TELL ME ABOUT IT: Eleveight Process C+ V5 and Master C+ V6

What are the key changes to the latest models?
Aside from some incremental changes in the layup and the use of different carbon materials, we focused a lot on using more sustainable materials to reduce the ecological footprint. Both boards are constructed with new plant-based elements including a sustainably sourced Paulownia wood core and new GreenPoxy bio-resin. We also worked on the packaging with a plastic-free policy to limit our environmental impact.

The boards are produced in Europe – do you find this gives you more control over production and sustainability?
Since day one, our twintip lineup has been made in Europe. We established a great working relationship with our supplier which has led to many advantages. One huge benefit is the easy communication between all of us. The factory has extensive knowledge about composite construction and the team helps a lot with the recommendation of new materials, the implementation of some technical innovations and the general organization of the work flow. That leads to an increase in efficiency but also in quality. We can definitely say that our twintip range is produced with state-of-the-art production standards and control procedures. Our warranty rate for our twintips is extremely low which reflects this great craftsmanship and commitment to detail from our supplier. Additionally, our European production also helps with flexibility in the ordering process and related lead times. In Europe the shipping times are much shorter and so we also have more flexibility in the ordering process. The delivery distances are also much shorter which leads to a reduction in the ecological footprint.

Who has been involved in shaping and testing the boards?
When it comes to construction and shaping then we have to give all the props to Franz. He is the mastermind behind all our twintip boards and he is driven by his passion and has long-term knowledge in all kinds of composite board production. Franz easily translates our vision of performance boards for specific riding styles into a distinct board lineup where each board fits into a riding and performance category. Franz is also a hell of a rider and tests each product multiple times with different prototypes. But he also communicates with our global test team and we send different prototypes around the world to get the feedback of different riders with different styles. The testing backbone is Arthur Guillebert and the French team who do a lot of work in the extreme segments like freestyle and Big Air.

You’ve just added a brand-new kite to your range! Tell us a bit about it.
The Big Air segment went through the roof in the last few years and the performance level reached a different league. To reflect the discipline and achievements we introduced the XS five years ago as it’s made for extreme boosting and looping. Over the years the sport changed and so has our XS. To reflect the latest high performance standards we are now introducing the XS Pro with the latest Aluula Gold material. We tested Aluula in the last three years in different models, but the latest updates from Aluula with their own developed reinforcement structure were what convinced our R&D team. The XS Pro follows the same DNA as the XS, but offers a more dynamic and direct flying experience. Thanks to different materials, from Aluula to the XT Light in the inflatable frame structure, we have achieved very direct flying performance with extremely fast loops and a ton of vertical lift. Our Pro version is aimed at ambitious kiters who seek outstanding performance and want to push the limits of possibility