Liquid Force (LF) announced the closure of its kiteboarding division.
The sports company founded in 1995 by wakeboarding pioneers Tony Finn and Jimmy Redmon has pulled out of the kitesurfing industry.
The Hood River office was closed on June 30, 2020, with all customer service and warranty issues managed out of the office in Carlsbad, San Diego.
Liquid Force Kiteboarding will close down effectively on July 25, 2020.
According to the parent company, the brand will channel its resources into wakeboarding.
"The decision was not taken lightly," underlined John Archer, CEO of Kent Water Sports, and Don Wallace, vice president at Liquid Force.
"We want to thank all our associates who have worked diligently throughout the uncertainty over the last few months of COVID-19 and economic crisis, as well as the many years of dedication."
Wake and Foil
The executives say the Liquid Force will remain "strong and vital in the water sports industry."
Recently, the brand bought Freedom Foil Boards, a California foiling equipment manufacturer, and the plan is to shift the focus from kites to foils.
LF Kiteboarding has no plans to order any new inventory but will still handle warranty claims and repairs over a reasonable period of time.
The Encinitas-based firm was one of the first brands to produce kiteboarding gear and equipment.
Throughout its history, Liquid Force has sponsored some of the kitesurfing's finest athletes, including Brandon Scheid, Christophe Tack, Moe Gould, Manuela Jungo, Davey Blair, Sensi Graves, James Boulding, Julien Fillon, and Jason Slezak.
LF pioneered several kite-related products, including a single-strut kite and lightweight extruded aluminum masts for foil boards.
The end of Liquid Force Kiteboarding is a sign of the gusty winds and cloudy skies that have been hovering over the sport in the last decade.