Just an update on the Ocean Rodeo Rise's. I got my second outing on the 14m on Saturday at Paddies (first outing was in shocking winds at South end of Blyth for 40 mins).

I was out for a couple of hours in very light winds. I estimate as high as 20 mph on the gusts, as low as 10mph, averaging around 13-15mph. I had read that the larger rises are very powerful and was really hoping this to be the case as my current 14m Nemesis is an awesome allround kite and the low end was ok but nothing spectacular.

I was really impressed with the low end of this kite. 90% of the time I was able to ride with the kite parked. Pull in on the bar a few inches and you really notice the power. In the stronger parts I was able to pull off jumps, kiteloops, backloops etc with ease and even tried a few (very small) starts from the land at the far side (sit on the beach, power up the kite and jump into the water with the board - great fun, keen to try that a few more times!). Even in the lulls I could work the kite a bit (nothing too major) and keep going. The water was flat and I was on the 148cm Crazy Fly Lightwind board with will have helped enormously but I couldn't get this performance with the 14m Nemi or my 15m Waroo in the previous year riding the same conditions and board. What would have been a shit session was actually a lot of fun.

Peet was out on a 15m 07 Roo / Nobile Skim board and is lighter than me but (correct me if I'm wrong Peet) I seemed to be more powered up and able to point up wind better. Given that Peet is the light wind master (he is a freak - so many times he has been riding when most are standing on the beach!) this kite really has some great light wind characteristics.

There was also a 14m Halo (original) / Nobile Skim out and it definately had the edge over the Halo.

Andrew - you are going to be very happy with this kite in the light stuff.

Now I'm keen to try it in a fresher wind.

Good to hear you like it James! Im sure I will love it if I ever manage to get out on the water again! Given that I weigh a bit more Im hoping to be able to get into the early 20's but i'll let you know! I did pump it up in the garden at my folk's place and it is a good looking piece of kit, so keeping fingers crossed for the first session.

Totally agree with James. I was there on Saturday flying my 15m which was good at times, but most of the time it was a down winder or even a no go. After watching James blasting around, I was amazed how much grunt and low end power the 14m rise actually has. As he says, most of the time he had the kite parked even in the 13 -15 mph lulls. Although he was riding a light wind board, you would have been amazed at the performance of the Rise in these conditions. I haven't tested the Rise out yet, but I can second every word James has said in his little review above.

Honestly if you are in the hunt for a light wind kite, the 14m Rise needs some serious consideration.

Andrew

I don't agree with the freak bit but I do remember you doing much better than me that day

Just picked up one of these off ebay!