The 2013 North Evo is a 5-strut mid-aspect delta-hybrid kite and is targeted as the all-around kite in North's line.

The 2013 Liquid Force NRG is a very flat 4-strut high-aspect kite. The most obvious change compared to the previous NRG is that the rear lines now connect directly to the kite.

The Envy has been a popular kite for the past few years and it remains a relatively low aspect 3-strut all-around kite for 2013.

For 2013 the F-One Bandit 6 remains a 3-strut Delta kite targeted for all riders and all styles of riding.

The Vector is a fairly low aspect 3-strut kite marketed as a simple all-around minimalist kite. This is the price point kite in the Cabrinha line.

The Switchblade is a medium aspect 5-strut kite marketed as an all-around performance kite. New for 2013 Cabrinha has introduced a new large-diameter inflation valve that is easier to use than the previous Cabrinha valve.

The 2013 Best TS is a medium aspect kite 5-strut kite. The TS V2 features the Best-exclusive Double Core RS canopy fabric.

The 2013 Best Kahoona V5 is a 4-strut medium aspect kite. Our test Kahoona was the standard version meaning that it lacked a single-point inflation system.

The Varial X is a medium-high aspect five-strut kite marketed as high-performance bridled-C design (Airush calls it a SL-C).

The Lithium has been a popular kite for the past few years and remains a fairly low-aspect 3-strut kite targeted as an all-around performer for 2013. Overall the kite is very similar to the 2012 model with some small refinements including flexible trailing edge battens to address trailing edge flutter and bridle adjustments to change the kite's turning speed and bar pressure.

We recently tested the new Airush AFT Team Pads and Straps, giving our testers a chance to put down their surfboards and spend a few sessions riding a twin tip.

Elevation Kiteboarding's Mark Bavis has been throwing unique tricks while kiting on his skimboard and Elevation is now offering the Beach Dog Kite Skim. A kiteboarding-specific skimboard, the Beach Dog Kite Skim is basically the same board that Mark has been riding.

While in Hood River, Slingshot handed us two brand new 2013 Tyrant surfboards to test. Both boards share the exact same shape, but differences between how the boards ride were very noticeable.