The Brazilian Brothers are back to bring an exciting review of the F-One Bandit Brainchild. The Bandit has been a legendary kite in the industry for many years, and they couldn't wait to pump up this 18th edition and get it in the air to see how it feels.

The Brainchild Bag and Setup

First and foremost, the Brainchild bags are a highlight. They're quite spacious, so you can fit any kite in there easily — a massive plus. Once the kite is out, you'll see a beautiful red color, ready to get pumped up and into the air.

Like all Brainchild kites, the Bandit Brainchild comes with a specific valve orientation: the inflation valve is on the left, and the deflation valve is on the right. This actually makes a lot of sense, because it's very easy to deal with the valves side-by-side rather than having the deflation valve positioned far out on the wingtip like some other brands.

New Features and Design

The Bandit is an iconic kite by F-One, now in its 18th edition. This version, done in collaboration with Brainchild, features two main updates. The first is the new hybrid bridle system, which uses fixed front pigtails and a brand-new floating pulley on the tips.

The second major feature is the increased aspect ratio. F-One has pushed the Bandit's aspect ratio to the highest it has ever been, which should theoretically make the kite more lofty with better hang time than ever before.

Bar Pressure and Feedback

When the Bandit Brainchild first goes up in the sky, a few things stand out immediately. The first is the bar pressure. There are really two variables to bar pressure — sheet-in pressure and steering pressure — and the Bandit has heavy sheet-in pressure paired with relatively light steering pressure. It's an interesting combination, because it lets you know where the kite is at all times and gives really good feedback about its position in the sky.

Reactivity and Construction

The other thing you'll notice is how reactive it is. The Bandit responds to input immediately. Like all Brainchild kites, it's built with PRO-L technology featuring ultrasonically welded segments, which gives the kite a lighter and stiffer frame and makes it highly reactive and rapid through the turns.

Jumping and Looping Performance

Jumping

In terms of jumping, the Bandit performs well. It's an all-around kite meant to be used across different disciplines like strapless, foil, and twin tip. While it might not match a dedicated big air kite for hang time, the increased aspect ratio has definitely improved its jumping ability and overall lift.

Looping

The looping has also been improved over previous generations. Older versions of the Bandit had heavier bar pressure with a slower, more "yanky" loop — thankfully, that has been addressed. The loops are friendlier now, and the Brazilian Brothers were actually surprised by the speed of the 9m. The loops are fast, and they catch you nicely.

Ease of Use and Versatility

The Bandit Brainchild is by far the friendliest Bandit they've tried. The lighter steering pressure and the improved directness of the bar feel make it a much more accessible kite for riders looking to get into loops, downloops, or mega loop maneuvers. The increased aspect ratio also makes it easier to jump and come down softly. The best aspect of this kite is its versatility — it's a "Jack of all trades." For anyone looking for one kite that handles multiple disciplines, the Bandit is an awesome option.

Real Talk: Who Is It For?

Welcome to the Real Talk section, where the Brazilian Brothers give it to you straight on what they think about this kite and who it's for. The Bandit Brainchild is not going to jump or loop as well as something like the F-One Trigger Brainchild. Being in Brazil and always riding a twin tip, the Brazilian Brothers would personally take the Trigger over the Bandit.

However, if you aren't always riding in nuclear conditions and you need a kite with a much better low end and more versatility, look no further. If you want a kite that allows you to ride strapless, foil, and low-end twin tip, the Bandit is the choice.

If you've been a fan of the Bandit in previous generations, you're going to love this kite — it has gotten lighter on the bar, and the increased aspect ratio gives it more lift for overall twin tipping.

Summary

The F-One Bandit Brainchild is the 18th edition of one of the most iconic kites in the industry, and this collaboration with Brainchild brings two key upgrades: a hybrid bridle system with fixed front pigtails and a new floating pulley on the tips, plus the highest aspect ratio the Bandit has ever had. Together with PRO-L construction and ultrasonically welded segments, the result is a lighter, stiffer, more reactive kite with improved lift, friendlier loops, and softer landings than previous generations.

This isn't a dedicated big air kite — if pure jumping and looping in nuclear conditions are the priority, something like the F-One Trigger Brainchild will outperform it. But where the Bandit shines is versatility. Heavy sheet-in pressure paired with light steering pressure gives constant feedback on kite position, and the all-around design makes it equally at home strapless, on a foil, or on a twin tip in lighter wind. For anyone looking for one kite that can do a bit of everything, and for longtime Bandit fans, this is the friendliest, most accessible Bandit yet.

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Ryan sat down with Hunter and Ryan from Foil Drive to talk about the Foil Drive and how it can be used to learn pumping and improve existing pumping skills: a use case people might not think about when they first get a Foil Drive.

Instant Repetition and Easy Restarts

The biggest thing is that if you fall, you get right back up and practice again. When dock starting, you go out pretty far, mess up, and then have to swim on a small board all the way back. It's a long, tiring, sad swim home. With the Foil Drive, if you fall while pumping, you can get right back up and start pumping again no matter where you are in the water, and you can get back to shore much more easily than if you make a mistake off the dock.

