Why Ozone Kites Still Earn Respect: Insights From Sam Medysky

He has spent time close to the gear, close to the riders using it, and close to the business decisions that shape how brands grow and how products reach the market. Ozone is a brand Sam has known for a long time, going back to his early snowkiting days on the Great Lakes, and that long view gives him a grounded perspective on why the company still earns respect.

Who is Sam Medysky in kiteboarding?

Sam Medysky has been around kiteboarding long enough to watch the sport evolve through multiple eras. He started young, got deep into riding and competing, and stayed close enough to the industry to see how gear, brands, and rider expectations have changed over time.

What stands out about Sam’s journey is how many sides of the sport he has seen. He has spent time as a rider, as a competitor, and on the business side of the industry, which means he understands kiteboarding from more than one angle. He knows what riders care about on the water, but he also understands what goes into developing products, supporting dealers, and building trust in a crowded market.

He is not just reacting to one release cycle or repeating secondhand opinions. He understands progression, category fit, durability, and the difference between a kite that gets attention for a season and a brand that earns trust over time.

What makes Ozone stand out when most top kite brands are already good?

One of the best points Sam made is that the gap between top brands is not what it used to be.

As he put it, “all the top manufacturers are all making really good kites and they’re all very competitive in the market together.”

Riders are not sorting through obvious winners and obvious losers anymore. They are choosing between strong options, which means the real differences tend to show up in how a brand carries itself over time, how consistently the products perform, and how much trust the company builds with riders who have been around the sport for years.

For Sam, Ozone stands out because the brand feels built on long-term product credibility, not just whatever is getting attention right now. He talks about Ozone as a company with real history, real discipline, and a stronger connection to the broader flying world than most riders probably realize. It feels like a brand that has built its reputation through the product, not just promotion.

He also points to Ozone’s broader reputation in the sport. This is not a brand riders usually associate with chaos, rushed product, or constant desperate discounting. In Sam’s view, Ozone has held onto its respect because the company has stayed close to the product and stayed connected to the sport.

He is not saying they are the only company making great kites. He is saying they have earned respect in a deeper way, and in a market full of good gear, that still matters.

Why does Ozone owning its own factory matter to riders?

For Sam, one of the biggest advantages Ozone has is control. He points back to the fact that Ozone owns its own factory for paragliders, wingsuits, kiteboarding, and wing foiling gear. In his view, that changes a lot because it gives the company more oversight over how products are built, tested, and refined before they ever reach riders.

Sam puts it in very direct terms. In paragliding and wingsuiting, “everything has to be so dialed in” because “it’s somebody’s life on the line.” His point is that a company coming from that world tends to bring a different standard into kiteboarding. When the culture behind the product is built around that level of precision, riders usually feel it in the consistency of the gear.

He also sees factory ownership as a real advantage in prototyping and problem solving. A brand with direct control over production has more freedom to refine details, test changes, and catch mistakes before they become customer issues. It affects how polished a kite feels, how consistent a model stays from one batch to the next, and how much confidence riders have when they keep coming back to the brand.

What makes that even more meaningful is the kind of company Ozone seems to be behind the scenes. Sam does not describe it like a corporate brand chasing projections or trying to satisfy outside investors first. In his view, “it is really all about the products and the sport,” and that helps explain why factory ownership matters in the first place. It is not just about controlling production. It is about having that control in the hands of people who are still focused on building better gear.

Sam even points to rider-facing details like custom colors as proof of how close Ozone sits to its own production. It is a small example, but it shows how direct that control really is.

Why does Ozone’s business model matter in kiteboarding?

One of the more interesting parts of Sam’s interview had nothing to do with turning speed, hangtime, or bar feel. It was about how a brand operates once the kites leave the design room.

In Sam’s view, that part matters more than a lot of riders realize because the way a company prices, produces, and sells gear affects the health of the whole sport, not just one season of inventory. He points out that Ozone does not overproduce kites, and that you do not usually see Ozone gear getting dumped online for “crazy cheap” because they are not building the brand around constant closeouts and panic pricing.

Sam calls that “such a healthy business model.”

He ties that back to a few things working together:
✔ Ozone owns its own factory,
✔ stays vertically integrated, and
✔ does not have to chase arbitrary production quotas just to keep the machine moving.

That gives the company more stability, but it also helps protect the value of the product once it reaches the market. In a sport this small, that matters. When brands flood the market, everybody feels it.

He is also direct about what happens when large manufacturers start blowing out gear too often or selling closeouts straight from their own websites. I

n his words, that “hurts the local shops and schools.”

Shops are the ones carrying inventory, answering questions, helping riders get sized correctly, supporting lessons, and keeping local communities alive. When a brand undercuts that side of the sport too aggressively, it does not just move product. It weakens the very places that help new riders get started and experienced riders stay connected.

If a rider wants to talk through the difference between an all-around kite and a more specialized one, look at current Ozone options, or get honest feedback before buying, that kind of support still matters.

It is one of the reasons buying through a real shop can be a better experience than chasing the cheapest closeout you can find.

Which Ozone kites stood out most in Sam’s conversation?

Why does Sam call the Ozone Enduro an SUV-style kite?

