Breaking Down the Unifoil Evolution Setup | Is It Worth the Price?
It's been a minute since Tucker has done a Unifoil review. But lately he's been out ripping on the new Evolution front wing, so now's the perfect opportunity to correct that and bring an update on what's one of his favorite brands to ride. Of course, that endorsement has to be tempered with the fact that this is a high-end foil with a price tag to match, so the question, as always, is whether the added performance justifies the cost.
What's a Good Setup with the Unifoil Evolution Wing?
Obviously, that depends on a lot of factors like riding style, conditions, and rider weight, but in short, if you want a do-it-all setup, try the Evolution 155 front wing, Afterburner 14.5 tail, small or medium fuselage, and the 80cm Torque mast. (If you're a lighter rider, you can swap in a Race mast and save a little weight.)
With this setup, you can wing, parawing, prone, wake, and even downwind SUP foil. You can also do all that with Unifoil's Progression wings, but the Evolution is the next step up in performance. You'll get a wider speed range, better glide, and more efficiency through the water.
How Does the Evolution Compare to the Progression Front Wing?
If you're familiar with Progression wings, the first thing you'll notice on the Evolution is that it's a faster, more slippery foil. It's got better glide efficiency and doesn't decelerate as quickly. However, you'll need more speed for liftoff when comparing similar sizes.
You can size down a bit on the Evolution and still be in the same speed range while maximizing your top speed, efficiency and maneuverability. For Tucker, that balance falls on the 155, with its surface area of about 1,000 cm2. It's fast, but not too fast, and it works in both light and higher wind. It's happy in all but the biggest fall and winter waves on the Great Lakes.
The Evolution wings have a higher aspect ratio than the Progression wings, but Tucker didn't feel like he was making much of a compromise. It's user-friendly and fun. The profile has a slight kink, so you can have quite a bit of the wingtip out without ventilating and losing lift. There's some dihedral in the middle to help you roll in and out of turns, but it still has the overall anhedral to bounce you through them as well.
The wing is stiff, and the monocoque integration with the mast connection adds to the overall rigidity. If you've ridden the Hyper series, the Evolution picks up where that left off, with an updated profile that's more surfy and fun.
Which Fuselage Should I Use with the Afterburner Tail?
The latest Afterburner Tail is the 14.5, and with a small or medium fuselage it pairs really well with the efficiency and higher aspect design of the Evolution. You'd use the small fuselage with shorter boards, and the medium with longer boards to match the board's natural swing. You can push on them hard in a fast turn and carry a lot of speed and projection through the turn. The peaked anhedral on the Afterburner gives you nice drive and direction out of the turns for a lively and skaty feel, making this an incredible combo. It's one of the most fun that Tucker has ridden.
How Should I Shim the Afterburner Tail?
The Unifoil hardware kit comes with different shims, and there isn't any guidance as to which is the "default", so it can be confusing to know where to start. Tucker finds that the #1 shim is his sweet spot for most of the lineup. It's lively in the turn, but it also glides well. Any flatter, and the turns lose their magic. Any more aggressive, and you lose efficiency and the foil becomes more pitchy. So if you're not sure where to start, put on the #1 shim and see how you like it. You can always readjust if you feel like you need more glide or more pitchy turns.
Should I Get the Torque or the Race Mast?
Both masts share the same profile. They're sleek and fast. The Torque uses a high modulus construction, which weighs more but is stiffer. If you're a heavier rider or you like to rip hard turns, then the tradeoff in weight may well be worth it for you to choose the Torque mast. If you are going for a lightweight setup and don't need the extra stiffness, then the Race would be a better choice for you.
Tucker's been riding the 80cm Torque, which is a bit shorter than he's used to. However, it's livened up the turns a bit and has turned out to be a good do-it-all size. With tighter turns, you do need to be careful about how hard you lean over on a mast this short, especially with a wider wingspan. Thankfully, the Evolution wings don't ventilate as much and they'll just drive right though, making them pretty forgiving compared to most other wings. In fact, Tucker didn't even realize he had a good eight inches of wingtip out on some turns until he reviewed his video!
Is Unifoil Worth the Cost?
If you've been following Tucker's reviews for any amount of time, you know that he likes to find something to nitpick about every product. Everyone's got different things they care about, and what's minor to him might be important to someone else. However, he really can't find any downside except the cost when it comes to Unifoil setups. You're paying for a high-performance foil, and you're getting exactly that. Covers are even included to protect your investment when you're not on the water.
Of course, you need to decide if it's in your budget and whether you can get out often enough to justify the per-session cost. If so, then this is a solid choice that'll leave you stoked and thinking about the next session before you're even off the beach.