Skipping the Technical Dock Start

Dock starting is pretty technical. Even for experienced riders, the "make ratio" can be under 50% unless the setup is really dialed in. Every time you fall, you have to swim back to the dock, flip the board over, and climb back up. Committing to jumping onto a foil is daunting, especially if you've never really foiled before — you have to get your feet perfectly balanced every time you hop on.

With the Foil Drive, you can stay motoring the whole time. You just get going, shuffle back a little to get more leverage and get high, and as soon as you drop lower, you can re-engage the motor and grind out more reps. There's no need to swim back and reset everything. One of the big advantages over dock starting is that you're already up on the board and balanced before you even start pumping.

Staying High on the Mast

The key to pumping is staying high on the mast and being efficient. That's the biggest issue most people have with pumping: they have speed, they pump, they get lower and lower, and as soon as the board hits the water, they're toast. Having the pod closer to the board on the Foil Drive forces you to stay high on the mast.

If you keep the motor running, you'll hear it catch the water on each pump if you drop too low. That auditory indicator tells you you're getting low and need to climb back up. It's a constant feedback loop, and you really gain a feel for exactly how high you are. Most people don't get as high as they could because they don't realize how much mast they have to work with.

Re-engaging the Motor and Taking Breaks

You don't even necessarily have to fall with the Foil Drive to restart and start pumping again. Sometimes you just come down to the motor, motor out of it, and within seconds you're back up and pumping again rather than falling and restarting. You get a lot more reps in.

Pumping is also tiring — probably the most tiring form of foiling. With the Foil Drive, re-engaging the motor becomes your break. If you're worn out, you can just drop back to motoring, eFoil around for a bit, and then go right back up once you've caught your breath. It stacks constant reps while saving you from huffing and puffing your way back to the dock.

Isolating the Pumping Motion

Winging with pumping is a good way to learn, but the conditions you're typically winging in have bumpy water or other variables affecting the foil. It's harder to isolate the pumping motion, especially with a wing in your hands and more going on. With the Foil Drive, you can focus on that one thing: shuffling back, getting high, and pumping.

The "Ollie Up" Technique

When getting ready to drop into the pump position, give it a little extra gas for a speed boost to help with the ollie up. That extra speed makes it easier to ollie up off the motor without falling. You don't necessarily need to move your feet — just shift your weight forward as you give it the boost, then shift back when you come off the motor. That combination puts your feet a lot closer to where they need to be toward the back of the board.

Learning the Pop-Up Above the Motor

When learning, it helps to get off the motor, do a couple of glides, touch the motor back down, and take off again. Working on the pop-up above the motor is one of the biggest learning curves to pumping with Foil Drive. Nailing that initial pop-up dials in your gliding, and once you're comfortable touching the motor back down between glides, you can start fitting in a few pumps.

If you only get a half pop-up and don't get really high on the mast, you'll dip the motor into the water as soon as you go to pump. If you can get the foil really high on the mast just by learning how to pop up and glide, that's your potential energy — the more you can stay high, the more room you have to sink with each pump. That same motion of kicking the foil up and getting high carries over to wave riding, downwinding, and any other Foil Drive technique.

Extending Your Session

Pumping also extends a session because it doesn't burn as much battery, opening the door to little adventures — riding along huge rock cliffs at a National Park, for example. If one rider is on a slim battery and a partner is on a max battery, the slim-battery rider has to be more careful with their charge. Pumping most of the time conserves battery and lets you go a lot further than if you were just motoring around.

Pod Placement

Where the pod is mounted really affects how easy it is to pump. Even for an experienced rider, a pod at 25cm (one of the lower settings down from the board) leaves a much smaller window of glide before the pod interferes than at 15cm. For most people, 20cm is the most popular. For riders with the luxury of an extra motor cable who want to ride waves or pump, 15cm is much easier — it gives way more wiggle room to glide. With the pod lower down, the margin for error is smaller.

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The Brazilian Brothers are back with a special review of the 2026 Cabrinha Nitro. The Nitro is a five-strut big air kite, and after riding it in Brazil for several weeks, they're ready to walk through its features and share their personal take on how it performs.

The Evolution of the Nitro

The first version of the Nitro came out in 2023, developed by Pat Goodman. Pat drew on all the experience he'd gained over the years developing the Switchblade and the North Orbit to create the Nitro. The Brazilian Brothers have been riding this kite for the past three years, so they know exactly how it performs across a wide range of conditions. It's one of the reasons they use it in Brazil for their kite clinics — they see it as one of the easiest kites for performing heliloops and progressing through kite loops in general.

Consistency and Hang-Time Improvements

For 2026, the biggest improvement they noticed after riding in Brazil is the consistency of hang-time. In past versions of the Nitro, the lift could feel inconsistent — sometimes you'd get great lift, other times not so much. For 2026, that has been drastically improved. Riders can come down softly from big jumps and big loops much more consistently, which translates into an even easier kite to use.

Jumping Performance

In terms of jumping, the Nitro remains very easy and accessible for riders of all levels. You can hop on it and immediately take advantage of the big sweet spot and the ability to go high.

