I am so proud to say that since the mid 90's, my sport kite designs have dominated the Sport kiting market.

And here is why...

1. The only Sport kite designer with National Competition Championship titles. What does that mean exactly? It means that I competed against the best in the country and came out on top. I learned everything I could about sport kites, not just how to fly them, but how to adjust them and what frames worked the best in different winds etc...Sure other designers have competed too, but in order to be the Master Champion, you need to be consistant and, really know your kites and conditions. And that is why I succeeded. I was not satisfied with being 3rd. I did however, have and advantage, I owned a Kite shop.

2. One of the only Sport Kite Desigers with Wholesale/Retail ownership Experience. What does that mean? It means that for 4 years, I owned my own kite shop and I learned everything. I began sewing and designing at that time, produced kitings first dual line training videos then, and learned everything about making and flying every style of kite! That later translated to a vast amount of knowledge that other designers just didn't have. I knew what the end user, you, needed and wanted first hand and the hard way. With my own money! This is important. Many know some things, but they work for others, they do not have their own money invested. It is very different when your decision affects your own pocket book! Lessons are learned the hard way, and fast or you go out of business.

For 6 years with my wholesale/import company, Dodd's Kite Company, I traveled Europe with the first international Sport kite Pro Classes (Flight School by Master Instructor Dodd Gross) and found the best sport kites in Europe, spent my own money on them and introduced them to the US through my import/wholesale business, many name brands you know today.

3. Factory Time. I spent many months (years of my life), learning the languages, working in and at kite factories all over the world. In many casees, as a "new eye" I was able to improve and come up with new procedures that these factories are now using today.

The first to take the concept of manufacturing a beginner sport kite with the same methods used for upper end kites. And that is why my designs continue to dominate the market.

The first time I stepped into a kite factory I just could not believe that the smaller kites were so bad. The manufacturing is basically the same as a larger sport kite. That is when I said "it is just as easy to make a good flying kite as it is to make a bad one". You just need to start with a good design. Easier said than done!

It is easy to take a proven design and copy it, but what you end up with is a bad clone. Beware of these! They may look good on the wall , but in the air there is a difference.

When I am desiging I always start from scratch. If it does not fly well, I spend some time on the bridle, but if still doesnt match up, I then throw it away and start fresh.

Because of my experience now, it doesnt take as long, but believe me, beginner kites are the most difficult to design and is the reason most companies don't have good flying ones. But we do!

I am proud to have developed a very good reputation for designing great flying kites for all skill levels, focusing on beginners, why? Because I have what others don't have, all that expereince and with successful designs, not just numbers over the years. My competitors know that. So they do look to my designs to find out why they sell, why they fly well.
They say it is a form of flattery. I say, get your own experience!

Another reason Skydog sport kites do well is that they are consistant. One full time designer. Most kite companies use sport kite desigers who design for many companies. Freelance. They are competing against them selves and are not always giving their best designs. I ONLY DESIGN FOR SKYDOG. SKYDOG gets my best for each season. My Very best. Not something left over that didnt sell or was bought up last year. I am exclusive to skydog.

Thank you so much for flying, buying and selling my designs over the past 16 years. I really appreciate your support and your business and allowing me to continue to do what I love! Thank you so much and I promise to keep designing the best sport kites for Skydog, for you and your customers, providing you with the best sales tools and training videos! Best winds, Dodd Gross, Master Sport kite Designer/Instructor, Skydog Kites LLC.