2025 Reedin Supernatural | The Wing We Keep Fighting Over?
Reedin's SuperNatural wing is back for 2025. Last year's model was a shop favorite, so how does the 2025 version hold up? Jeff and Tucker have had a few sessions with it to see if it still has the SuperNatural magic that made them fall in love with this wing and fight over who got to keep it in their car.
Is the 2025 Reedin SuperNatural As Good As the 2024?
In a word, yes. Jeff was such a fan of the SuperNatural that he even asked Damien not to change too much for 2025. Whether we have Jeff to thank, or it was Damien's plan all along, everything that riders loved about the 2024 SuperNatural is still in the 2025 edition.
The SuperNatural still floats like a feather. Whether you're jibing, tacking, turning, or just picking the wing up on the beach, it's light and has a lot of lift. You know as soon as you get it in your hands that it's going to be a wing that works with you.
It's stable and predictable, but also lively. It luffs well but offers plenty of performance. So many wings have either stability or performance, but the SuperNatural has a good blend of speed, ease-of-use, and efficiency, while still offering a nice, surfy feel. It's good at just about everything.
You can still expect an amazing wind range as well. You'll get up on foil easily while still being able to push it on the high end. Are there wings that can go lower or higher? Yes, of course, but the SuperNatural has just the right blend that the majority of riders will find useful. As long as you're not a racer and you're not trying to get up in 5mph, this wing is going to take care of you.
What Are Some Features of the 2025 Reedin SuperNatural?
Starting at the top of the wing, the leading edge handle is a bit stiffer than last year's to give a little more control while flagging out. It's still a touch smaller than some, but Tucker was able get his 5mm gloved hand in there, so it'll be adequate for most people.
The SuperNatural uses a single point Max Flow inflation valve with a pinch clamp to isolate the leading edge and strut. Normally Tucker prefers a separate valve for each, but the SuperNatural doesn't need different pressures, and clamping off the two bladders still gives you the peace-of-mind of knowing one section will stay inflated if the other loses pressure. There is a 9mm blowout valve to help you deflate and pack your wing quickly after your session.
The leading edge itself is reinforced with carbon UD tape on the inside. That stiffens it up with minimal weight and allows Reedin to reduce the diameter a bit, which helps with the top end of the wind range and upwind ability. However, it's not so stiff that it doesn't have any flex, and then it snaps back with a nice, lively feel, which is just what you want when you're pumping your wing to build speed.
The included leash comes in two sections so you can customize the length. It's also got a cuff with a swivel. There's no plastic, which is great for cold water riding. The cuff might be a little small for people with wider wrists in a wetsuit, but you can always detach the cuff and put the leash on your harness.
The handles are very similar to last year's model, so if you liked them, then these will suit you just fine. They're tapered and ergonomic with plenty of room for a pistol grip, which has some knurling for a positive hold and extra control in the waves. Jeff's not a huge fan of the soft corner and feels like it can twist a little, but it's a very minor quibble, and it does help if you hit your board.
The front handle is set quite far forward, which helps a lot when flagging from the pistol grip. There isn't so much wing in front of the handle that it wants to grab the wind and fly, rather than float behind you. It also makes switching between that and the leading edge handle effortless.
The handles aren't along the same plane as if they were a boom broken into two pieces. Each handle is set for the best grip along that part of the strut, and that made the guys feel more connected to the wing. They have plenty of room between the handle and the strut, so the handles are easy to grab when you're changing position. No matter where you grab them, you get immediate feedback on where you need to slide your hand. It's very intuitive.
The handle positions are well-suited for riding with a harness. You can attach your harness line to the back corner of the front handle and a couple inches back on the back handle, and it'll be perfectly balanced. If you want less front hand pressure as the wind picks up, then you can slide the front harness loop forward a bit.
The canopy and trailing edge use reinforcements to minimize deformation of the wing under load. Not only does this help maintain the shape of the wing so it performs as designed, but it'll also extend its lifespan since it isn't flexing as much.
Is the 2025 Reedin SuperNatural Affordable?
The guys feel that the SuperNatural is one of the best performance-to-cost values in winging. It performs like a wing with high-end materials without the price tag to match. Reedin has made clever use of design elements like the carbon UD stringers to add stiffness and performance while keeping the weight low. Its pricing is right in line with other wings using standard materials, and even lower than many.
Can I Add a 2025 Size to My 2024 Quiver?
Yes, you sure can! The updates are subtle and don't affect the wind range of each size. The 2024 and 2025 SuperNatural wings are fully compatible within the same quiver.
The 2025 SuperNatural has kept everything you loved about the 2024 and made slight improvements to enhance its performance. It has the same featherweight feel and is just as well-behaved as last year's model. It doesn't have a lot of pressure in the hands; it just feels smooth and light. Reedin did a nice job of refining the great wing they already had.
