Eleveight 2021 Kiteboarding Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Kiteboarding 2021 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Eleveight
Interviewee: N/A

What are the main trends in kiteboarding, in terms of riding categories (big air, wave, foil…)?
We see a trend in the big air / old scholl kiteboarding. People like to boost big airs and try some board offs and kite loops. The Wing market seems to take off also big time.

In what category have you seen the biggest growth so far in 2020/2021 and why?
Apart from the wing market which is a bit detached from the kite market, I see the biggest potential in the normal freeride segment. Riders want to have fun in the water boost big airs.

In what category do you expect the biggest growth in 2021 and why?
Also here the wing segment. But if you be more kite specific I see the biggest growth in the big air freeride segment. We developed our XS kite specific for this market and we could feel a great demand after the product release.

Which of your Kites are selling well in 2021 and why?
Our whole range had an increase in sales figures in all segments. Outstanding is still our freeride kite the RS. Riders like to have a very versatile kite that can perform in all conditions. The RS is our powerhouse and tackles all riding styles.

We also introduced a new kite the XS which is a high performance boosting kite. This kite took the market by storm and we were sold out after some weeks. The XS is the modern interpretation of a high-performance old school kite, fine-tuned for extreme big airs.

Can you run us through your innovations in kite construction, materials and design for 2021? Which has been most popular so far?
Weight reduction is a keyword this season. We worked on overall weight reduction across all our models. We also introduced a new material the XT Light which is 15% lighter for all parts of our inflatable structure.

Are there any trends in terms of kite design, construction and materials that the entire industry seems to be progressing towards?
Weight reduction – most companies testing new materials at the moment to reduce weight

Which of your boards are selling well in 2021 and why?
Like in the kite segment we have steady figures for our freeride TT boards. It is all about fun, progress and comfort.

Also, our handmade surfboard from Portugal remains a top seller. Riders like the specific surfboard feel which we can offer.

Can you run us through your innovations in terms of board design, materials and construction for 2021? Which have been most popular so far?
We are coming up with a new grab handle system for our TT range which allows the rider to change the rocker and flex of the board “on the fly”. The system is very innovative and I can tell you too much about it but you can change the board characteristic with one little turn of the grab handle.

What graphics / art collabs are you featuring in your 2021 collection?
Eleveight remains the same in their vision. Technical and clean design.

Do you any updates in terms of sustainability in your production and shipping processes?
We try to decrease packaging (unnecessary plastic) in the production process. Furthermore, we work with leading raw material suppliers (e.g. our ripstop id from Japan) which secure not only the highest standard in quality but also a better production process. We also try to source products from Europe to decrease transportation ways.

How are you helping retailers sell your product and which method of help seems to be the most effective?
The personal level is very important for us. Part of our jobs is to visit the shops and have the right product training. We also push big DEMO days, so the customers can try our products and we can create a good image on the beach and help the shops to drive sales.

Please describe each of your 3 most important highlight pieces that retailers should definitely order.
RS – A highly versatile delta-hybrid powerhouse, the RS is designed for limitless freeride performance with distinctive surf and freestyle characteristics.
XS – Breaking Big Air boundaries, the XS has an extreme boost that takes even the most demanding adrenaline addicts to new levels.
Master – The Master is a high-performance freeride to freestyle twin-tip for riders with a powerful style wanting to boost huge airs or send handle-pass tricks.