Our newly appointed Spanish distributor Iain Hannay from Barcelona based www.kitefrenzy.com took off to the kitesurfing mecca of Tarifa last week to hook up with Ozone pro rider Sigve Botnen. With him he took the full quiver of Instincts for the shops and pros of Tarifa to test and give feedback about the kite.
Sigve had already been there for a week before doing a photo shoot with Dutch kiteboard and clothing maker Brunotti who have recently taken him on as their team rider too. Nice one Sigve! The conditions in Tarifa were tough, there was a fierce Levante wind blowing which made most of the beaches in the area off shore or cross off so they headed up to Caņos de Mecca, a chilled out town about 50kms North on the way to Cadiz where the wind direction was at least favourable if not just as fierce. Iain had organised for the shops and schools to come and try the kite out, they were all nervous about taking out a kite they hadnt flown in such big conditions but after they saw Sigve in complete control of the 7m and the 9m they were soon hot on his heel and putting the kite through its paces.
The feedback was incredible, the wave riders loved it, there was a 2 meter swell which they were slashing and carving, the school instructors who tested it liked the confidence boosting gust control which is always off putting for beginners, even the freestylers managed to get some unhooked action when the gusty wind calmed a little in the evenings.
Quotes from riders after first test… “It feels like I have owned this kite all my life.. it feels like it is mine”, “It drives like a Ferrari, so smooth and so strong”, “I could fly this in ANY conditions (about the 7m)”, “I need this kite, how long does it take to order? I want the colour that takes the shortest time to arrive!!”
Every day Iain, Sigve and Tom Ligonnet (photographer) set up an Ozone camp on the beach and by the last day the small camp had grown to a big group of people queuing up for a test ride. Word is out…..
After dropping Sigve off at the airport for his return to Norway Iain took the coast road home to Barcelona via Malaga, Mar Menor, Oliva, Gandia and Valencia getting in touch with kite shops along the way and giving them the Instinct experience. Everyone was impressed and there were direct sales to people who came in from a test and didnt want to part with the kite! He even had a session in Fuengirola where the 7m 9m 11m and 13m were ripping at the same time.
Iain is continuing his mission round Spain and will be in the North West next weekend unfortunately without Sigve to show how it is done so he will just have to get wet himself.
If you are in Spain and would like a test of the Instinct just give him a ring +34 649104557, he might be on a beach near you.
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