Flysurfer POW vs. Ozone Pocket Rocket | What Sets These Parawings Apart?
Ozone and Flysurfer are two brands well-known for their ram-air foil kites, so it comes as no surprise that their entries into the new parawing category are some of the most popular and top-rated. With many years of experience making non-inflatable kites, both companies have a bit of a head start into the technology that's going to produce a high-performing parawing. So how do you choose between them?
First off, both are great parawings. The most important thing is to pick the right size for your conditions and you as a rider. Both are high-performance wings with excellent upwind range. They've got good high wind stability. Tucker's been riding them and would recommend either without hesitation.
However, each has features that might make it a bit more suitable for your needs. If you need a larger wing for light wind or because you're a heavier rider, only the Pocket Rocket currently goes up to 5m. However, the POW has a bit more low-end grunt to get you moving from a standstill. So there are a variety of factors to consider.
What's the Best Wind Range for the POW and Pocket Rocket?
The POW has a stronger pull and a bit more lift, so its initial punch after first throwing it out is going to pull harder. The Pocket Rocket has a little softer bar pressure with less strain on the arms and likes to create apparent wind before it delivers its power. The POW can help you get up quick on a slow, fat, chunky board, but the Pocket Rocket's steady, building speed works better on smaller, faster foils and longer, more efficient boards that don't need that immediate acceleration. The difference is not huge, but it can be a factor depending on how you like to ride.
On the upper end of the wind range, the Pocket Rocket has the advantage. With these brands' experience in designing this type of wing, both parawings are well above average in overpowered handling, but the Pocket Rocket holds its composure a little better when you're driving hard upwind and pushing it to its limits. It's great for riding small foils at top speeds. You can size up by half a meter and still hold it down.
Part of the reason for this stability at the high end is the Pocket Rocket's horizontal bridle line across the apex of the kite. It helps hold the wing's profile and keeps the wind flowing across the wing as it was designed. When parawings get overpowered, they tend to collapse on themselves, but Tucker hasn't had that issue on the Pocket Rocket. He's even had the 5m out in 30 knots and it handled well right up until it was practically being ripped from his hands.
If you want to push the top end of the wind range and ride smaller foils, you might prefer the Pocket Rocket. If you want to fly the smallest possible parawing so you can get up and pack it away, then the POW might be your wing.
How Do the Handles and Bridles Compare Between the POW and Pocket Rocket?
Right away, you can see that the POW's handle is different. It's got a bend at one end that'll allow you to get a more ergonomic grip when you're flying off the front end of the lines. Parawings can really pull hard when you're powered up and building apparent wind, and this gives you a little extra leverage while remaining comfortable.
The shape also sheds the bridle lines very well. There isn't anything that's going to want to snag your lines when you go to redeploy the wing after having it all bunched up. It's also easy to remove the front bridle line with just a screwdriver so you can slide a harness line onto the bar.
Another feature setting the POW's handle apart is the pulley on the second set of bridle lines. Most parawings have three sets of bridle lines, but the POW has four, and the pulley allows the second set to self-adjust to find the happy medium as you're sheeting in and out. It gives you a more fluid feeling, especially on the smaller parawing sizes.
The third set of lines attaches to the handle with a velcro band that you can move to adjust the wing's angle into the wind. This can be handy if you're riding underpowered or overpowered, though Tucker found a sweet spot where it works well in most winds without needing to micromanage it and where it's out of the way of his hands.
Ozone went in the opposite direction with their bar, opting for something that's elegant in its simplicity. It's straight and lightweight. It also has nothing for the bridles to catch on. The end lines are almost as easy as the POW's to remove for installing a harness line, but a pliers is the right tool here. This design allows you to attach a pigtail to the end of the front or back line, and then you can attach your leash to that. It's simple and out of the way and will depower your wing if you drop the bar. Tip: Tucker prefers to use the front lines because it makes relaunch a little easier and helps keep the cells from filling with water.
The center bridle line can also be adjusted on the Pocket Rocket, though Tucker found the wing was perfectly happy with that line dead center. Still, it's nice to have that option if you want to fine-tune it to your personal style. There are also the more typical three sets of bridle lines vs. the POW's four, so if you like to keep it simple, the Pocket Rocket might be more appealing to you.
The bar itself is very comfortable to hold, with knurled finger positions that also serve to give you a tactile reference for where your grip is. They even help keep your harness line from sliding around.
The bridle lines themselves are quite soft and smooth, almost like well-worn kite lines. It's very nice on your hands as you pull on them to stow your parawing. We can appreciate anything that saves wear and tear on the hands or gloves.
The Pocket Rocket uses shorter bridle lines than the POW. The POW's longer lines are part of the reason it's got more low-end grunt, but that also makes packing it in a little more work, especially if you've got shorter arms. If you catch and release your parawing several times during a session, you might find that a bit easier to do with shorter bridle lines.
