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Southampton, UK, Tuesday 22nd October: Bainbridge International is delighted to announce it has today completed the acquisition of operating assets of Ocean Rodeo from Aluula Composites Inc. Ocean Rodeo is one of the great innovating companies in the kite & wing  sport markets, patenting several breakthrough products as well as being the launch brand for ALUULA Composites, a high-performance ultra-light composite fabric that revolutionized leading edge technology in inflatable wings and kites.     While the change of ownership is announced today, the 2025 product range is being readied for production and a projected date of March 2025 is targeted for...

GIEL VLUGT THE OMAN MISSION In preparation for the Big Air competition season, doubles master Giel Vlugt set off on a mission to the mythical realms of the Arabian Peninsula. Blessed with strong and consistent winds, warm waters, and boundless desert backdrops, the Sultanate of Oman delivered sessions to remember.  Powered by the latest Big Air machine, the Flite A-Series, Giel took center stage in a true Big Air expo, captured by photographer Ahmed Alfudhili, and enjoyed by the curious local crowd who had never seen anything quite like it before… We caught up with Giel after the shoot for...

MEANWHILE, IN CAPE VERDE... Epic wave battles took place at the legendary wave spot that is Ponta Preta during the first stop of the Qatar Airways GKA Kite-surf World Cup in Cape Verde this past weekend. Ocean Rodeo team rider and board designer Reece Myerscough put on a spectacular performance, making his way through to the quarter finals where he lost against local legend Airton Cozzolino, but it marks a great start to the season for Reece and we can't wait to see him on the next tour stop! Also joining him on the water, and making its first competitive...

THE BIG AIR BLUEPRINT Taking it big with the Tumbler In the last part of our series, we take a closer look at the final piece within the Champion’s quiver – his board. Why exactly is the Tumbler Giel’s board-of-choice, and what’s his ideal straps set-up for knocking out those steezy board-offs? All is revealed… Freestyle boards are more flexible on the tips and have "pop"... but you have moved exclusively to the Tumbler, with its large concave. Why? To be honest, I didn't want to ride the Tumbler at first because I have never seen that shape before. But...

THE BIG AIR BLUEPRINT TRUST THE PILOT Short lines vs. long lines – this is one of the hottest topics in Big Air kiteboarding right now. In this episode of The Big Air Blueprint, we find out from Double loop pioneer Giel Vlugt what he perceives as the perfect line length, and his preferred control system setup for sending it big.  So Giel, what Ocean Rodeo control system do you use? I use the Pilot Bar.  Do you adjust your center line bar trim just before "going big"? Nope, I just take it as it is and go as big...