Santi Cisneros shares his journey to discover what it takes to pack a van with gear, chase the forecast, and share the Ozone experience with riders across the globe in this exclusive feature!

In a conversation with the Ozone team, one idea stood out: we don’t just sell kites. We sell happiness, comfort, and safety. Over the years, we’ve learned that nothing beats hands-on experience to truly understand the performance of Ozone products backed by excellent service and a passion for the sport.

That philosophy sparked an idea: why not take the gear, the stoke, and the Ozone crew directly to the people? And so, the Ozone Demo Tour was born. Our aim was to move from continent to continent, providing great sessions and experiences with Ozone products far and wide, beginning in Europe for three months in spring this year. 

For three months, I lived out of a van packed to the brim with kites, boards, and wings. The route was flexible, as any kiter knows, you follow the wind, and each stop brought new faces, new spots, and plenty of sessions. I met so many amazing people, from distributors to hardcore Ozone fans and curious amateurs, and we were welcomed everywhere we went. 

Among my favourite spots in Europe are Brittany, Tarifa, of course, and the Netherlands. After those three months, we took the demo tour to Brazil, where I’m currently finishing up this leg. Brazil always feels like home to me. I can’t believe that in just one year, I’ll have been able to do this demo on three different continents! And the adventure isn’t over yet: the next demo tour is coming to Australia!

The Ozone Experience

The vibe at the demo sessions is consistently positive and cheerful. And the reactions from people, haha, it’s always great to see that “I can’t believe it!” reaction, with wide eyes and a massive smile on their face. It’s a one-way street; once you try it, you don’t want to go back.

I have a couple of stories, and there are even some funny videos of people’s reactions trying out the Vortex.

Try It, Love It, Order It

The concept is simple: test the gear, fall in love, and then make it your own. Orders can be placed through trusted Ozone dealers or directly via the website, where customers can even choose custom colours. Every product is built at Ozone’s exclusive factory and shipped in just a few weeks.

Breaking Barriers

Many people stick with their gear because of a fear of change. And you don’t often get the chance to go to the beach and find all the models from one brand available to test. At Ozone, we have a kite for every discipline and a kite for every rider, and we do everything we can to make that experience the best possible. This is where the demo participants themselves play a key role. When someone tries the gear and loves it, their enthusiasm is contagious. We all want to be as happy as possible, so why not give it a try?

I always listen to the person who comes to test the gear, to understand what they like to do and what they like to feel from the kite. That’s how I give them a “tour” through the equipment so that they can feel the differences for themselves.

Fun Moments and Strange Experiences

Oh, there were so many funny moments and strange experiences! I did the whole Europe trip with one of my best friends, Joaquin Rodriguez, and it’s always better to have good company.

One thing that surprised us as Argentinians was arriving in the Netherlands and finding it rained for two days. We were a bit scared inside the van because of the powerful rain, but we looked out the window and realised that people were acting as if the rain wasn’t even there. It was everyday life for them. And at the demo in Workum, we had all four seasons and types of weather in just two days, which was incredible for me.

Here in Brazil, too, with my friend Fran Margulies, the tour has been a great experience. We changed the perfect route for dunes and sandy streets, and that’s always fun in a pickup truck. We’re going to release a video about our experience in Brazil that will capture a lot of what I’m talking about.

Find more info on the Ozone Demo Tour here.

Updates posted on Ozone Kites and Ozone Wing Instagram

By IKSURFMAG