Laszlo (company name Laszlo Boats NZ) is a manufacturer of boats who produce

racing shell In watercraft, a racing shell (also referred to as just a ''fine boat'' (UK) or just ''shell'') is an extremely narrow, and often comparatively long, rowing boat specifically designed for racing or exercise. It is outfitted with long oars, outrigg ...

s for the sport of rowing.

History

Laszlo Boats used was originally known as Kiwi International Rowing Skiffs (KIRS), and was the most dominant rowing skiff manufacturer in New Zealand, an industry which is "world renowned". They were responsible for building rowing skiffs which won numerous titles, including world and Olympic championships, as well as holding world record times. In 2015 the company was liquidated and its assets and designs were purchased by Laszlo Kertesz and Vera Búcsú. Kertesz had been KIRS' chief constructor for more than ten years. Even with the company liquidation and change of ownership the new owners honoured the manufacture and delivery of those orders taken before the originally became liquidated, with most of the orders being delivered to local schools and clubs. After taking over the company Kertesz and Búcsú, they kept several of the key craftsmen of the company. Aside from Kertesz, they also hired the other boat builder of KIRS, Gena Konoval, both of whom were considered at the top of their field in New Zealand. Some of the other employees retained included Olympic champion Gary Robertson, Andre Goodwin, one of the most experienced skiff spray painters in New Zealand. In 2016,

Adam Ling Adam Ling (born 9 September 1991) is a New Zealand rower. He won a gold medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in the lightweight single sculls, but missed the Olympic qualification for the lightweight double sculls the following year. Ea ...

won the gold medal at the New Zealand National Rowing Championship, using one of boats designed and built by Laszlo. In 2017 Laszlo became the first New Zealand boat manufacturer to become the boat supplier for the

World Masters Games The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years which, in terms of competitor numbers, has developed into the largest of its kind. Governed by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), the World Mast ...

. In 2017, they also became a sponsor for the Aon Maadi Cup, when they supplied a single

scull Sculling is the use of oars to propel a boat by moving them through the water on both sides of the craft, or moving one oar over the stern. A long, narrow boat with sliding seats, rigged with two oars per rower may be referred to as a scull, it ...

which was awarded to the winner of the single scull category. In 2019 rowers using Laszlo boats won a World Cup gold medal and a

World Championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

silver medal. That same year during the Maadi Cup, their boats won every event in the U-18 category, something which had not been accomplished during the modern era. During 2019, the company began to develop new shapes and moulds, as well as purchasing a new spray booth, to enhance their quality control.

References

External links

* *{{cite news , first=László , last=Bagi , work=

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...

, url= https://forbes.hu/uzlet/laszlo-boats-uj-zeland-evezes/ , language=Hungarian , title=Hungarian couples can transport the best rowing boats in Europe , date=August 5, 2020 , access-date=15 May 2023 , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511062453/https://forbes.hu/uzlet/laszlo-boats-uj-zeland-evezes/ , archivedate=May 11, 2023 New Zealand boat builders New Zealand companies established in 2015