Some people also find having color-coded bridle lines a little easier to deal with, especially if you tend to get tangles. The Pocket Rocket uses a different color for each set of lines, while the POW's are all the same color. Ultimately, you'll want to spend some beach time practicing stowing and deploying your wing so that you don't have to deal with tangles very often.
How Do the Canopies Compare Between the POW and Pocket Rocket?
There are a lot of similarities between the sails of these two parawings. Both use a very lightweight, high-performance nylon that is much softer than you'd find on a kite. This makes them more packable. The bag size is a bit deceptive here since the wings can pack down to about a third of that size. That's a good thing, though. You don't have to be super efficient while packing the wing away, and it lets them breathe a bit.
The leading edge of both wings uses a similar profile with flexible nylon battens to help hold the shape. This is why they perform so well going upwind, and it helps improve both the top and bottom end range. Both allow air to equalize between cells, and both leading edges are squared off at the ends, which is pretty common in the high-end designs. It contributes to maintaining the shape of the kite, helps hold air in the sail, and ensures that every square inch of the canopy is working to deliver power rather than tapering off into a floppy, useless section. Tucker can definitely feel a difference in wings with this feature.
Does the Pocket Rocket or the POW Have a Better Bag?
Both bags are pretty basic, but neither is intended as a stash bag for on-the-water use. If you want one, you should pick up a pouch that you like. The Pocket Rocket has a sling type bag, with one whole side being mesh to let sand and moisture out. The POW's bag has a small mesh window and is a little higher quality padded material. If you feel like you need some extra protection for your parawing, then that's a nice feature, but both bags are adequate for everyday use.
Should I Get the Pocket Rocket or the POW?
If you're still undecided, that's okay. Both wings are by experienced design teams that understand what riders want out of a parawing, and you'll likely be thrilled with either one. Many parawings on the market focus solely on the downwind aspect of foiling, but the Pocket Rocket and POW are both very capable in their upwind ability, have above average wind ranges, and are easy to fly one-handed. Tucker was even able to hand them to his kids at the beach, and although they'd never used a parawing before, they were having fun flying them within seconds. Packing all that performance into a beginner-friendly wing is a hallmark of experienced and thoughtful design.
Both wings have taken up permanent residence in Tucker's car and get two thumbs up from him. They're going to maximize your time on the water and get you to the best breaks. If you are mainly paddleboarding and just want a backup power source, they're reliable and stable.
The POW and Pocket Rocket have both been very popular sellers, and depending on how quickly you want to get on the water with one, availability may be the ultimate determining factor for which one you choose. The factories are having a hard time keeping up with the momentum that built up once riders started reviewing them. MACkite usually has stock of one or the other if you don't have a strong preference between the two, but if you've managed to make up your mind, then more will be along soon if your choice is sold out.
What We Got Wrong About the 2025 Duotone Evo D/Lab LTD
Jake's back with a quick follow-up to add some more details about the Limited Edition Evo D/LAB, specifically the blue Aluula material.
Why Is the Blue Aluula Really a Limited Run?
Initially, the guys thought it was a limited run due to cosmetic issues with the first run of blue Aluula. They could see some lighter areas that looked like crease marks and took those to be a flaw in the manufacturing process, but it turns out that's a common trait of Aluula and not a defect at all. It's present in gold Aluula as well, but it's not as noticeable.
The blue Aluula D/TX material is currently in very limited supply, which is why there isn't enough to do the full 2026 Evo D/LAB run in blue. However, in the future you should expect to see the updated Aluula not only in blue, but in other colors as well on both kites and wings. Yep, they've unlocked the ability to use Aluula in different colors. Grey, black, green, and pink are all possibilities now. And, of course, it just wouldn't be Duotone without some purple!
Should I get the Limited Edition Evo D/LAB or Wait?
The Limited Edition Evo D/LAB gives you a chance to get your hands on the new D/TX Aluula early, so if you're a performance-oriented rider looking to pull off double loops, this is a great chance to go hands-on with the new material. As we mentioned in the first video, Duotone recommends trimming it in a bit to prevent backstalling, and that'll make it into a performance freeride kite.
Once we get another windy day, we're going to take our demo out with it trimmed in to see how it rides, so stay tuned for another update!
2025 Duotone Evo D/Lab LTD Blue Aluula | Turbocharged or Too Much?
If you subscribe to our newsletter or follow our YouTube channel or blog, then you know that there's been a bit of hype about Duotone's new blue Aluula (which we've taken the liberty of dubbing "Bluula") Evo D/LAB kite. Dustin and Jake both finally got a chance to get a session on it to get a sense of how it flies and who it's for.
