The Lafayette Escadrille Nieuport 17 is our homage to the intrepid volunteer pilots of the very first U.S. manned fighter squadron. Fighter jets are a compromise between maneuverability and stability. Like a high performance jet, the Nieuport 17 is ideal for sharp turns and speed. All Nieuports now feature our proprietary KOTAgrip finish. What separates KOTA longboards from all the others? It’s about energy! Ride the perfect combination of camber and concave for agile carving. Engineered so you ride with performance and comfort. Camber brings your ride to life. The board arches tip to tail, putting compression and tension into the deck’s core and packing your ride with energy and responsiveness. Concave adds turning response and confidence. The concave lateral curve directs energy to the deck’s edge, helping the board stick to your feet. Every KOTA deck is handcrafted out of American Hard Rock Maple from the rich forests of Wisconsin. Rated at a Janka Hardness of 1,450 pounds, it’s nearly twice as hard as other maple varieties. Nothing less will do for KOTA longboards. KOTA deck styles draw their names from historic military aircraft flown by the intrepid Knights of the Air. That’s where our name KOTA originates as well. The title ‘Knights of the Air’ was given to the daring pilots who flew early airplanes into combat. More than a moniker, Knights of the Air embodied a code of courage, honor and esprit de corps that defined the conduct of these pilots. They pushed the limits of their crafts’ performance while maintaining honor and respect. At KOTA we’re inspired to do the same. We are thrill seekers, veterans, pilots, skiers, bikers, athletes, outdoors nuts and, of course, longboarders. We love having fun, going fast with the wind in our face and challenging gravity. What else revs our engines? Making high performance longboards with a refined style. At the apex of performance and style – that’s KOTA. It’s your life, carve it.