IanR said..
Well Cauncy

I see the whole Pro Rider thing differently.
I hope the Pro Riders Drive the design of the kite they fly and work with the designers to create a kite they really like and works for them best.

Rather than some accountant with a JIT management philosophy reducing his supply chain, Driving the design of thier Kites

i'm really happy you like kites with a pulleyless bridle, most of them fly great.

IanR talking out of his rear end, again ^^^
"pro riders" are kiters with very high levels of talent, they could ride any of each others, or other top brands and still rip. I've seen one of those top 5 riders, riding my Ozone Reo's, and he ripped same as he did on his sponsors kites, boards and wings.
Some riders are used by designers, if they can communicate well in a common language, others are not. The point is that they get their kites for free and would rip on any of the top brands kites.

Ozone is not dictated to by an accountant with a penchant for JIT manufacturing. The owners are passionate and active kiters and paragliders and they themselves in conjunction with their designers and team drive the design of the kites.
They have created a very efficient supply chain. JIT has both advantages and disadvantages compared to other methods of manufacture and supply, but we think its advantages far outweigh any downside.
Here is some info about the team and philosophy behind the Ozone brand and products. The info below was written several years ago, so its about 18 yrs since the factory was established. One of the partners has a Vietnamese wife and they are instrumental in the running of the factory. There are now approx 1300 employees, all paid over award rates, with medical benefits and super (almost unheard of in Vietnam) + daily meals provided. Major incentives are provided and awarded regularly for fault free production, and there is a triple check system within the factory at every step in production. All product that is ordered from suppliers for production is quarantined and QR tested before release into the factory production areas. I visited the factories in late 2016 and saw all of the amazing JIT systems first hand, and also sat down and had lunch with employees, as well as attending an awards party attended by over 1000 workers, with the owners.

Kamikuza said..

Ozone Kites Aus said..

"pro riders" are kiters with very high levels of talent, they could ride any of each others, or other top brands and still rip.

Aren't you the same guy who insisted that the top racers are winning because of the gear they use, and not, as I suggested, that they are wildly talented?

Oh yes, there's one: "... its clear which kites are consistently in the top 5, and that all that matters." Selective emphasis mine

Totally different sport really. Racing is probably always a combination of skill and $$$/equipment, whether its kite racing, cars, whatever.

Kitesurfing in waves, with dedicated wave kites, I still reckon any of the top 5-10 riders would rip on any brand of gear and I've seen at least one instance of this in real life. The judging of kitesurfing events is also completely different to kite racing isn't it Kevin? Coming first consistently is not subjectively decided, is it?

Ozone Kites Aus said..



IanR talking out of his rear end, again ^^^
"pro riders" are kiters with very high levels of talent, they could ride any of each others, or other top brands and still rip. I've seen one of those top 5 riders, riding my Ozone Reo's, and he ripped same as he did on his sponsors kites, boards and wings.
Some riders are used by designers, if they can communicate well in a common language, others are not. The point is that they get their kites for free and would rip on any of the top brands kites.

Ozone is not dictated to by an accountant with a penchant for JIT manufacturing. The owners are passionate and active kiters and paragliders and they themselves in conjunction with their designers and team drive the design of the kites.
They have created a very efficient supply chain. JIT has both advantages and disadvantages compared to other methods of manufacture and supply, but we think its advantages far outweigh any downside.
Here is some info about the team and philosophy behind the Ozone brand and products. The info below was written several years ago, so its about 18 yrs since the factory was established. One of the partners has a Vietnamese wife and they are instrumental in the running of the factory. There are now approx 1300 employees, all paid over award rates, with medical benefits and super (almost unheard of in Vietnam) + daily meals provided. Major incentives are provided and awarded regularly for fault free production, and there is a triple check system within the factory at every step in production. All product that is ordered from suppliers for production is quarantined and QR tested before release into the factory production areas. I visited the factories in late 2016 and saw all of the amazing JIT systems first hand, and also sat down and had lunch with employees, as well as attending an awards party attended by over 1000 workers, with the owners.

Bawhaahaa!!!
To Quote Hamlet
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks"
Act 3, scene 2. Spoken by Queen Gertrude
lol

IanR said..

cauncy said..
How would you explain some of norths later renditions of kites

Beyond your abliities and talent.

Why didn't you demo the Vagas or the Dice?
From what you say I would have thought those would have worked for you.

Just noticed you got a little personal there ,
but a good point of how the kite industry and marketing work, you'd know with your bad teeth and ranger hair, how many times have you missed out to someone a bit more pleasing to the eye,
you know you can perform but you never get the chance