The Man Behind the Music: Meet Kristian Rauhala, Founder of H2O Audio

Why We Turned Our CEO into an Action Figure (Yes, Seriously)

If you've been following us on Instagram, you may have seen our latest drop — an official H2O Audio action figure, sealed in vintage blister packaging, featuring none other than our founder and CEO, Kristian Rauhala.

Sure, it’s a playful nod to the viral collectible trend… but it’s also a tribute to a guy who has spent two decades pushing boundaries in sport and sound — and to the company that started it all with a bold idea and a waterproof dream.

H2O Audio: Born in San Diego, Built for the Water

H2O Audio was founded in 2003 in San Diego, California, right as the iPod era ushered in a revolution in digital music. As lifelong water sports lovers, we saw the potential to bring that revolution into the pool, the ocean — and far beyond.

While the world was still figuring out how to carry music on land, we were engineering how to take it underwater.

Our mission was simple: create waterproof headphones that deliver superior sound — whether you're training for a triathlon, paddling out, or diving into laps at the local pool.

Today, H2O Audio is a leader in waterproof and underwater audio, trusted by elite athletes and everyday adventurers alike.

San Diego: The Epicenter of Endurance

San Diego isn't just our home — it's our laboratory. With its unmatched coastline, world-class mountains, and thriving community of swimmers, surfers, cyclists, and triathletes, it's the ideal environment to design, test, and refine performance-driven gear.

From open-water swim sessions in La Jolla to trail runs overlooking the Pacific, we create products shaped by the same landscape and lifestyle our customers live in.

H2O Audio isn’t just a brand. It’s a culture — one that encourages athletes of all kinds to train with passion, compete with grit, and Go Beyond every single day.

Kristian Rauhala: The Athlete. The Engineer. The Action Figure.

Kristian Rauhala is more than a CEO — he's a product designer, a triathlete, a dad, and a force behind everything we do. Originally from Finland, Kristian brought his engineering brain and endurance athlete mindset to Southern California and never looked back.

He launched H2O Audio with the vision of building tech that could keep up with serious athletes — and personally tested every product, from prototypes in the lab to swim workouts in the ocean.

So yeah, turning him into a collectible action figure felt right. It’s a lighthearted way to honor a guy who’s quietly helped thousands of people train harder, race smarter, and move through life with music by their side — even underwater.

The Legacy (and the Future)

From Hyrox Athletes to open-water swimmers, H2O Audio has always focused on performance, innovation, and heart. Our newest releases — the TRI 2 Series & RIPT Series— is the most advanced expression of that legacy yet. The TRI 2 Series with bone conduction tech, Playlist+ memory, and a fully waterproof build, it’s made for those who don’t slow down when the terrain changes — they go through it. While the RIPT Series design of Real Isolation Performance Technology for fitness and active lifestyle. With 100% sweatproof design.  

So while there’s no real action figure for sale (yet…), there is a real story behind our brand — one built on engineering, endurance, and the belief that music should go where you go.

Ready to Go Beyond?

➡️ Learn more about the TRI 2 Series and RIPT Series.