Under the Hood: JN Kites

How did you first become involved in the kite industry Bernd? Was it the wild west in those early days?!

It was in early 2000 that Mr Neil Pryde offered me a job steering a team doing something completely new called kitesurfing. Having had a background in snowboarding and windsurfing I was told I’d be a good candidate… I had to learn the hard way, with no teacher and with kites sporting no depower. I learnt that kiting was very different but a valid new sport in its own right. I survived somehow and have loved it ever since. In 2003 I was lucky to get the chance to form our own company thanks to Michael, Alex Schwab and Christa Flora.

Tell us about Michael’s background. As we understand it, he’s big stuff in the world of paragliders?

Michael has been developing paragliders and parachutes – over 525 certified models – for third parties since 1986. Since the early 90s he has also developed kites for various manufacturers, though exclusively for JN for a number of years now. He is also active in the aerospace sector (European Space Agency/Aerocosmos, Air and Space Institute, E.Nova Aerospace). His Flycad software for the development of complex flying objects is still the status quo.

How did the two of you meet and set up JN as a business?

We met on the beach one day in Maui, discussed kites and asked each other mundane questions like, “Where are you from?” It turned out Michael lives close to me – when he’s not traveling, which he spends the majority of his time doing. We quickly realized we share the same vision of values and how to make them happen. Still, setting up a business was a huge experiment for both of us at this time. More talented people joined us, leading to world champion titles, first class products, and a number of innovations – seven patents initiated and three realized. Today we still have the original team on board as well as others like Alois and Siril and our newest member Leonard, who is now a permanent part of our core team to allow me to get more time on the water (well that’s the plan – don’t tell him though…).

You came up with some innovative features now widely used in the industry. Tell us about the Perfect Round Arc shape and the Floating Batten.

Our completely round leading edges are the result of our special software, which subsequently converts the segmented LE panels using a complex algorithm to give them a round shape when inflated. The Floating Batten is a logical implementation from the paragliding world, where it has been recognized that flexible profiles behave better in undercutting currents.

Let’s talk through your product range. Your kite models Prima Donna, Wild Thing and Mr. Fantastic are well established products and have been around for over a decade, and the Prima Donna incorporated one of the industry’s first swept wingtip designs. When it comes to designing your new models is it big sweeping changes or more gentle evolution, and which discipline is each kite best suited for?

I always assumed I am a progressive person when it comes to development but looking at Michael’s speed in innovations I realized I am slow! So we try to find the balance every day between making innovative products that are still well understood by the market.

The Prima Donna is our sports wagon, designed to satisfy fans of freestyle and wake-style, and, thanks to its super on-off capability, it can also be applied for radical wave riding. It has produced numerous world cup titles for us. It is a five-line kite and therefore a bit special nowadays but is an icon, so we keep her in the range, refined and tuned.

Mr. Fantastic is our sportive all-purpose model, easily accessible though still very performance oriented with a huge wind range. It is the kite that will allow you to develop your kiting further into your own style. It features five mini-battens instead of fat struts, and is stiffened well without adding too much weight, to respond instantly to steering inputs, making you feel right at home.

The Wild Thing is a pure four-line model and should convince Big Air lovers, furious freeriders, and sideshore wave riders. Its fast profile and high aspect ratio makes it aggressive in all respects like turning speed, flying speed and lift, yet it still remains accessible for most riders who dare to deal with such a power tool.

You also have a lightwind/foil kite, Mr. Air, based on Mr. Fantastic. Tell us more.

The basic shape of the Air – which has one strut only – is similar to Mr. Fantastic but focused on saving weight. If the wind is light and it’s a case of deciding between going for a coffee or kitesurfing, then please grab the Air and get on the water. In medium-strength winds you’ll  find Mr. Air is a stable partner so small sizes are then recommended for foilers.

What materials have you selected to build your kites and where are they manufactured?

Hah, this would be a long list of sourcing! We have quite a bit of experience thanks to our early days in boards sports, and over 25 years in the industry. We have cooperated well for a long time with very innovation-driven manufacturers: Dacron, Dyneema from Germany, Canopy 3, 4 and 5 X ripstop from Japan, flying lines from Austria, carbon from the US, and so on. Assembling of the kites is done in China and twintips in Taiwan with teams we have known since we started our venture in this industry. There is no room for politics so I dare to say these people have become friends.

The Randas has a long history as your foil kite for snow. What’s new here?

We are currently experimenting with so-called two-liner technology from the paraglider sector. It promises better performance and more stable flight behavior. The Randas will be upgraded for land and water usage aiming at foilers, Big Air fans and freeriders.

When it comes to twintips, what do you have available?

Our latest Chit Chat and Sun Set twintips, plus a brand-new Big Air board – name yet to be announced – will be released later in the summer. In the new range we have improved the materials for better flex, less weight and more durability. For example carbon stripes have been added to the Sun Set. For the Chit Chat we have changed the applied glass mix. We have kept the long-successful basic shapes for the Sun Set and Chit Chat.

What is your stance on ethics and the environmental impact of your products?

Since starting in 2003 we have been continuously visiting all our factories and all suppliers, to make sure working standards are respected and materials are produced correctly. It is hard to tell if we are always successful, but we try our best to live sustainably. Greenwashing with underhand marketing is not an option for us!

Tell us about your team riders. They’ve included some impressive names over the years and have had various podium achievements.

We’ve been lucky to have great performing riders in our team like multiple world champion Kristin Boese, Leander Vyvey and Mike Bloomwall, brothers Hardy and Heinar Brandstötter, Alex Schwab, Rui Neves, Guillaume Mariani and many more who have achieved various world champion and world cup titles in all kite disciplines. I am very proud that we have a grownup JN family of excellent riders supporting us and often driving the testing, contributing to marketing and giving valuable input for improvements. And we have an open door for riders so do get in touch.