What Is the "Bluula" Evo D/LAB?
The blue Aluula isn't just a new color; it's actually a limited run of the latest version of the Aluula material called D/TX. You can pump it up to 10 PSI, and the leading edge is narrower and stiffer for reduced drag, which translates into a faster kite. It's got a new 6-point bridle system for a precise feel.
Because this run is so limited, it's only being released in the U.S. in sizes 8, 9, and 10m, and when they're gone, they're gone. However, it's the same design as the upcoming 2026 Evo D/LAB which will be released with gold Aluula, so this is really a sort of early preview of next year's model.
What Did Dustin Think About the Evo D/LAB?
Dustin took the 10m on a 30-mile downwinder in 25-30 knots. Right away he found he could boost huge on it, and the kite was very fast. However, it's not a park-and-ride kite and he had to be ready to react at all times. He felt like it was on full throttle the entire time.
Dustin also experienced a fair amount of stalling, which seemed strange on a premium kite. He reached out to Duotone and found that you need to trim the kite, and that should eliminate that issue. But he loved the big boost and just how fast the kite was.
How Was Jake's Session on the Evo D/LAB?
When Dustin arrived at the end of his downwinder, Jake was already out with the Reedin HyperModel 12m and was riding fully depowered on it. He took over the 10m Evo D/LAB from Dustin and found that it didn't have quite as much power as he'd anticipated it would, so it seems to have lost a bit on the low end.
However, it's supposed to have more top end, which is in line with its performance-oriented design. There's always some give-and-take, and turning the performance up to 11 is going to cost something somewhere. This kite trades some of the accessibility of other Evo models for maximized performance.
Jake also encountered the stalling that Dustin mentioned. As long as it had good apparent wind, it performed very well, though. Next time, he'll try trimming it in a bit to see if he can get it tuned to the conditions and get the full performance out of the kite.
Like Dustin, Jake found the Evo D/LAB to be boosty and reactive. It did a great job pivoting and he was able to move it around very precisely in the waves. But as Dustin mentioned, you need to stay active while flying this kite, otherwise you can stall and lose speed.
Duotone claims this kite can do double loops, and that may very well be true with how fast and reactive it is. That's a bit outside Jake's style of riding so he wasn't able to test that, but he didn't doubt it was possible.
Who Is the Evo D/LAB For?
Honestly, this kite isn't for everyone. If you like a park-and-ride experience where you can ride the low end and you liked the overall versatility of the original Evo D/LAB, then the Evo SLS is going to provide that feel for you now.
This year's Evo D/LAB feels dramatically different, and with Sky Solbach having taken over designing the kite from Ralf Groesel, that's no surprise. Sky is an absolute ripper, and he's infused some of that DNA into the 2025 Evo D/LAB. If you liked pushing the original Evo D/LAB to its performance limits, then this is going to be a welcome update for you.
The 2025 Evo D/LAB likes windy days, and you'll be able to jump and loop all you want on it. It's not a true successor to last year's Evo D/LAB, but rather an evolution of it for those who like to go full throttle and ride aggressively.
If you want to take your riding to the next level, the blue Aluula Evo D/LAB is that high performance kite to get you there, but be aware that it will take a lot of focus for you to get that performance out of it. It's a turbocharged kite that's fast, lofty, and pivoty if you have the skill level to take advantage of it.
Dustin and Jake are high intermediate level riders and felt more comfortable on the Evo SLS. That speaks to how different the Evo D/LAB is; it's not simply a lighter, stiffer version of the Evo SLS, but really a different kite altogether, with each serving a distinct type of rider.
2025 Duotone Evo D/LAB Limited Edition "Bluula" Kite | First Impressions?
If you want to take a good kite and make it even better, replacing the frame with Aluula is a great place to start. That's what Duotone has done with the Evo D/LAB, but you could be forgiven for not recognizing it right away. We've grown so used to seeing that bright yellow, but Duotone has released the first limited edition Blue Aluula fabric, or "Bluula", as we at MACkite like to call it. This kite is only available in the US, so you may want to preorder if you plan to rock this special colorway.
2025 Duotone Evo D/LAB "Bluula" Features
We'll be back with a full on-the-water review soon, but for now let's go over what Duotone says we can expect from this kite.
The Aluula D/TX material is stronger and stiffer than your typical leading edge material, and both those traits translate into a slimmed-down leading edge. Because it's stronger, you can pump it up to 10 PSI to hold the shape of the smaller leading edge, and the fabric's stiffness helps as well. A thinner leading edge is going to have a lot less drag over its span, resulting in a faster kite, which is great news for looping.
The Evo D/LAB is also expected to gain some top end, giving you a wider wind range for each size. Also new for 2025 is a 6-point bridle for a more precise feel.