That said, the Nitro is still meant to be ridden overpowered and powered up. You're not going to hop on this kite in under 25 knots and go to the moon. You really want to be on an 8m or 9m in over 25 knots, because that's when you'll get the highest jumps and the best performance out of the kite.

Looping and Progression

The Brazilian Brothers remain huge fans of the Nitro for looping. While some other companies have pushed their big air kites in a more technical direction, the Nitro stays very easy and intuitive to loop. It has very little yank and moves fast through the loop, which gives riders the confidence to throw their first loops and progress through their rotations. That's exactly why they love the Nitro — they can hand it to someone who has never looped before and have them looping almost immediately.

Ease of Use

The Nitro is awesome for ease of use. It's obviously not as easy as something like a Switchblade, but intermediate to advanced riders will hop on it and feel immediately comfortable. The light bar pressure, direct feedback on the bar, and the newly improved accessible lift make it a great kite for people trying to step up their big air game.

This is not the kite for strapless riding or foiling — it's a big air, five-strut machine that performs best when you're riding lit with a twin tip on your feet.

Preferred Settings and the High-V Bar

When the Brazilian Brothers ride the Nitro, they always ride it in the "A" setting. It's their preferred setting for most kites because it keeps bar pressure light — probably one of the lightest out there — and makes the kite even more pivotal through the loop.

They also ride the Nitro with a High-V bar, something they picked up from Pat Goodman during their interview with him. Pat suggested they try it with a High-V, and they were pleasantly surprised. They recommend everyone try the Nitro in a High-V configuration, because it makes the kite even faster through the loop with an even lighter bar feel.

Who Is It For?

Overall, the Brazilian Brothers continue to be stoked on the Nitro. For 2026, Cabrinha has kept the aspects they love — light bar pressure, ease of loop, and the ability to be ridden overpowered — while improving the overall lift and second lift of the kite. For anyone looking for a kite that's easy to loop and will get them looping without a problem, they highly recommend the 7m and 8m Nitro.

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Tucker and Jeff are taking a look at a brand new board from KT called the Arc. The board shown in the review is a sample prototype, so the graphics look a little different, but the shape and dimensions are identical to the production models. Jeff received the board a week prior and took it down to Florida, riding the causeways on the Indian River to get a feel for it.

Premium Pro Carbon Construction

The Arc features KT's highest level of Pro Carbon construction, making it a premium, lightweight, and highly durable board. At its core is the KT Dual Shock Core: a lightweight inner foam keeps the board crazy light, then it's shot again in a mold with a higher-density foam to create an exoskeleton (or armor) on the outside. The result is a tougher, stiffer board, and when it comes time for repairs, the denser foam doesn't absorb as much resin, keeping the repair weight down.

Unlike many brands that only put a PVC sandwich on the top and bottom, the Arc wraps a PVC sandwich around the entire board, fully encapsulating the rails. Multiple layers of carbon fiber keep it light and stiff. Jeff traveled with the board in a board bag and had no issues with damage, noting it's nice and light to travel with.

Specs and Dimensions

The specific board Jeff tested is the 68L model, measuring 5'8"x20". It's listed at 4.85" at the thickest part, but in the "business area" where you stand, it's around 4" thick: quite thin for a board of this size.

Shape and Design Features

Inspired by the Super K, the Arc steps in as the surf version — a wave machine mid-length. It gains a little more planability and width, with specific features to help with release and liftoff. The key focus of this board is wave performance and shredability.

The Elliptical Cockpit and Rocker

Tucker describes the deck as an "elliptical cockpit." There's rocker raised in the front and back that creates a natural concave pocket, making it incredibly easy to find your foot placement. The deck is flat through the middle but features a little lip at the edge for leverage near the rail. The kick in the front and back rolls your ankles in slightly, engaging you in the board and giving you leverage to push up and down like a kicktail. That takes strain off your knees and ankles compared to a dead-flat board, where your feet have to angle awkwardly to account for the flat surface.

Stance and Foot Placement

A significant change on the Arc is the rear strap area, which is moved up about three to four" compared to traditional boards like the Super K. This gives you a narrower stance and lets you keep your hips open. Jeff found his back foot naturally sat right at the edge of the pad, and the board felt perfectly balanced with equal amounts of board off the front and back. It simply disappeared under his feet, feeling much smaller than it actually is.

KT Pad Details

The KT pad is a favorite for both Tucker and Jeff, offering a great combination of comfort and grip without fatiguing your feet. It features thicker bands by the straps and the front foot, a centerline reveal, and a stance split reveal. Those indicators help reduce weight and give you extra bite and reference points while riding.

Volume Distribution

There's a magic volume hump right in the front of the board. As soon as the water level hits it, the board pops right up — which means you can stay centered on the board when kneeling and standing, rather than shifting your weight back toward the tail.

Performance and Riding Experience

Jeff was able to start and ride without moving his front foot at all. Depending on the foil he was using, he did move his back foot up a bit to pump it. In light conditions (getting up in under 12 knots), pumping the board released the water nicely without feeling locked in. The board let go exactly where it needed to in order to get him up and riding.

