with Raglan roots in 1998. We love kiteboarding - it’s a mix of those airsports and water sports. “I married a Kiwi and came back to meet her family in 2005 and fell in love with Raglan.” Rob, who was the extent of the Design Team at that time, moved to Raglan during 2008. “They thought I was nuts moving the team here, but we made it work because we all wanted to be in a place together,” he explains. Local Raglan team Ozone was in its early days, there was a lot of competition and they were just starting to find their feet. As the company grew, Ozone started employing locally. Now, a team of five are based out of Raglan, including top New Zealand kiteboarder and Mount Maunganui’s own Torrin Bright. Ozone employed Torrin when he was 17 and he’s now their product manager and has been instrumental in their media content creation, while graphic designer Andy Banks is Raglan born and bred. ”We have ended up with an incredible team and running a global brand from little old Raglan,” says Rob. “It’s a great feeling” The latest development is the opening of their first flagship store and school in Raglan that carries the full range of their designs across all of the sports Ozone designs - Kiteboarding, paragliding, speedflying, paramotoring, paddleboarding, hang-gliding. It is also a fully-functional school for all the sports they are obviously so passionate about. Ozone’s now a global brand, with offices in the South of France, Barcelona and a factory employing 1300 people in Vietnam as well as the head office in Raglan. Leah Rogers
Kiting and flying family Ozone NZ Rebecca and Matt Taggart with their daughters Ruby and Mila.
Wave Kiting. waterline Dec 17
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