It's expected to have higher jumps, faster loops, and longer distance. This is Duotone's all-around kite, so these features should be something almost any rider can appreciate.
If blue's not your color, then sit tight. The 2026 version that releases later this year is expected to return to the classic gold Aluula leading edge and struts.
2025 North Code Zero Pro | Fast Turns, Light-Wind Power, and Big Stoke!
Fans of Dustin, rejoice! He's returned at long last from a back injury he sustained in October. It was a long road to recovery from a herniated L1-S5, but he's back in the saddle- er, harness, that is. He wasted no time getting out on the water and taking the new North Code Zero Pro for a spin with a foil. The white canopy with a black leading edge makes a good first impression with its clean and sharp look, so how does its performance stack up?
What's New on the 2025 North Code Zero Pro?
The kite has a more swept-back shape and redefined bridle system to give it more control, speed and power, and Dustin and Jeff did notice that while they were riding. It pivots incredibly well with light bar pressure. The deep canopy lets it float down the line, which is just what you want in a foil kite. And for those of you who like a little encouragement as you progress, the canopy's flutter sounds just like a round of applause. Yay, you!!
Dustin and Jeff's Review
The North Code Zero Pro stands out in the lineup of one-strut kites for foiling. It gives you the low end you need to get up and on foil, and then it just floats up high without wanting to fall out of the sky. It's ready and waiting when you need it, giving you lots of freedom to foil.
You can feel confident that the Code Zero Pro will loop reliably. It pivots hard and rockets right back up. It cuts upwind with good speed. While the dev team is looking to address the flutter in the canopy, it doesn't feel like it affects the kite's performance at all.
It has an impressive wind range. The guys were out on 9m kites in 13-16 mph, but Jeff felt like he could even have taken a 7m out since he's flown down to 10 mph on the 9m. A lot of the time, a foil is the best way to get out on those light wind days, and a kite that feels like it'll stay in the sky with little input and do what you want it to do in those conditions is just what you want.
Another plus for light wind is its relaunch. It's easy. And the kite's ability to pivot serves you well on those near crashes. You can get to the point that you're almost down and still flip the kite over and pull it back into the sky. Jeff actually touched the water but rolled the kite over and brought it back up, all while staying on foil. Whew!
The deep canopy gives you amazing control. You can put the kite anywhere you want and it doesn't feel like it's going to fall. Bring it low, then push the bar out and watch it shoot back up.
Jeff's been doing a lot more winging than kiting lately, but he had a lot of fun just cruising around, riding upwind and then back down, and catching a few waves. Dustin even noticed Jeff going hands-free for a bit with the kite parked as he pumped on his foil. It's definitely a park-and-ride kite.
Jeff was also able to ride with it depowered. A lot of kites lose maneuverability when you do that, but it still handled very well.
Dustin took out a 7m and an 855 foil on a 120L board with wind in the low 20s and had a great time. If he touched down, the board had the surface area to get him right back up. Even though the Code Zero Pro likes to sit in the sky, he was able to backstall it just a bit to help with touchdowns and takeoffs to avoid submarining the nose.
Is the North Code Pro Zero Right for Me?
Kite foiling is still alive and kicking, and having the right kite is a big piece of the puzzle. One-strut kites have come a long way, and compared to other foiling kites with one or zero struts, the North Code Zero Pro actually lets you feel the power when you do a power stroke. You don't need to let it breathe for fear of choking off the power.
The Code Zero Pro is available in a very wide range of sizes, starting at just 3.5m and topping out at 14m, with the exception of a 12 or 13m. If you like what the kite offers, there will definitely be a quiver to suit your riding area and foil setup.
Summary
Jeff and Dustin applaud the kite that applauds right back. It makes a great foiling partner and handles just about any wind conditions. If you haven't been on your foil for a while or have taken a break from kiting to try winging, the Code Pro Zero makes it easy to get back into your kite groove and feel like a pro.
The Most Boat-Friendly Wakefoil System? Slingshot One Lock Gets It Done!
If you've been following our wakeboarding videos or blogs, then you probably already know Cole. No less passionate about the sport is his brother Caden, a junior at MSU who's joined the MACkite team for the summer. Caden's had a chance to try the Slingshot One-Lock system behind the boat and see how it feels.
Is the Slingshot One-Lock Right for a Wake Boat?
Before he even got in the water, Caden was loving the One-Lock system. Everything packed down flat into a small bag that fits in any car and can stash right under a back seat on the boat. When it was his turn to ride, Caden pulled it out and put it together in a few seconds right on the boat. There was no hardware to keep track of or watch roll under a seat, and no tool to forget at the dock. No one was giving up a seat for a bulky foilboard setup, and no upholstery was slashed trying to maneuver an assembled foilboard to the back of the boat.