KT Arc vs. Super K

While the Arc is inspired by the Super K, there are several distinct differences between the two boards:

• Speed and Release: The Super K has more initial board speed through the water without doing anything. The Arc requires pumping the board in conjunction with pumping the wing to release.
• Rocker Profile: The Arc has a continuous rocker, whereas the Super K has a flat section. The continuous rocker gives a flow and roll, creating a bit of a teeter-totter under your stance — you can rock it to fly without creating extra drag in the tail. The Arc also features a bit more nose rocker.
• Hull Design: Because of its width, the Arc planes up more, using a double concave blending into a channel on the edge to direct water flow. The Super K relies more on hull speed.
• Stability: The Arc sits lower in the water since it's thinner and wider, making it more stable side-to-side when kneeling.
• Technicality: The Arc is slightly more technical to get flying than the Super K, but you're generally riding a lower volume than you would in a Super K.
• Price: The Arc is only available in Pro Construction, coming in around $2,500 to $2,600 — roughly $400 to $500 more than the regular carbon Super K.

Sizing Recommendations and Applications

The Arc is designed for parawing, winging, downwind prone, and foil drive. Sizes run from 48L (5'4") up to 98L (6'4"), offering a concise range with plenty of options to refine your choice based on weight and conditions.

For sizing recommendations:

• Light Wind Machine: If you want a dedicated light-wind board, size up.
• Mid-Length Do-It-All: Stay true to your normal board liters. If you normally ride a 70L traditional board, the 68L Arc works perfectly because of the added length. Compared to a shorter "chicken nugget" board, you keep the same literage but gain light-wind ability and ease of use.
• Extreme Light Wind (6 knots): Volume matters. You need a minimum of your weight in liters, ideally more.
• Powered Riding (10+ knots): If you're riding above 10 knots with a good wing, you can size down to your heart's content (into the 40L range).

Jeff sees the 68L as a perfect one-board quiver for parawing in decent conditions and winging in light wind. It's small enough that it could even be used for prone or foil drive.

Final Thoughts

The only negative Jeff could find with the KT Arc Pro Carbon is the price. It's a premium, high-end board — comparable to a Ferrari — so if you're willing to pay the extra money for it, you won't be disappointed with the performance. The surf design, shape, build quality, and lightness are all nailed perfectly. The production models will feature hot new graphics and a lighter-weight paint job compared to the prototype shown in the review.

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The Brazilian Brothers are back for part two of their analysis of Jamie Overbeek's massive 42.3-meter jump. While part one focused on the take-off, this session covers the descent and landing—with tips to help you improve your heliloop and descending ability the next time you go kiting.

Jamie jumped 42.3 meters but had only an 8.3-second descent — an incredibly short amount of time for that height. He essentially fell out of the sky, the result of riding in extremely gusty conditions in Leucate-Barcarès, France. It's important to keep those conditions in mind as you look at the technical tips below.

Kite Positioning

The first lesson from Jamie is kite positioning during the descent. He kept his kite at roughly 1 o'clock as he came down, which is crucial because it sets him up for a left-handed heliloop. Whenever you pull a heliloop, you need the loop to happen above your head — so for a left-handed heliloop, the kite has to stay at 1 o'clock.

Bar Management

Bar management is the second key factor on the descent. On the way up, you want the bar sheeted all the way in for maximum boost, but the strategy flips on the way down. Coming down from a very large jump, you should sheet the bar out slightly. That takes some tension off your back lines and lets the kite drift behind your head, where it can act as a pendulum — giving the heliloop maximum lift while also working as a braking parachute.

Body Positioning

Body positioning is another vital piece of Jamie's landing. Because he was setting up for a left-handed heliloop, he angled his body slightly to the left, facing the kite. That's crucial because it lets you maintain good posture and stay under control through the heliloop.

Landing Footwork

Normally, when doing a left-handed heliloop, you want to land with your right foot forward. Jamie landed left foot forward, but the Brazilian Brothers recommend most mortals land with the opposite foot from the direction they're pulling the heliloop — so if you pull a left heliloop, land right foot forward.

Board Positioning

Finally, there's a lot to learn from Jamie's board position on the way down. He pointed the board directly downwind as he hit the water — something people often get wrong. If you're coming in hot, you have to point that board straight downwind so you can absorb the speed and slow down safely.

Summary

There's a lot more that goes into landing such a massive jump, but focusing on kite positioning, bar management, body posture, and board direction will move you forward on your kiteboarding journey.

Jamie Overbeek's 42.3-meter jump is a masterclass in handling the descent from a massive boost, especially in the kind of gusty conditions that produced an unusually quick 8.3-second drop. The four fundamentals on display — keeping the kite at roughly 1 o'clock to set up the heliloop above your head, sheeting the bar out slightly so the kite can act as a pendulum and braking parachute, angling your body toward the kite for control, and pointing the board straight downwind to absorb your landing speed — are the same building blocks any rider can apply to their own descents.

