GIN KITEBOARDINGNEW MILESTONE
Now is officially time to announce the absorption of Flymaax by Gin Kiteboarding
About two years ago, we were already involved in both the ram air kite and the freeride sector, but something was missing. Having new challenges is what drives us here at Gin Kiteboarding, and besides our Athletes and Ambassadors, our staff members are also truly passionate about competing. We were then all looking for a challenge.
Right at that time, World Sailing announced that kitefoiling would be an Olympic sailing discipline. Entering that sector would have been a huge asset for us and would have opened many opportunities. Our new challenge was just there, right in front of us. We would produce the Formula 1 of kites.
To carry out our ambition, we chose to rely on the world’s most performant existing kite brand on the market; Flymaax. That strategic choice was made with the purpose of stepping in the market with the best possible foundation, and to keep developing and improving the products as far as possible with the help of our internal engineers, together with our race Athletes.
As a result, not only did we strongly enter the race sector, but thanks to the high-end level in race kite development achieved, we have been able to apply those technological advances to more widely accessible kites, resulting in uniquely performing freeride leisure products, such as our iconic Instinct HB. It is a freerace kite, combining the best of the racing and the freeride world. It uses the same technology as the Boom v2, while remaining easy and instinctive to fly.
Now is the time to rebrand our products. The Boom V2 will from now on have the Gin Kiteboarding logo, and we look forward to seeing our Formula 1 kites perform with you.
CONVERSATION WITHJONAS HILLER
Owner of Gin Kiteboarding and former international hockey goalkeeper
When did Gin Kiteboarding decide to buy Flymaax?
It is hard to pinpoint exactly when we bought Flymaax. Doing so was a long process that we initiated by collaborating and creating something together. We already had a market presence on tube kites but wanted to expand it with ram air kites. We needed to expand our portfolio.
Why was this strategy made?
We were pleased to be present on the Olympic Class, which was a great asset for our brand. The brand aims to bring the kite forward by developing the brand and new products. It is all about staying innovative and making better products.
It is actually true for any sport. As an ice hockey player, I had the best products on the field, and amateur athletes wanted the best product to practice and be as good as professionals. It was a good challenge for us.
You have been at the Olympics as an Athlete before. What do you think about the opportunity to be present at the Olympics as a brand?
Unlike competing as an athlete at the Olympics, this time we will be competing as a brand. And as a brand, it is exciting to have a chance to be there at the Olympics for foiling in kiteboarding! In that event where the world’s best riders will be present and racing at the highest speed, I think it’s crucial to be able to showcase your brand. The kitefoiling event is a good experience for the riders and for the development of the sport. It’s a major accomplishment in the field.
What do you think about the kitefoil race field and how far do you see that discipline going?
The fact that it will be part of the Olympics shows how much this sport is evolving. With young eyes on the field, it is a sport with plenty of potential life from the riders, the brands, and the sailing evolution. There are people coming from other disciplines to race with the fastest athletes in the world, as it is the fastest discipline in the field of sailing. There are also a number of new foil sports that are evolving, and the competition is changing as well.
How do you feel about our Gin Race Athletes’ growth?
As a small brand with a small team, we have good intentions. Having all the big athletes on your team is hard, but we want to grow the ones we have. This isn’t just about giving away kites and letting our athletes compete. It is about following them and making them grow on our team. A few of our athletes truly have the potential to go to the Olympics and win medals, which is exciting!