Putting an assembled foilboard in the rack on the boat is a bit of a sketchy affair. It takes up a lot of space and can jostle out when you hit a roller. With the One-Lock coming apart and going back together in less than 10 seconds, there is no need to leave it assembled.
There's even one less piece since the front and back wings join in the middle to create the fuselage. With real estate being so tight in a boat, fewer pieces is always a good thing, and the One-Lock lets you get away with just four, including the hardware (because there is none). Board, mast, front and back wing, and that's it!
When you're on a boat, you often have multiple people wanting to ride. They're different sizes and they might be at different ability levels. Some people might like to pump around the boat while others want to glide on the wake. Cole started out on the 1525 Glide and it was great for pumping but really a bit too large for him behind the boat. He came in and Caden grabbed it and swapped it for the 925 Glide in a couple seconds and Cole was off and riding again.
Is the One-Lock a Good Foil Behind a Boat?
In terms of ease-of-assembly and making the most of the space on a boat, the One-Lock stands alone. But are you trading off performance to gain that convenience? While Caden admitted that it wasn't the very top foil he'd ever ridden behind a boat, he was able to do everything he wanted to do without feeling like he was being held back. Both front wings were great for pumping, and the 925 also turned and carved very well.
The 925 had a little faster cadence for pumping and might not be for less athletic people, but even without having ridden since the fall, Caden popped right up without any trouble at all and was able to pump around. It was forgiving and didn't fight him; it just responded to his input and carved.
Caden's found that a lot of high aspect wings tend to want to rise up, requiring some front foot pressure to keep them flying level, but the Glide wings he tried did a great job of staying level on their own.
He feels that anyone could hop on and go. He had a friend try the One-Lock, and she was surprised at what a great time she had on it. She normally rides a GoFoil 1100 with a larger surface area, and she was able to pump and ride two or three wakes back.
Caden was using the Turbo 180 stabilizer, and he'd like to try something a bit smaller to see how it turns. When he had a bigger wake behind him, it almost felt a little draggy, and he thought a smaller rear wing would help with that.
The 8.8 aspect ratio on the front wing was a big help anytime Caden needed to recover. He found it could pump out of almost any situation he got into.
Summary
The One-Lock's main selling point is its speed and ease of setup, along with how portable that makes it, but that doesn't mean it can't perform. The wings are all carbon with the option for a carbon or aluminum mast, and they're replacing Slingshot's Hover Glide and Phantasm lines. The price point is surprisingly affordable, even with the all-carbon option.
There are higher-performing foils out there, but most people aren't riding at a level where it's noticeable enough to justify the extra cost. However, they are going to notice being able to get out on the water faster and not having to deal with tools or hardware. They're going to notice that extra water time leading to faster progression. They're going to notice being able to swap wings and being able to stow the foil anywhere because it comes apart so effortlessly. And on the boat especially, that's priceless.
David is staying in a Cometa Home in Egypt and has a new board-off tip for us. Doing a fin grab board-off is not that much harder than doing one from the handle, even though it feels more intimidating. Holding your board further away from your body looks even more impressive, and you can get some great POV shots from a camera mounted to your board. Smile!
Step-by-Step Trick Breakdown:
1. Get a Grip
As you approach the peak of your jump, reach your back hand down toward the back heelside corner of the board (the corner nearest that hand). Wrap your fingertips securely around the fin and press your thumb into the top of the board. That'll give you a lot of cotrol over the board and make sure it doesn't slip out of your hand.
2. Kick Your Shoes Off
Pull the board off your feet and style your board-off however you like. This can be as simple as swinging the board away and then back up to your feet.
3. Tick-Tock
The key to getting your board back to your feet is to swing it away and high up, then let it swing back to your feet like a pendulum. Because you're holding the board at one end, it's very difficult to get enough leverage to simply lift it back up to your feet. If you swing it back and then forward, it'll want to hover right in front of your feet for half a moment.
4. Put One Foot in Front of the Other
You don't need to put both feet back in at the same time. Just get your front foot hooked back in, and then it'll be easy to get the other foot in.
5. Spot Your Landing and Ride Off
Once you've got the other steps down, this should come naturally.
Practice Makes Perfect
This trick is actually a little easier in the air where your natural momentum aids in bringing the board back to your feet, but that doesn't mean you can't get some land practice in. Just practice in the grass or over a pool so you don't damage your board or yourself if you drop it or lose your balance.
This is a fun trick that looks amazing. It's well worth learning and will elevate your big air game to the next level. Give it a try and see what you think!
SABfoil Sea Devil Hydrofoil | Stable with the Stab, Sketchy Without?