The one tweak the Brazilian Brothers add for the rest of us: while Jamie landed left foot forward on a left-handed heliloop, most riders should plant the opposite foot forward from the direction of the loop. Pull the heliloop left, land right foot forward. Master these four pillars, mind the footwork, and you'll have the foundation to chase bigger jumps with safer, more controlled landings.

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The Brazilian Brothers sat down with two legends of the sport: kite designer Ralf Groesel and pro kiter and designer Aaron Hadlow. They dive deep into Harlem's first dedicated surf kite, the Flow, to discuss its development, design characteristics, and how it performs on the water.

What Makes a Good Surf Kite?

Ralf explains that over the last two years, he spoke with a wide range of people in the industry — riders, influencers, and magazines — and when he asked 20 of them what makes a good surf kite, he got 20 different answers. Ultimately, it depends on where you are, what you want, which board you ride, the wave conditions, and where the wind is coming from.

Technically, it's impossible to design a single wave kite that's perfect for every condition, so the goal was to build one that handles most of them as well as possible. That was anything but easy — it took a solid two years of testing different design strategies and philosophies to arrive at a technically clean concept.

The Flow's Design Concept

Aaron likes the Flow because it reminds him of his old C-kite days — even though it's the exact opposite of what an old C-kite looks like. It's fully bridled with eight attachment points on the leading edge and uses very few segments to keep the frame stiff, which opens up other design advantages, like creating huge tip areas.

Aaron Hadlow's Transition to Strapless

Aaron has always had his hand in wave riding, but diving deep into it was a steep learning curve. He talked to friends on the tour about what they look for in a wave kite, then tested the Flow across the board to figure out how it works — riding it on twin-tips in Cape Town, testing the low end in 10 to 15 knots, and putting it through its paces on big and small surfboards.

In Cape Town, you often deal with dead cross-shore wind. You want the kite to either drift or turn on a sixpence — a really tight turn without much power. You want connection when depowered, but you also need sheet-and-go. They concluded you can't pinpoint a single type of kite for every wave rider, but they came up with one that's intuitive and easy to use, letting you put the kite wherever you want.

Aaron even had fun sessions on a twin-tip with the Flow. The loops aren't aggressive, your timing doesn't have to be perfect, and when you sheet in, the kite simply pulls you up.

Harlem Flow vs. Harlem Thrive

Ralf breaks down the differences between the Flow and the Thrive:

• Harlem Thrive: A high-end, three-strut, high-aspect, high-performance kite intended to push jumping and looping ability.
• Harlem Flow: The main point is ease of use. It's a low-aspect, boxy kite with an insane low end.

A kite like the Thrive or the Peak bites into the wind and thermals, shooting you up — they scream at you to jump. The Flow lets you jump whenever you want, but it isn't spiky. Its damping ability, in particular, blew the team away.

Characteristics

Damping Ability for Strapless Riding

Damping means that when you hit a gust, you barely notice it — the kite absorbs the spikes. In typical gusty Cape Town conditions, the Flow handles this far better than the Thrive. If you want a damped kite to cruise on, it's great.

That damping is one of the most important aspects for strapless wave riding — you don't want to be pulled off the board in every gust. The Flow smooths and flattens things out, with rounded turns, balanced sheet-in feel, and consistent bar pressure. It's very well balanced overall.

Because it has an insane low end, wave riders can size down and still get up on the board. And despite sitting low in the window, the depower is huge — it still shoots back into the window and sends you upwind.

Water Relaunch

Because the Flow is a low-aspect, boxy kite, it doesn't have a true auto-relaunch where you do nothing and it just goes. However, it does have an instant water relaunch — you basically just look at the bar, grab it, and the kite launches.

Why Choose the Flow Over Other Wave Kites?

When asked why someone should choose the Flow over other established wave kites on the market, Ralf points to the package as a whole. Following the philosophy Harlem has built over the last 15 years, the goal is making sure you have the most fun on the water. Making something consistent and intuitive is anything but easy, and they're stoked about what they created.

Aaron adds that the Flow is a great crossover kite. He points out that the first triple loop ever landed was by Lorenzo Casati on a Cabrinha Drifter — a wave kite — proving that wave kites can absolutely cross over into big air. The Flow looks beautiful, and if you want to take a twin-tip out on it, you won't be disappointed.

Summary

The Harlem Flow is the brand's first dedicated surf kite, two years in the making, designed around the philosophy that no single wave kite can do everything: but a well-built one can do most of it really well. With a low-aspect, boxy outline, eight bridle attachment points on the leading edge, and very few segments in the frame, the Flow delivers an enormous low end, exceptional damping, and rounded, predictable turns that won't yank you off the board in gusty conditions.

Compared to Harlem's high-performance Thrive, the Flow trades aggressive jump-and-loop response for smoothness, intuitive handling, and crossover versatility. It pairs naturally with Harlem's new shortboard hybrid surfboard for a complete wave package, and while it skips traditional auto-relaunch in favor of an instant grab-and-go relaunch, it more than makes up for it on the water. Whether you're carving cross-off in Cape Verde, riding choppy onshore in Europe, or just looking for a damped, easygoing kite that still has plenty in reserve, including the occasional twin-tip session, the Flow is built to be a fun, forgiving, and capable all-rounder.

