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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 …

Dear kitesurfers: have you ever paddled into a wave on a surfboard? If yes—you already get it. If not, however, please read on.Surfers have been "out there" for much longer than kiteboarders and kitesurfers have. Since the 18th century in Tahiti and Hawaii, surfers have been paddling out, catching waves and enjoying the stoke. Eventually, it hit mainland USA and became a subculture. Boards went from long to short, and back again. Shortboarders feud with longboarders, who now get snaked by s …

Pete and the Cabrinha team have done it again for 2018! Of course, you’ll have to wait until early next week to see the full monty. In the meantime, queue up this official 2018 Teaser from Cabrinha Kitesurfing and peep the goods now! …

Mission “Kiteboard 4 Cancer empowers individuals to harness the power of wind and water to benefit lives affected by cancer.” That mission statement is brought to life by kiteboarders from all over the world as they descend upon Hood River, Oregon each year in support of this cause. As described, this 10th Annual Kiteboard 4 Cancer event is “Part kite festival, part chaos, ALL FUN.” After speaking with several participants from previous years, one thing becomes apparent—good times for …

New kiteboarding locations can be intimidating. In this Vlog I'll be covering how to assess a new spot, as well as a few important reminders. These tips will be especially helpful if you're traveling to a location like Hood River, OR.A busy month  Speaking of the Hood, I've spent the last few weeks wrapping up some work in the Pacific North West. From Seattle to Squamish back down to Hood River. It's been eventful to say the least. Fortunately, I was able to get some time on the water m …

In this Vlog, we’re going to be covering how to pack your kiteboarding bag. The first thing to talk about when packing a kite bag is what kind of bag do you have or do you want.Why a golf bag?  A lot of people who are kiting will go with a golf bag or a bag that can be disguised as a golf bag. Namely, because airlines don't charge for those. Some airlines charge $200 for kiteboarding equipment, which seems very unreasonable. So the bag I chose is pretty simple, it …

Cable parks have been around since 1959. Since their inception in Germany. They have been popping up all over the world. In fact, there's a good chance you’re just a short drive from one yourself. The cross over from cable to kite is undeniable. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned rider working on that next trick. Here at MACkite, we have been doing lessons almost as long as the sport of kiteboarding has been around. In 2010, the first 2.0 cable wake boarding system opened …

My name is Crystal Veness, and I’m living the dream. I’ve been traveling full time for more than two years, with no home base and nothing but a kite bag, a carry-on suitcase, and a backpack in tow. This journey has spanned 5 continents, 19 countries, and created more than 1,000,000 memories, and the journey continues today. I’ll be honest, my bank account isn’t exactly growing, but I have accumulated an indescribable wealth of experiences, wonderful connections, and skills that will have a …

As winter approaches, we're all in need of a little warmer weather. Cabrinha's crew heads to Indonesia in their most recent kitesurfing video, encountering difficulties from rain to no wind to everything in between. Despite the setbacks, the waves and the culture provide plenty of entertainment for the kiters. Indonesia is famed for its deep-ocean swells, creating beautiful conditions for kitesurfing even when the wind is kicking. However, there's no real way to tell when the wind is comi …

Do you like kitesurfing and traveling, but can’t seem to find a reliable way to combine the two? Read on, Magellan. We have a solution.The board.Let’s start with “compact” surf shapes, like the North Pro CSC or the North Whip CSC. These are kite surfboards that typically have a shorter overall length and width, combined with more parallel rails and a blunted tip. They’ve been marketed as being good for strapless airs and freestyle, but they are also really fun for traditional, down-the-line kite …

2017 Naish Kites Unleashed Like kids in a candy store, the MACkite crew clings to the windows of the latest kiteboarding gear. This year, we're impressed with Naish and their ability to transcend the industry.  Innovations abound, Naish has been able to introduce Quad-Tex, the strongest canopy available on the market.  Not only that, but we've also become intrigued with the new Torque control system that are filled with function. If you're looking for some new gear, perhaps i …

Nathan chats about the 2017 Cabrinha Switchblade: Today we're going to be discussing the kite you all want to hear more about. The 2017 Cabrinha switchblade.  It's one of our favorite kites in the shop. and whenever we approach Cabrinha for the next year we look directly at the Switchblade because it's a fantastic kite. It sells well for us mainly because it performs so well. We find ourselves in most situations reaching for a Switchblade because its just an easy kite to love.  What …

An Official Kiteboarding Movie Trailer Imagine your all-time favorite kiteboarding video. I’m guessing it’s five, maybe seven minutes long? Now imagine that favorite video 15 times the length, and produced by a real film production company. Get ready for Red Bull’s newest brain child, and kiteboarding’s first ever feature length movie: “Chapter One-The Kiteboard Legacy.” Whether it’s shredding 20 foot waves as the surf crashes in Hawaii, cruising through fields full of tulips and windmills …

2016 Best Red Bar & Roca Session What’s a good way to end the week? Kiteboarding with friends with the winds in the upper twenties all while riding new gear and loving every minute of it. After burning out a long week at the shop bouncing between customer support, sales, marketing, and the shop handy man, a session was pretty high on my list of wants before the end of the week. It just so happened the NE wind forecasted shifted to a NW and the race was on. With wind in the mid to upper 20 …

A Strapless Afternoon Located on the white, sandy shores of the Dominican Republic, Encuentro beach makes for a prime secret kitesurfing spot. Kiteboard rider, Alexis Pierret, claims these waves as his own. The late-December conditions give him the perfect opportunity to test out strapless kitesurfing. Pierret is able to ride wave after wave, without the tireless paddling that accompanies a regular afternoon of surfing. With no attachment to the board, Pierret is granted the creative freedom …