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History and Logo Design |
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Pasadena, California, 1970. Pete Brock finishes his studies at Art Center, a world-renowned school of industrial design. As its youngest graduate ever, his racecar designs like the GM Daytona Coupe based on the Cobra 427, quickly becomes legendary. Pete soon discovers a new passion, hang gliding, which is probably the most radical sport imaginable in the early 70s. While there are several gliders on the market there is only one common theme, they are all extremely dangerous. However, when Pete Brock gets together with the young designer Roy Haggard, a new concept is born. The first tenable post-Rogallo glider and it becomes the flagship of their newly founded company, Ultralite Products. Helping the company gain success quickly is Pete's logo design. The UP arrow achieves cult status from the beginning like no other logo and it captures the spirit of hang gliding. later windsurfing, paragliding, kayaking, etc. The logo and the brand's positive image attract the interest of various investors over the company's three-decade history. The first is in 1980, when Yuseke Yamazaki, a Japanese investor from a dynasty of Samurais, lays the foundation for UP's success in Asia. Yuseke and George Follman then form UP Sports, Inc. and further develop and expand the UP Sports brand. The UP Inc. factory is established in Southern California. There with a series of top designers, the production facility yields high performance gliders, ultralights, windsurfing products and other related sports equipment, which are shipped all over the world. In the mid eighties, the UP name is licensed and partnered with other quality action sports companies including Bic Sport. The subsidiary of the famous Bic pen and shaver corporation, licensed the UP brand for it's line of windsurfing sails and snowboards. UP Sails quickly rose to the next level and became established as one of the top windsurfing brands in the world. With Bic, UP Sails broke the world speed record and was the first company to achieve speeds of over 40 MPH. Over the last 25+ years, the UP has also been a strong and growing name in the Paddle Sports and Sportswear industry. With the 2009 UP Kayaking lines and seasonal collections of fine quality Sportswear, new and exciting UP legacies will continue. Thank you for the interest in UP Sports, George Follman, | ||||
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