From a purely commercial standpoint, Olivier will bring to the table a new surge of young blood and energy to the brand. He represents the generation Y crowd out there - the young and excitable paddlers who have their whole careers ahead of them as pro paddlers, and will infuse new ideas into the company, and help us keep our pulse on the Gen Y market.
Oliver said this about joining the team: "I am very proud to be joining the Dragons. Dragorossi is a company that is starting and will evolve in the near future. The company offers high quality products that fits a very special type of person, the one who wants to be ahead. What I liked the most about the company is that every one has a role in the development. Every comment that we make, every idea that we put on the table, every modification to design that we are asking that can make the boat more confortable or more performing, for exemple, is discussed and seriously considered. This company is truly giving me the opportuny to develop a new style of paddling. It might take me some weeks to figure it out! But in the end, it will be what I was seeking....Air AND Speed."
It was sort of a weird, progressive thing, Oliver joining Dragorossi. This summer he hung out with us all the time - Mirco (Dragorossi photographer) and paddled our boats on and off all summer long when we were out testing. He saw the direction of both the Thruster development, and in paddling it gave us some excellent ideas on changes (even if he didn't mean to at the time since he was with Riot). As the boat evolved he liked it more and more, and the final proto got him really excited. Olivier has also been whiteness first hand to the new developing "speed induced spud playboating" that the Fish, and now the Squashtail has developed. He watched the Dragons visiting montreal develop the new skills that are needed to paddle this new style of boat, and he recognises this as the future of the sport, and wanted to be a part of the leading edge of the sports development, not paddling boats trailing years behind playing catchup. One day, in coversation, it just occured to the two of us that we'd both win if Oliver was on the Dragon team, and then suddenly, here he is, part of the group.
