I was able to get some time on the Neo SLS, and now I've got a Roam Aluula and a Flite Aluula. So far I've tried the Flite and the Neo SLS. Two very different kites, so I'll compare how the lighter materials used impacted the kites in their own respective ways. I do have a Roam that I'll test and comp …

Do a pros and cons right away in the description.... to add to the conversation  This video has been done before but its a topic that comes up daily here so I thought it would merit a fresh video for the year. I’ll try to get as detailed as possible with the differences, what you can expect, why you might like either and which I prefer. Reno Romeu using the standard Trust bar Line Lengths and Bar Widths The Click bar comes with adjustable line lengths thanks to stock removable li …

We’ve had a lot of requests for a video on my favorite boots and the difference between boots and straps. The truth is kiteboarding is a diverse sport and what works for one person might not be best for another. Boots and straps have their place and are here to stay. It’s funny, in the early days, the first kiteboarders were actually wearing wakeboarding boots and building features. Just check out films like Auotofocus with Andre Philip and Jason Slezac. Or google Lou Wainman from the earl …

So you’re looking to pick up your next board. You’ve looked around and heard good things about the Duotone twintips. Supposedly they are lighter, snappier and unique on the water. You went online, did some research and came across a few models. They all look good but you’re just not sure what one is the right choice for you. As you run through all the product descriptions you’re bombarded with words like high performance. The ultimate pop, unmatched torsional flex. You’re probably thinki …

Joe is a longtime customer of ours from San Francisco and a Moses foiling fanatic.  I think he actually owns nearly every wing in their lineup.  We love talking shop with one another so he is going to guest host a few blogs since I'm too busy at the moment.  I think you will all enjoy his infectious stoke and sometime's brutal honesty.Warning: this is more of a personal expose rather than an equipment review...I take back everything I've reviewed about Moses foils!Background: This …

I’ll be going over the differences and updates to their light wind kite the Juice and their single Strut kite, the Mono. We've done an in-depth comparison video on these kites a couple years back. Over the years these kites have evolved and there's actually been a lot of changes since that first video. The core design for both of these kites remains the same so much of that original video still stands in 2020. Yet, you can expect the 2020 versions to perform better in some areas an …

Wing foiling has officially taken off. This new and exciting sport is really resonating with riders from SUP, surf, kite, wake, wind, and more. Right now knowledge is limited or skewed and choosing the right gear is necessary to have a good time. Building off of our first wind wing comparison video and blog about the Slingshot Slingwing, Naish Wing Surfer, and Duotone Wing Foil, this blog will detail the differences and benefits of the two most popular wings in the market right now, the Ozone Wa …

Welcome to our Cold Water Riding series. Today we will feature a comparison of our most popular drysuits. If you tuned into our last episode comparing wetsuits to drysuits, you know that there are some compelling reasons to check out a drysuit as a water-wear option. Our most popular drysuits for kiteboarding or wing foiling are the Ocean Rodeo Soul, Heat v3, and Ignite. There are some significant differences and a large price gap between these models. Let’s get into this so you can figure …

Riding in cold water requires some special knowledge and equipment to proceed with safety and comfort. In this new series, we will go over the required equipment, walk you through common gear choices, and provide the necessary knowledge and tricks we have learned to stay safe in that treacherous environment. In this video and blog, we will explore the base of your cold water riding protection, which is your wetsuit or drysuit. This is key because keeping your core warm is the number one priority …

The goal of this video is to help you decide if the Vegas is right for you. I’ve done videos on C-kites in the past and when checking the forums, a lot of people got the impression that I am completely against C-kites like the Vegas. That’s not the case. That video was meant to deter beginners from starting out on a kite that would hold them back. The Vegas is an incredible kite but it does have some drawbacks for inexperienced riders. The grey area comes into play when you hit t …

We’ve had the new Moto for a full year now and we wanted to give you an updated review. This is going to be a shorter video but, unlike the Switchblade, there are some new insights we wanted to share. If you’re not familiar with the Moto, last year Cabrinha released a new kite in the lineup- something not to replace, but to complement the Switchblade, essentially a lighter and faster 3-strut version with characteristics of its own. This was a clever solution to a big problem for Cabr …

For 2020, Cabrinha has two kites that might interest the same rider. They are both aimed at big air riders who want to jump high and enjoy a kite with good hangtime: the Cabrinha Switchblade and the new AV8. While they have some cross-over characteristics, these are different kites designed for a different purpose and a different kiteboarder. I've noticed some people get annoyed while watching the product videos that claim the AV8 is a boosting machine or that the Switchblade has even lighte …

The Duotone Dice and Rebel are two kites that are completely different in design, on the water and in their approach to the different disciplines. There are aspects that cross over, leaving people confused on which kite is right for them, like big air, high performance and a "rip you off the water" feel. In 2020 the Dice has some re-designs while, aside from material changes, the Rebel is the same. Rather than doing reviews, I thought it would be more valuable to cover the changes... all the dif …