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Tucker Interviews MHL's Co-Founder & Head Engineer Nick Leason Hey Nick, Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today! No worries. Let's jump right into this. When did MHL start? We started in 2010. And when did you get on the Hydrofoil train? How did we get on the train…. The first composite foil out there for a commercial market was the Carafino. I met Carafino in 2008 and fell in love with hydrofoiling. I started learning and working on my own gear right away. It t …

Lightwind kites have come a long way in just the last 5 years really. I’ve said it before, if you’re not taking advantage and kiteboarding in the sub 12 knot days, you’re really missing out. This week, we’re breaking down two of the longest standing light wind kites in our shop. The Cabrinha Contra Vs The Slingshot Turbine. Their both built with the same purpose and rider in mind but they do have some pretty distinct differences.Let’s start with the Contra. There are a few things that come …

Are you one of those people at the beach, endlessly watching the kiteboarders and thinking to yourself, “hey—I wonder if I could do that?”Yes, you can go kiteboarding.One, are you physically able to get up and walk around the block? OK, it’s a little more demanding than just that, but I don’t want to over complicate things either. People tend to associate kiteboarding with having a higher level of physical exertion than what’s actually required. Kiteboarding is more finesse than brute strength.T …

Last week, we did a video on Light wind vs Strong wind and how currents and tides come into play. Contrary to what I expected, it seemed to be well received. So as I said, I’m going to elaborate further and talk about conditions a little more. I know these conditions videos are a little beginner centric so for any experienced riders who watch this series for gear reviews I’ll get back on track with another gear video next week. That said, you might find some of the points in this video helpfu …

This week I’m going to a compare two kites that really fall into two different categories. Two kites built for similar but different reasons  The Juice is North’s go to lightwind freeride kite while the Mono is their Freeride and foil kite. With that said, these are two very different kites built for different reasons but they do have crossover applications.  So where do we begin? Let's start with the Juice. The North Juice has many of the characteristics one can expe …

Tucker Talks Foils with Slingshot's Tony LogoszWhen was Slingshot founded?Slingshot was originally founded in 1999. Started in ‘95 and officially launched in ’99.So going on 18 years-ish. Wow, that is basically the entire lifespan of kiteboarding. When did you start to see Hydrofoil's becoming part of the sports Slingshot represents? When did you start designing your own products for that purpose?We were influenced by the original kite-skiing that started here in the Columbia Gorge area. H …

Part three in our kiteboard comparison series. Wood and fiberglass boards.  These tend to be heavier but more, durable, and damp. What I mean by damp is that they absorb the vibrations from chop much better than their carbon counterparts. This means you’re going to have a more comfortable ride even in those locations with choppier water. The response and feel of the boards is obviously going to vary from brand to brand and model to model however, there are some basic concepts to consider. …

This week, we’re going to break down the difference between flat boards and rockered kiteboards. Last week, we got started with our first kiteboard comparison. We broke down small boards vs large boards, as well as choosing the right size. This week, we’re going to get a little more tech and break down the difference between flat boards and rockered boards. We’ll also finish up this series next week by breaking down construction materials like wood boards vs carbon boards. Lets get …

The last few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with topics deviating away from kite comparisons but I haven't forgotten that they are they bread and butter of our Versus series. It’s been quite busy around here, with that said, I’m making a point to get ahead on these videos. On top of that, I’m trying to escape the cold and log as many hours as possible on all the gear we carry so I can produce these for you guys. Next week, I’ll be heading down to Mexico to start filming for a Kiteboardi …

North has redesigned one of the best freeride kites on the planet, and now it's available to you. Introducing the 2018 North Evo! Historically, there were too many similarities between the North Evo and North Rebel. Many riders used to make the decision between the two by whether or not they wanted to fly with 5 lines or not. Of course, they were more different than that, but it seems like line configuration was a big deal for many riders. In 2018, North has increased the gap betw …

Wow—this thing rips!The Inboard M1 electric skateboard was developed and marketed by a good friend of ours named Ryan Evans. A close connection can sometimes blur your vision when it comes to being objective about a product. Not the case here.Ryan and his team have designed an electric skateboard with a removable airline compliant battery, built-in lights and the ability to free-wheel just like a regular longboard. Inboard's twin 1600 watt motors deliver smooth, controllable power and the m …

Riding a longboard skateboard was how I got around in our little beach town when I was in my 20s. I had calves of steel, holes in my shoes, and a grin on my face.The first time I saw an electric skateboard, I laughed out loud and said, "Why the heck would I ever want to ride one of those!? Those are for kooks!" I dismissed it entirely. Not for me—not ever.A couple of years later, we ended up bringing a couple of them into our shop. I still didn't want anything to do with em'. One of our guys fin …

Hey guys, Blake from Mackite here. This week we are going to go over kiteboarding grabs and give you a board grab guide.We'll eventually cover every grab from beginner to advanced so stay tuned. Why you need to start Not only does adding grabs to your jumps/tricks feel great but it actually helps you control the rotation and adds style. Adding grabs to your tricks is the next step in progression after learning the basics. Once you have a trick or jump dialed in and feel comfortable i …

We’ve been getting a surprising number of requests for C-Kite comparisons. The North Vegas vs the North Rebel, The Cabrinha Chaos vs the Cabrinha FX. With that said, I’ve decided to first do a video focused specifically on all C - Kites in general and who they are for.There are three types of people riding C-kites right now. Riders who have been using them since the early days of the sport when they were the only option. Riders who are competing in the PKRA and making a living off ofkite …

Meet the Onewheel+: The Next Level is Here The Onewheel was an innovation - a revolution among a sea of electric skateboard hopefuls. This one-wheeled dynamo was able to hit a variety of terrains, quickly recharge in 20 minutes, and a top speed of 15 miles per hour. After months of testing, the Onewheel+ hit the shelves (and hard). For a long time, we didn't have any on the shelves!  So, what is the difference between the original and the Plus?  New Motor: Hypercore technology …