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Tucker's back with a review of the Pocket Rocket Version 2 from Ozone — a follow-up to what was arguably the most popular parawing of last year. The V1 became a staple in our shop and in many riders' lineups, so when V2 was announced, we were crossing our fingers that Ozone wouldn't ruin the special attributes of the original. That said, there were also some changes we wanted to see as the sport progresses and we ask different things from our wings.

The Upgraded Bar System

Starting with the bar (and you can ignore the harness line Tucker shows, since it's not included — though you can buy the Ozone harness line loop alongside your wing, or use a two-point harness line if you prefer), the first thing you'll notice is that it's a little shorter than the Pocket Rocket V1, and the B-line connection is gone. The bar is now totally barrier-free, meaning you can move your hand anywhere along it. If you're wearing mittens, you don't have to worry about splitting the line. The bent-out ends shed lines nicely without snagging on anything for low maintenance, but you can still pop the pigtail off to service the lines when needed.

There are subtle finger bumps so your hands lock in ergonomically without sliding around — you don't need to grip the bar hard. Light and loose works great.

Bridle and Line System

The new bridle uses a yoke system. Where the V1 had a B-line connection, the V2 has a yoke handling the A, B, C, and D lines. You'll notice the front lines have a nice Y-split, which is one of Tucker's favorite features on the new Pocket Rocket: the collapsibility of the wing is significantly improved because of it.

Here's how it works: the outside lines run to the wingtips, and the inside red A-lines run to the center A-lines. Those center A-lines are exactly what you want when collapsing the wing — they pull the canopy into a perfect concertina, folding it into the wind without much pull on your hand.

The lines themselves are buttery smooth. They have a waxy coating made specifically for Ozone parawings, so they don't snag or cut at your hands the way some lines do. The terminations are equally clean: the ends are doubled back, sewn, and woven into the line itself, with no frayed ends and stitching that's nearly hidden. When you grab and pull, it's super smooth — low maintenance, easy to stow, and easy to redeploy. You can find that ball of lines without even looking.

The middle lines are blue and the rears are black, and both are kept relatively minimal. The A-lines do most of the heavy lifting, covering roughly half the wing. Everything in the back half is light, packable, and simple.

The lines are also significantly shorter than previous years. One common complaint about the V1, even for a rider at 6'3", was that pulling in a 4.3m took nearly your full arm length. On the V2 4.3m, you're nowhere near full arm length, so the wing should be easily swipable for almost any wingspan. You can see how tightly that concertina collapses right into your hand. There are ears for easy wrapping, and redeploy is fantastic — you grab the wad of canopy, drop it, grab the A's again, throw it out, and it's ready. It's hard to botch a redeploy unless you do something really stupid like wrap it in a rat's nest.

PowerPack Bridle Comparison

For those familiar with the PowerPack, this configuration is essentially the same bar and bridle system, just fitted onto the Pocket Rocket. The Pocket Rocket is the faster-flying wing with bigger range and better upwind performance. If you want the stowability and easy packing/redeploying of the PowerPack but with more high-end range, better upwind, more total range, and a bit more performance overall, the Pocket Rocket V2 delivers exactly that.

Canopy Construction and Details

The canopy is Ozone quality through and through. The D-ribs are nicely built with extra supports to keep them upright, and the leading edge has thoughtful shaping — just enough to feel sleek, stay stable, and resist collapse, but not so much that it becomes hard to pack or redeploy.

The ribs themselves are well-considered, with unnecessary material cut away to keep things light and packable. The trailing edge is basic, lightweight, and packs down easily.

The canopy material is an extremely lightweight, pliable ripstop — a 2x2 weave, which is somewhat unique. That gives it a bit more tear resistance, longevity, and canopy stiffness than some other wings, and it doesn't seem to come at any cost to packability. Ozone has done a really nice job balancing durability and performance with packability and weight.

The coating is highly hydrophobic, so the wing isn't soaking up water or getting heavy, and it sheds water quickly on relaunch. Every connection is doubled back and reinforced with quality stitching. Even the batten terminations have extra reinforcement so they don't poke through. There's clear thinking about long-term performance and how to keep the wing from wearing out over time.

That's especially important on a Pocket Rocket, because it tends to be the wing riders choose when they're riding more powered up and pushing harder. This is the kind of rider who'll do a hard upwind followed by a downwind run, not just a downwind. Driving the wing upwind for miles at high speed puts more stress on the canopy and the connection points, so the reinforced construction matters.

Pocket Rocket V2 vs. PowerPack

The logical question is, how do you choose between this and the PowerPack? Honestly, most riders would be happy with either.

If you're primarily a downwind rider, go with the PowerPack. It pulls more downwind than forward, which is what you want when you're getting on a wave and then putting the wing away when you don't need it. The overpowered range and upwind ability take a back seat to stashability and downwind pull. The V2's low end is comparable to the V1, but the PowerPack still has an edge on the low end thanks to that downwind pull.

