Eleven weeks after being dropped by its U.S. distributor on the eve of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market,  Gibbon Slacklines has established a U.S. subsidiary in Miami, FL that will open for business Monday, The B.O.S.S. Report has learned.

We are super excited to finally start our direct partnership with business and community partners all across North America,” said Jan Kaeding, President of Gibbon USA Inc and brother of Gibbon Slacklines Founder and CEO Robert Kaeding. “This will open up much new potential!

Though Kaeding will be based in Miami, Gibbon USA Inc. has partnered with third-party logistics providers to manage distribution from a warehouse located in Los Angeles.

Since its founding in Germany in 2007, Gibbon has grown to become the world’s best known slacklining brand through support of competitions, athletes and craft product placement in high-profile events such as Madonna’s 2012 MDNA World Tour, which included an appearance in the 2012 Superbowl Half Time Show. In 2015, Gibbon USA Inc. will sponsor its first global slackline gathering in California.
“With our previous partners it was difficult to reach the slackline community the way we successfully do already all over the world, said Robert Kaeding in reference to Canaima Outdoors, a Louisville, CO company that  introduced Gibbon to the United States in 2008. Canaima handled Gibbon’s U.S. distribution until Aug. 1, when it announced it had dropped the brand to launch its own Slacklines International brand.
 
Last week, Jan Kaeding emphasized that Gibbon has continued to service REI, it’s largest U.S. dealer, since then. The opening of the office in Miami, however, will enable Gibbon to better serve all its dealers. He also announced Slackline World Champion and Gibbon Pro-Athlete Alex Mason had agreed to recruit athletes to join Gibbon’s U.S. slacklining team.

World slacklining champion Andy Lewis, who famously performed behind Madonna during her Super Bowl concert, also continues to work with Gibbon.

Im super stoked to finally give slacklining a chance to grow on all fronts,” said Lewis. “To give attention to the athletes in the sport, and not just the contests!
 
Dealers can contact Jan Kaeding at jk@gibbon-slacklines.com.