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Jake M's 2018 North Rebel ReviewWe get it, you're busy, so let's start with the TL;DR. The 2018 Rebel is everything you've loved about the past iterations, but better and now 4 line compatible.Having finally gotten the chance to ride the 2018 Rebel, I can absolutely attest that North knocked it out of the park with this year's kite. I mean, for those of us who could stomach the 5th line we always knew North had something special with the Rebel. It was truly a premium freeride kite that offe …

My first session on the 2018 North Dice 13m was solid! Yeah, man—I can actually still stick a few basic unhooked tricks after riding nothing but surfboards for the past season—old-guy stoked.The 2018 North Dice received some significant mods but is still the same intermediate to advanced-level performance kite that we've come to know. North tweaked the radius of the kite, along with the leading edge diameter and steering speed to give us an even more progressive freestyle kite this year. The Dic …

Are you thinking about stepping up your freestyle/wakestyle game? Maybe you're looking for a mega-looping machine? Something with the most direct steering, explosive lift, and mad pop? Look no further, amigos—it's Vegas time. The North Vegas is a kite that will blow your mind—just be sure you're ready for it. While the performance capability is unquestionable, the level of forgiveness is also a bit less. Meaning that you will have to actively fly this kite to get the most out of it. It's not a …

In this episode, Crystal meets with one of kiteboarding's hardest working riders, Colleen Carroll. She tells how she got her start in kiteboarding, what she is up to now and breaks down the 2018 North kiteboarding line up.Crystal rocking her Ion Jewel up in Squamish, BC.Thanks again, and see you next time on Chasing the Dream! *Written & produced by Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic and Crystal VenessCrystal VenessOriginally from Canada, she now calls the entire world her playground and simultaneously her …

The top two performance freeride kites in the world. How do they stack up? A little history. The last decade and a half, kiteboarding culture has come into its own. In the formative years, we had legends like Pete Cabrinha, Robby Naish, Lou Wainman defining the sport, and the list goes on and on. Most kiteboarders lived in Hawaii and other tropical locations. At first, the sport wasn't accessible to everyone. The gear wasn't safe or efficient - albeit, it was fun if you had the fort …

Have any of you ever had one of those "ah-ha" moments with a new piece of kiteboarding gear? Something that made you grin from ear to ear the first time you tried it? Here are my thoughts after spending a whole year riding the North Click Bar.At first sight, I was blown away at how simple the Click Bar appeared. Ben Skaggs, our North sales rep, put one in our hands last August, at the North dealer meeting in Hood River, Oregon. It actually looked less complex than the North Trust Quad or 5th Ele …

2018 North Rebel Product ClipDiehard North Rebel fans—take a deep breath—everything is going to be OK. Your 2018 North Rebel kite is now a 4-line powerhouse! For many years, we have been recommending the North Rebel to that premium freeride kiteboarder. Historically, the Rebel has had amazing qualities, like huge jumps, ripping upwind ability and massive wind range. While those are all things that a freerider wants from a good kite like the Rebel, they don’t seem to want the 5th line hassle.&nb …

Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Relaunch a 4-Line Kite Learn how to relaunch your kite in shallow water first, as this will make it easy when you're swimming in deeper waters. When your kite drops into the water, let go of the bar, untwist the lines, and check that your bar is the correct way around by using the color code. Now you're ready to relaunch. Pull gently on the floater to initiate the kites movement to the edge of the wind window. Once the kite is there, grab the bar and pull on …

Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Relaunching Your 5th Line Kite The 5th-line makes it easy to relaunch your kite, especially in low wind, when it is relied on to get your kite into the air. If you lose hold of your bar when riding unhooked, hold on your safety line and hook back into your chicken loop. Now pull the fifth line until the kite starts to flip over. Before it flips completely, grab the bar floater on the upper side and pull it towards you. As you do this, the kite will start to m …

Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Crash and Relaunch Your Kite In critical situations, it can be necessary to use the quick release on your kite. In doing so, your kite will remain connected to your harness via one line, and most of the kite’s power will be lost. To open the release, let go of the bar and push the quick-release mechanism away from you. In doing so, your kite will fall into the water and waiver in the wind. Once you're ready, you'll need to prepare your gear for relaunch. Hold the …

Learn how to land your kite in shallow water, with lots of free space around you. When you're ready to land your kite, be sure to signal clearly to your helper that you want to land the kite by tapping the top of your head with a flat hand.  Once the helper is ready, slowly lower your kite down along the edge of the wind window, using your top hand only to steer the kite. The lower hand should be free. Slow down the kite's descent by gently pulling on the top hand.  Once it's w …

Beginner Kiteboarding Lesson: Launch Your KiteLearn how to launch your kite in shallow water, with lots of free space around you.The correct launching procedure is your first step to safe kiteboarding. Before launching, check that your bar lines and kite or all in order. Then check that you have enough space above and around you. Once your helper is holding the kite in the correct position, at the edge of the window, you can walk up wind to increase the pressure in the lines. With …

Haey, Laay-deeez!In the spirit of encouraging women kiteboarders to jump their absolute highest, WOO has initiated their “Global Women’s Boost Off”.Participation is easy—just log your WOO Kite sessions and be sure to use the new gender filter to weed out those pesky dudes. From June 1st through July 31st, WOO will be tracking women’s progress and look for those ladies who are jumping the highest and for those who have accumulated the most in total jump height.Sites and SocialCurrent women’s stan …

North Ace Foil Kite - The High Performance Foil Kite Are you looking to step-up your game and enter the foiling world? North is giving you the opportunity to experience a huge wind range, fast turning, durability, hangtime, and easy water relaunching all packed in one kite: the Ace Foil Kite.  Riders can enjoy the Ace either with a foilboard or a twin tip. It's perfect for intermediate to advanced riders.  Hint: Pair the Ace with the Slingshot Hypermiler Foil Board and  …

Cabrinha Contra vs. North Juice The last few years, light wind kites have seen some very real improvement. Gone are the days where companies simply take their 12 meter kites and blow them up to slow, clunky 17m or 18m kites. All modern light wind kites are designed specifically for the demands of light wind and fly surprisingly nimbly and easily for their large size. North and Cabrinha have built a serious reputation over the years and established themselves as leaders of the industry. Le …