The SABfoil Sea Devil is a wing that looks a bit like a B-2 bomber at first glance, which is pretty cool in and of itself. It's not the first monofoil to hit the market, but it's got a twist that makes this wing more accessible than others. Tucker and Jeff were able to get demos of the 840 and 1040, and they put them through their paces.
What Is the Sea Devil?
The Sea Devil is a monocoque foil design with an optional stabilizer. The idea is that it's two foils in one, as it has completely different riding characteristics with and without the tail.
The front wing has a very high surface area: 2445cm2 for the 1040 and 2122cm2 for the 840. The aspect ratio is quite low at 4.42 for the larger wing and just 3.3 for the smaller one.
The Sea Devil works with the Kraken M8 mast, which connects directly into the wing since there is no fuselage. The stabilizer inserts into the back of the wing, or you can use the included plug to ride without a stabilizer.
How Does It Ride?
Jeff took the Sea Devil out with the stabilizer and had a great 45-minute session without falling in once. It was so stable and smooth that he didn't have to put much thought into the foil and could just ride around, flagging out the wing and doing his jibes and tacks. Although the shape of the wing looks quite strange, a lot of the lift comes from the V-shaped section just as it would from any other wing, so it's not going to feel as radically different as you might expect.
Then Jeff came in and took off the stabilizer. He had no trouble popping up, but right away he noticed that foot placement was much more important due to the foil's sensitivity from front to back. It was much more slippery, and he did fall in on his first jibe due to too much front foot pressure. He got right back up, though, and stayed up for the next 30 minutes. However, he had to put a lot more thought into what he was doing.
In exchange for that effort, Jeff got more glide with the reduced drag. It wasn't a big wave day, but he was still able to flag out and turn much more easily. It was very pivoty without the stabilizer on.
Tucker already had some experience with the Triton monofoil, as well as riding some standard wings without stabilizers just to play around and see how they felt, so he had a pretty good idea of what to expect and the twitchy pitch and roll came as no surprise. He found that he really needed to be on point with his balance since the Sea Devil has less of a stabilizing lip on the wing as compared to the Triton's tail section. The Sea Devil isn't quite as self-stabilizing that way.
A lot of the Sea Devil's stability comes from the V-shape and the length of the chord. It wants to follow the energy in the water, so if you're on a clean wave it'll want to glide along with the wave, which is a lot of fun. It's got a loose, flowy skateboard feel.
Now, if you're in choppy conditions or are riding back out through the swell, then you'll feel the foil rise and fall like a bit of a bucking bronco. Without a stabilizer to level that out, the front section catches the energy and makes the ride pitchy. It's not enough to send you flying most of the time, and it shouldn't ruin your ride, but it could feel a bit unnerving when it happens and you don't expect it. Once you get used to it, you'll be able to anticipate it better.
There is also some give and take with the glide. Taking the stabilizer off reduces drag and increases speed, so if you're aiming the foil correctly, you can certainly get better glide. However, if the reduced stability is causing your foil to bob up and down, then you're actually losing efficiency. This will get better over time as you gain the muscle memory to control the foil without the stabilizer.
The Sea Devil has good range for its size. It's got a decent amount of low speed lift and it's quite fast at the top end. While it's not a truly fast foil, even without the stabilizer, it's faster than you would expect for a wing of its size. However, a traditional foil would be a better choice if you want something that's really fast.
Who's It For?
If you've been wanting to try a monofoil design, then this is a great option since you can get a feel for it with the stabilizer "training wheels". Other monofoil designs don't have that option. It's also nice to be able to put the stabilizer on for light wind sessions or days when you want a more chill experience without using up all the energy a monofoil demands.
Does It Live Up to the Hype?
To be straight up, this is a niche design. SABfoil is presenting it as two foils in one, but it really does work best with the stabilizer. Very few people are going to want to invest the time and energy into something this loose when there are other foils that perform as well, if not better, in waves.
That said, this could be interesting to play with behind a wake boat where you've got consistent wave energy. Wingers can spin 360 degrees with the foil in the water, which is kind of a neat trick.
Tucker and Jeff both can ride at a pretty high level now, and they wouldn't make this their top pick for waves. It doesn't have the same performance characteristics and reliability as a more traditional foil setup where you can push into your foil and create speed. This wing is more skaty and directional.
Tucker thinks it's an interesting idea that still has room for improvement, so he's excited to see where future versions take the concept. He'd like to try some smaller stabilizers with shorter fuselage lengths to see how it reacts and whether it can become a good pumping machine.
If you have a clean wave and like to make slow speed directional turns like a slalom course, then the Sea Devil is going to fit the bill. It'll react to your input and go where you point it. It's more like riding a unicycle than a bicycle where you can be a bit more chill. If this sounds interesting to you, give us a call and we'll help you decide if it's a good fit for your foiling goals.
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