When Sam talks about the Enduro, he talks about range more than niche. He says if he had to take one kite on a trip, he would probably go with the Enduro because it is an “SUV style kite” that “can do everything.”

In his words, it is “really good unhooked” ,“really good for big jumps and loops” and something you can still wave ride when the session shifts.

That is a useful way to look at the Enduro if you are the kind of rider who wants one kite that covers a lot of ground without forcing you into one discipline too early.

Why is the Ozone Vortex such a fun kite for big air riders?

Sam does not dance around this one. He says the Vortex is the kite he has “a lot of fun riding” because it “boosts so big,” is “really light in the bar,” “fast,” and “predictable.”

He also ties that back to how he likes to ride now: strong wind, big jumps, and loops.

What does Sam say about the Ozone Catalyst for newer riders?

Sam frames the Catalyst as the easy entry point into the Ozone lineup.

He calls it “more of a school kite” and says it is “a great kite for people to get on and learn.” He also describes it as “really easy,” “durable,” and “very simple,” without a lot of extra bells and whistles.

Not every rider needs a high-performance specialty kite right away. Some riders just need something stable, simple, and easy to learn on.

Why does the Ozone Edge still have such a strong following?

Sam talks about the Edge like a kite that has earned its place over time. He says it has been in the range for around 13 versions, and that long run shows in the following it still has.

His description is tight: the Edge is a “five strut big boosting kite” that is “super stable,” with “lots of forward drive,” and “awesome” for jumping. He also points out that he personally likes it in the larger sizes, while leaning toward the Vortex in the smaller sizes.

That is a useful distinction because it shows how even strong big air riders may split their preference depending on conditions and size.

Where does the Ozone Reo fit in for wave riders?

Sam describes the Reo as Ozone’s “pure wave riding kite,” and that is really the cleanest way to frame it. He says it has been in the range for a long time and still holds a clear role for riders who want a kite built with wave sessions in mind.

He also adds that it is “a great freeride kite” and “really fun to use with a kite foil as well,” which gives it a little more range than some riders might expect at first glance.

When does the Ozone Zephyr make sense?

Sam frames the Zephyr pretty clearly. In his words, “the Zephyr’s been around for a while” , it is now on “version eight,” and it is “our lightwind kite.”

He explains that it only comes in a couple larger sizes because its whole job is “getting people out in light winds.”

That is the cleanest way to understand where it fits in the Ozone lineup. It is not trying to be the do-everything kite. It is there for riders who want to make the most of lighter days instead of waiting around for more breeze.

Sam also points out that the Zephyr Ultra-X uses the same lightweight canopy material as the Reo and Alpha. For riders who deal with lighter wind regularly, that is the real appeal of the Zephyr. It fills a specific gap in the range and gives riders a purpose-built option when a standard freeride kite is not enough.

How does buying through a real kite shop still help riders make better decisions?

One of the strongest points in Sam’s interview is that local shops still matter, especially in a sport where the wrong kite, wrong size, or wrong setup can shape someone’s whole experience. Shops are not just there to move inventory. They are the places where riders ask questions, compare options, get honest feedback, and avoid buying gear that does not really fit how or where they ride.

Sam is also direct about what happens when brands undercut that part of the sport. When companies overproduce kites, blow out inventory, or sell too aggressively around their dealers, it does not just affect pricing. It hurts the shops and schools that help riders get into the sport, progress safely, and stay connected to a real local scene. That is part of why a dealer-first model still matters.

That is where a shop like Elite Watersports still matters. If a rider is trying to figure out whether an Enduro makes more sense than a Vortex, whether the Edge is too specialized for what they want, or whether a Zephyr is the right answer for lighter wind days, that kind of decision usually goes better with real input from people who know the gear and know the riding conditions. In a sport with this many variables, good advice still has real value.

Where should riders start if they are trying to narrow down the Ozone lineup?

If you are trying to narrow down the Ozone range, the best place to start is with the broad question: what kind of rider are you most of the time? Not on your dream day. Not on the day you are watching edits and imagining a different quiver. On your real sessions.

⤷ If you want one kite that can cover the most ground, Sam makes a strong case for the Enduro.
⤷ If you are riding powered, chasing loops, and want something more performance-driven, the Vortex makes more sense.
⤷ If your focus is height, speed, and classic big-air pull, the Edge still has a strong place in the conversation.
⤷ If you ride waves or spend time on a surfboard, the Reo earns a look.
 ⤷ If your local reality includes a lot of marginal days, the Zephyr starts making more sense.

Final thoughts on why Ozone still earns respect

Sam’s perspective helps clarify something a lot of riders feel but do not always put into words. Ozone’s reputation is not built on one claim. It comes from a mix of things working together: strong products, tighter control, a healthier business model, and a company culture that still seems connected to the sport itself.

That makes the lineup easier to understand too.

⤷ The Enduro stands out if you want range.
⤷ The Vortex makes sense if you want a faster, more playful big-air feel.
⤷ The Edge still earns attention from riders who want a more established boosting platform.
⤷ The Reo and Zephyr each solve a clearer, more specific problem. When you look at the range that way, the decision gets simpler.

And that is really the value of this conversation. It gives riders a better lens for narrowing the field before they start chasing specs, sales, or whatever gets the most attention that week.