WHO THEY ARE
Dominique and Bruno share the same passion for the sea and water sports, passion that lead them to think, to look, to build, and to invent together. They also have the same determination and, one thing leading to another, after numerous years of shared problems; they became manufacturers of their curved wing with inflatable structure. This invention has resulted all the success they enjoy today.
Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux were born in French Brittany, respectively in 1959 and 1960.
Towards the age of 10 years, they developed a real love for the sea and for water sports.
They competed in dinghy racing together at a high level and commenced their "Sports Studies" in Brest just after of winning the title of National Champions in the Junior category.
Dominique then worked in shipyards, gaining experience in the techniques of manufacturing sailboats.
Bruno taught sail sports in various sailing schools around Finistere (Brittany - France) before finalizing preparations for his big project, a tour of the world by boat. He departed in summer 1983.
He caught up with his brother again a little later in Senegal, and there, together, they began to become interested in the power of kites. There they began some early experimentation. From there followed years of research and unremitting work around their invention.
After a difficult but educational experience of manufacturing their kites in France in 1993 and 1994 under the Wipicat trade-mark (200 units sold), they turned to China for manufacturing and started the Wipika company in 1997. The sales quickly climbed in the following years. The success was finally there. They started selling patent licenses in 1999 to allow the sport to grow faster.
At the beginning 2000 they left Brittany again, to settle down in Dominican Republic, an ideal spot for kite R & D.
Bruno designed kites for Wipika until mid-2001, then for Takoon in 2002 and 2003, in particular the Wipika Classic, Airblast, Skoop Takoon, all kites that marked that time.
But the true passion of the Legaignoux brothers is to innovate. They invented, as well, the C-shape tube kite, the 4 line control device for C-shape kites, the VARC (Variable Aspect Ratio Concept), the Reactive bridle for reverse takeoff, the span line and finally the BOW kite...