The Pocket Rocket is the opposite. It's for riders who want the wing out longer — mostly those riding upwind and then downwind, whether that's 20 miles or 500 yards back and forth. It handles a better upwind angle, it's happier being ridden overpowered, and it's more comfortable when you are. As you create apparent wind, drive upwind, sheet the wing, and compound your speed, you're not going to get overpowered immediately. It's simply less physical to hold and ride upwind with more power.

The Pocket Rocket pulls more forward in the window, creating more speed and forward drive off the apparent wind. So if you're crossing the wind and want to pop up a bit, the Pocket Rocket is great for that style. It also gives you more options when wind and wave are coming from awkward directions — you can use them together to your advantage.

The Riding Sleeve Backpack

The riding sleeve backpack is a cool add-on. The riding sleeve folds up and fits in here easily, and it has vents all the way around to drain sand, moisture, and water. It also has backpack straps and a chest clip, so you can carry it on your back — walking to the beach, riding a different size wing with a spare in tow, or just bringing a backup for safety.

It's genuinely useful — not just a stuff sack to keep things from tangling, but a real backpack with a purpose. The all-around venting means if it gets wet, it drains rather than pooling. Ozone took something as mundane as a stuff sack and made it versatile.

One tip: once you find your sweet spot on the buckles, wrap some electrical tape around them and terminate the tails. Otherwise, the bridles can loop on them and cause issues. Refine where you like the buckles, cut the excess, burn the ends, and wrap them in electrical tape so they can't snag the bridles. It'll save you some headache out on the water.

Summary

The Ozone Pocket Rocket V2 takes everything that made the V1 a shop favorite and refines it for riders pushing harder and farther. The shorter, barrier-free bar and new yoke-style bridle (shared with the PowerPack) make collapsing and redeploying easier than ever, while the Y-split A-lines and shorter overall line length mean even riders without a long wingspan can swipe the wing in cleanly. The 2x2 ripstop canopy adds durability and stiffness without sacrificing packability, and thoughtful reinforcements throughout suggest a wing built to hold up under sustained, powered-up riding.

If you're a downwinder who values stashability and downwind pull above all else, the PowerPack is still the better pick. But if you want a wing that flies faster, points higher upwind, and stays comfortable when you're powered up — whether you're running 20 miles or just crossing back and forth — the Pocket Rocket V2 is the call. Add the included riding sleeve backpack into the mix, and you've got a high-performance parawing that's as practical to carry as it is fun to fly.

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The Brazilian Brothers are back with MACkiteboarding to bring you a review of the 2025 Duotone Rebel SLS. The Rebel has been a standout model from Duotone for many years, and they're stoked to walk you through its features and their thoughts on this kite.

Why review the 2025 Rebel SLS?

Your first question might be: why we are reviewing the 2025 Rebel instead of the 2026 Rebel SLS that was just released? There are two reasons for this. First, there are still 2025 Rebel kites on the market. Second, we just got the 2026 Rebel SLS here in Brazil, so we still need to put it through its paces to get a good feel for a review. That'll also let us compare both versions to share what's new.

A Legacy of Performance

The Rebel has been in Duotone's lineup for the past several years. In fact, it was the kite that brought Lorenzo to the highest place on the podium at the 2022 King of the Air. Since 2022, Duotone has continued to improve the Rebel, and we're excited to share our thoughts on its jumping ability, looping ability, and ease of use.

Bar Pressure and Feel

To be completely honest, we've always been a bit skeptical of the Rebel because we thought of it as a kite that was slow and heavy on the bar. However, when we first put this 2025 version in the air, we were pleasantly surprised. The bar pressure on the 2025 Rebel SLS is definitely lower than its previous versions. It sits in the moderate category and actually feels pretty rapid in the air once you get it up and going. This is a very balanced kite in terms of stability and bar pressure, and that pressure allows you to know where the kite is at all times.

Jumping

In terms of jumping, the Rebel is awesome. It has a big sweet spot which allows you to boost even when things don't line up perfectly. We absolutely love it for jumping because it is so forgiving and allows you to stay up there for a really long time with good hangtime. Additionally, it's an easy kite to come down on. You do not need to time your heli-loops perfectly in order to get lift out of this kite, which we love.

Looping

We were also pleasantly surprised by the Rebel's looping. It is definitely not as fast as something like a Reedin HyperModel or a Trigger Brainchild, for instance, but it does have a safe and intuitive kiteloop. When you pull that loop, the kite has a rounder loop, but it recovers very fast. We were having a blast looping this kite in 25 to over 30 knots and we felt completely safe. The second lift of this kite is awesome; once that kite catches you, it is really easy to do a heli-loop and come down nice and soft from big loops.

Ease of Use

The Rebel is a very accessible kite. Anyone who hops on it will immediately appreciate its big sweet spot and the ease of use when coming down from big jumps. You do not need to be a very proficient pilot in order to come down nice and soft. You'll also appreciate the nice feedback on the bar. You will have a really good idea of where the kite is at all times, which makes rotations and board-offs easier.

