The 12m Ocean Rodeo Rise Review
By Brian Teichgraber
Around December I decided to upgrade my quiver of second hand kites that I bought as a beginner to new SLE (Supported Leading Edge) or Bow kites. Now that I consider myself as an intermediate kiteboarder I started my quest for the kite that would best suit my needs, cost, performance and build quality. After testing 9 kites 6 brands I decided on the Ocean Rodeo Rise, why? Here is why.
When I eagerly opened the OR bag and pulled out the kite and had a first glance, I could see the kite was well made. I pumped up the Rise which has the speed inflation system - which means you pump up the entire kite - leading edge and struts in one go (I like the one pump systems). Once the kite was fully pumped up and the struts where pinch locked I inspected the build quality and it was very well made much like or exactly like my Ocean Rodeo One – made for the West Coast. The Rise has a Dacron shock strip (SXS) running across the entire kite, a third of the way from the LE. This strip helps the kite absorb and not rip when you misjudge your aerial maneuver and crash your kite hard. If the shock is great enough to rip the Rise the SXS will stop the rip containing it to the first third allowing the rider to be able to fly the kite and get back to the beach. The Rise has a skeletal structure (Dacron frame – 3D construction) the Wing tips, leading edge and trailing edge are made of Dacron, which makes the kite very durable - West Coast tough.
All of the struts are integrated with the leading edge which is very well double stitched – very nice – well thought out. The Rise features Leading Edge bumpers and scuff pads where they should be and a nice feature are on the ends of the struts and tail end of the leading edge there are line deflectors. The Rise comes equipped with self rescue handles and bridal storage velcro on the leading edge of the kite. The bridal system is color coded for left and right as are the pig tails which are kook proof – so you cant get the flying lines backwards.
The bar construction is Hybrid: carbon composite with a Stainless Steel center bushing and the bar ends are fiber reinforced nylon. The grip on the bar is color coded EVA foam for bar end recognition and there are line keepers on both ends to store your lines. Hidden rear line adjustments, stopper ball, easy eject, front line swivel, trim line leash at the chicken loop and a removable donkey round up the bar, The emergency release is easy to use and to reset in or out of the water.
The kite bag is well thought out and offers a back pack as well as a duffle bag carry set up. The bag unzips to allow storage of the kite with the struts still inflated, side storage for the bar which comes in its own storage bag and an external pump holder.
I’ve had the kite now for a couple of months and have flown it in a verity of conditions from full lit at up to 35 mph to under 16 mph. The kite was at its limit at 35 or it could have been me at my limit with roughly 16 inches of de-power strap hanging off of the bar but it was a hoot. The kite handled gustsw with no problems and flew very well for me. (I have been using the Rise mostly at the Squamish Spit in winds around the 20 mph mark and the rest of this review is based on those conditions). Turning was fast but not as fast as a couple of the other kites I tested. De-power strap was very easy to access – you didn’t have to lean and stretch to grasp the line, it is right at your chicken loop very easy to find and very simple to use.
There is a bridal mod for this kite as there are for many other kites, after I added this mod the kite did turn noticeably faster than without the mod. I tried the kite with all of the different settings ( there is a school or max de-power setup) I found the school setting to be to slow but max de-power which is not to my liking so I would recommend leaving it on the factory setting. This kite is very grunty and you will not have to sine the kite to much to initiate your water start. Jumping for me seems to be a progression as I am still learning to do tricks but it seems that every time I do jump, I go higher and farther. Whether it is the kite or me getting better, who knows, but I can tell you the Rise encourages me to trust it more every time I jump. The jumps are floaters with the bar being your throttle - by pulling in on the bar my landings have been soft but if you push the bar out to much its a quick descend to a possible yard sale.
Speaking of yard sale the rise re-launches with ease just pull on either of the rear lines and the kite will launch effortlessly. On one occasion the kite did fall LE down and facing into the wind, so I just pulled in on one of the rear lines. After it starts to spin you will have to reach for the other rear line to complete the rotation but not to worry as the kite spins it will catch the wind and want to re-launch. On one occasion I had to re-adjust my foot straps so I dropped into the waist deep water and made sure the stopper was adjusted I could park the kite with the wing tip on the water and I could let the bar go and the kite stayed right where I left it, still flying and ready to go – it made the job of adjusting the straps easy and quick. At the other end of the wind range it was 14 – 16 mph and it flew very well and didn’t want to fall out of the sky I had no problems generating enough power to get going on my light wind board not to bad for a 210lbs person. I think the sweet spot for the Ocean Rodeo Rise 12m is in the mid 20 mph. As a 210 lb person that’s my go to kite.
Source: Brian Teichgraber
Labels: ocean rodeo, product, review, rise
9 Comments:
Hey Brian
I tried this kite one afternoon in 15 - 17 mph winds and I had this weird thing where the tips of the kite would buckle as I turned it. The kite was fully inflated -- no leaks, etc... I weigh in at 220, so maybe it was just too small a kite for my weight in those winds...but I wanted to know if you had anything like that happen at all with the different bridle settings you were trying out? My buddy went out on in (he's 200 lbs) and it didn't do it for him until he tried to do a small back flip jump -- then the same thing happened. He said something about the OR guys saying they needed to fix the bridle so that doesn't happen. Thoughts? I want to get something like this kite but obviously that is a problem...did you test a kite that you like a lot as a runner up in this category?
Yes i had the same problem with the kite. I inflated it to what i thought was good and went out and noticed the same thing so i came back in and gave it some more air. This solved the problem but when i was really powering through turns it did it again i contacted OR and they sent out a bridal mod - the combo of the two (fill the kite drum tight and the mod) worked very well for me. There is a slight issue with bar pressure but for me its minimal. I would say as a second runner up you have to look at what you want to spend - naish will not be making the boxer sle any more. The best waroo is a good kite regardless what other say about it (price point) and soniks $ and are bomb proof construction as are the Rise. The rise will be coming out with a new version i tried at the wind fest and to be honest i really enjoyed the new 08 rise it has a different bridal and direct steering lines which will be mad available for the 07 rises, this new set up will totally get rid of any issues with the tips .
Ps. I am also over 200 lbs. for lighter riders - no problems.
I've really enjoyed my 12m Rise too - and no troubles with the tips folding and fantastic for me even at 180lbs to have a small, manageable, light-wind kite. I do look foward to the new bridle to reduce the bar pressure though. A great kite imo.
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This post has been removed by the author.
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Any one that has a rise should check this out and try it. Over the weekend at windfest i got to try the new OR 08 Rise with the bridal mod and it is amazing.
cut and past this address
http://www.pbkiteboarding.com/
gear/ocean_rodeo/2007/rise/or_rise_
2007_mod_pbk.jpg
Just got in from a wicked session at the Squamish Spit. The new bridal mod works very well, I recommend everyone to do this mod on their kite. The kite turns super fast and has nill bar pressure.
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