My Brands
Dakine Wind and Wetsuits
Dakine has been involved in windsports harnesses and accessories for decades and their current line is industry-leading. I believe Dakine harnesses are superior to other brands and the Pyro is my preferred model. The Pyro harness is stiff behind the lower back while being softer around the edges and sides of the shell. The Connect spreader bar locks into your harness and prevents it from riding up on your torso. Dakine has two wing harness options, the Solo and Fly, and both feature the Hanger Hook that folds out of your way when laying on the board to paddle.
Dakine Wind has so much more to offer beyond harnesses, including their wing foil line and full spread of accessories. I’m excited about the Heckler foil for my personal riding and the Cyclone 2 wing has been a very natural fit for my riding style (mostly surfing waves/rollers). The Charger Foil kit and larger boards make for ideal beginner equipment and you can add your leashes, helmets and impact protection all from one vendor. Dakine was the first producer of foot-straps for windsurfing and continues to lead in the category. They also offer a variety of gloves, helmets, travel bags and vests. The bags are far superior to any others I’ve used or seen, with firm padding, durable exteriors and heavy-duty zippers.
Dakine has also entered the wetsuit market and feature suits that match up to any of their established competitors. From the high-end Cyclone line to the entry-level Quantum suits, there is a perfect option for all men, women and children. The Cyclone suits have excelled in cold-water conditions, with extremely strong seams and neck closures that are designed to avoid any flushing. I have enjoyed using a 1mm Mission top and 2/2 long sleeve shorty in warm conditions and have been very comfortable riding colder conditions in my 4/3 Mission chest-zip and 5/4 Cyclone hooded zip-free.
Cabrinha Kites & Wings
Cabrinha is my preferred brand for kites, wings and boards, and I am proud to supply their products to our dealers. Cabrinha offers a full range of kites, wings, boards and foils to suit any set of conditions and disciplines.
The brand’s roots trace back to Maui, and strapless kitesurfing has always been a priority for the brand. After learning to kite in 2016, I quickly gravitated to videos featuring Evan Netsch, Keahi de Aboitz and Moona Whyte, and am so excited to work with this brand today! Cabrinha continues to push strapless kitesurfing with Theo Demanez, Hendrick Lopes and Charly Martin representing the brand on the GKA world tour.
Cabrinha has adapted well to a changing kite landscape and emergence of wing foiling. The new Nitro kite was released for ‘23 and is designed to meet the needs of modern big air riders. Stijn Mul (@stinokiteboarding) will compete in King of the Air later this year and Cabrinha is determined to score their first victory since Nick Jacobsen in 2017. Hannah Whiteley is a new team rider for ‘23 as well, and she continues to push the level of women in kiteboarding. Cabrinha’s Fusion foil system has received rave reviews since its 2020 introduction, and the Mantis wing has quickly become one of the most popular models on the market. 2023 also brought the signing of Titouan Galea, a 3-time world champion who many consider the best wing foiler in the world!
I haven’t even had a chance to mention the world-class design team, testing group in Maui and the administrative team at HQ in Miami! As talented as all of these team riders are, they’re also amazing people that I was lucky to spend time with this past winter in Mexico at our dealer meeting. I’m really enjoying working with a brand that prioritizes its people as much as any other aspect of the business, and I believe that emphasis on people and relationships is felt by our dealers and end consumers.
U.Go Kite Line Mount
I have used the U.Go kite line mount to capture some incredible photos and video of my own riding. U.Go’s unique design allows your flag-out safety system to function normally, while holding itself in place on your lines. This mount is compatible with all GoPro models, as well as Revl Arc, DJI and similar action cameras. My favorite clips were captured with a Hero 11 Black Mini with Max Lens Mod and horizon lock enabled shooting 9:16 (vertical). The Max Lens Mod with horizon lock keeps the view of the rider level and the lines rotate around the frame of view. The GoPro Hero 9 or newer is best for line mount use, since these models have built-in horizon leveling options. This setup is much lighter than using a GoPro Max or a rotating mount from other vendors, and the Hero 11 Mini helps to shed even more weight! Line mounts do create some limitations due to the weight on the lines and possibility of catching a steering line on the mount during loops. I prefer to use line mounts when I have plenty of wind, don’t plan on looping the kite much and have clear weather for best quality footage. I have never broken a line mount but recommend using a camera leash attached to your center lines to be safe. Recently, I’ve been using U.Go’s 360 mount for most sessions even though I don’t have a 360 camera. The circular shape allows you to loop your kite without worrying about catching a steering line of a corner/edge of the mount.
Request a Gear Consultation
I have helped to outfit many clients to fit their needs across all disciplines and body sizes for both kiteboarding and wing foiling. I’m able to provide exclusive discounts on current-year products and my goal is to set each client up for success to reach their goals.