As far as looping is concerned, you will need to be a more advanced rider in order to advance through loops because the loop of the Rebel is a bit rounder and a bit more "angry." Having said that, the second lift of the kite is awesome, which makes landing big loops really fun and easy.

Overall, we are stoked on the Rebel SLS by Duotone. The combination of a big sweet spot, really good hangtime, and that second lift makes it a really fun kite to take out there. We've been stoked on how it's been performing here in Prea, and we can't wait to review the brand-new 2026 Rebel SLS and compare it to this version.

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The Brazilian Brothers are back for a special three-way kite comparison. Pro rider Mateus Oliveira has been testing three of the best big air kites on the market: the recently released MasterModel by Reedin, the Evo D/Lab by Duotone, and the Trigger Brainchild by F-One. They picked his brain to see how each performs and which one is his personal favorite.

The Ozone Vortex

Before diving into the comparison, Mateus shared that the kite he is currently using for big air and competitions is the Ozone Vortex. It is an amazing kite for looping and jumping, and it catches him easily. The kite reaches 12 o'clock super easily after the loop, which makes tricks much easier.

Reedin MasterModel

The first kite tested was the recently released MasterModel by Reedin, which is a 5-strut kite. Mateus found the bar to be light, making it easy to fully sheet in and go for a jump. Because it has 5 struts, it is a fast kite that turns quick and comes back to 12 o'clock quite easily. It is a user-friendly kite; in Mateus' opinion, anyone who uses it will feel right at home.

Regarding the wind range, the conditions were inconsistent during testing. Mateus noticed that the MasterModel lost some performance during the wind lows. However, when the wind picks up, it really takes you up and high. It is definitely a kite with an amazing high end, but it lacks a bit on the low end.

Duotone Evo D/Lab

The second kite in the test was the Evo D/Lab from Duotone. The Evo has a little more bar pressure than the MasterModel, which translates into more direct feedback. To Mateus, you feel like you have the kite in your hand more.

In terms of kiteloops, it actually turns slightly slower than the MasterModel, but it does have a quick recovery. It has really good lift after the loops, which helps with adding more rotations right when you are about to land. Mateus found the Evo a bit easier to use than the MasterModel because the slightly higher bar pressure makes it easier to feel more connected to the kite, letting you know where the kite sits.

F-One Trigger Brainchild

Finally, Mateus tested the F-One Trigger Brainchild. He feels like the Trigger is the perfect mix between the MasterModel and the Evo. The kite turns well, has good bar pressure, and recovers very quickly after the loop. Beyond that, it also has really good lift. It holds you up when landing, allowing you to add another rotation and land smoothly. Overall, it is a really easy kite to use.

The Verdict

When asked to choose a favorite after the first session, Mateus chose the F-One Trigger. Out of the three, the Trigger was the easiest to use and the one he felt most comfortable on. It has good hangtime, turns fast, and features a very good second lift that sustains the rider well.

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Jeff is joined by Nate, a North ambassador and the "Tri-Cities semi-pro", to do a breakdown of a new foil in the North lineup. Nate has spent the last couple of years riding the SF 830 in almost all conditions, occasionally switching to the 1080 for lighter winds. Overall, the SF 830 is an amazing surf wing that turns sharp and hard while maintaining balance and a nice feel. It offers better glide and pump when connecting waves compared to other front foils in the 830 size range.

Transitioning to the Downwind 900

Jeff has also been a dedicated SF lover, riding everything from the 1080 down to the 600 range. The SF foils stay in the pocket of the wave very well and are incredibly stable and easy to ride. However, while in La Ventana, they were pushed to try the North Downwind 900. While the SF series sits at a 9 aspect ratio, the Downwind 900 takes it up to a 13 aspect ratio.

Performance and Efficiency

Nate was initially shocked by the performance of the Downwind 900. Expecting it to feel slow, he instead found the speed and pump to be amazing. It is highly efficient when you start to slow down and need a power boost to connect waves. Nate noted that after about 20 to 30 minutes of adjustment, he was getting the tips out and carving up waves. The glide is effortless, allowing for 30 seconds to a minute of pumping just for fun.

Jeff described the foil as an "easy button" for pointing and riding swell. The glide feels like an escalator, where you don't have to worry as much about where you are in the power of the swell. It just continues to glide efficiently.

Dialing in the Setup

The setup makes a significant difference in how this foil handles. They initially started on the 650mm fuselage but found the 700mm fuselage to be the better fit for this wing. Nate felt that the 700mm fuselage combined with the 158 tail was "money."

• 650 Fuselage: More pitch sensitive and can feel a bit tipsy.
• 700 Fuselage: Provides better balance, comfort, and efficiency for hard turns.
• 158 Tail: Complements the 700mm fuselage for a stable, high-performance feel.

Who Is It For?

If you have been riding the SF lineup and are looking for a foil that excels at riding swell and offers incredible glide, the Downwind 900 is a great addition to your quiver. It is also a foil that has been discussed for use with Foil Drive systems, offering a highly efficient ride. If you want a foil that makes connecting swell effortless and efficient, this 13 aspect ratio wing is the way to go.

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