North Sails focuses on kiteboarding

(July 20, 2018) – North Technology Group (NTG) has revealed it will make a significant investment in its brand North Kiteboarding – bringing the design, innovation and manufacturing of its products home under the umbrella of the group and ending its third party licensing agreement.

NTG will support North Kiteboarding’s newly established leadership team to produce a full product range; sharing and harnessing North’s unrivalled technology innovations across all components of wind-powered craft – foils, technology, masts and boards.

NTG originated with North Sails in 1957 but now also includes North Sails Collection, North Thin Ply Technology, Edgewater Power Boats, Hall Spars, Southern Spars, and Future Fibres.

The first new North Kiteboarding product range is currently under development and will be released globally in August 2019.

“We have so much technology within our group which we can better share with our fellow lovers of wind and waves,” said Tom Whidden, CEO of NTG. “Sailing and kiting are equipment-driven sports – when you have the best gear, being out there in the wind, on the water is so much better – in fact it’s the greatest feeling on earth.”

NTG’s recent world firsts and successes with America’s Cup hydrofoiling, masts and North 3Di composite sail innovations as well as Solar airplane prototyping present exciting opportunities to adapt and cross over into kiteboarding, that can only be fully realised by producing their own gear through the North Kiteboarding brand.

The new leadership team behind North Kiteboarding is made up of experienced industry innovators and leaders, determined to make kiteboarding more accessible, sustainable, innovative and exciting.

“Our team is working very hard to leverage years of experience and passion to develop a high performance range of gear,” said David Mead, Director of Manufacturing & Operations at North Kiteboarding. “It’s awesome to be working closely with the NTG’s composite engineers and designers, as well as leveraging the unmatched aero and hydro expertise the Group has within its portfolio. It’s a very exciting time for the sport.”

The company will make further announcements late 2018. Additional information at www.northkb.com.

Source: Ben Tucker, Hustle and Bustle