OR Rise 8.0 "SUPER C"

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

I have been riding the Rise for about a week now
My impressions are
A kite that is very stable canopy never distorts
I tried to get it to invert and could not do it
After bearing off wave riding I would do the normal turn to windward
and sheet out and turn the kite hard onto the wind without a slightest bit of lower wingtip stall.(invert)
The structure is a bit on the big side compared to the Roo ,tubes are bigger and stiffer.ONE PUMP with closures
I would suppose that's why it is so stable
If it has more drag because of it it's unnoticable .
The second most noticable feature is the smooth power band
There is no "chasing the trim"
It seems that the kite stay in the power band by itself
and provides a uniform amount of control throughout it's range .
This is something for wave riding that is very "C" style
juice through the turn without input.
In fact it feels just like a "C" type with a lot of range

I have not found the upper end but 30 is not it
the low end is comparable to the 7.0 Roo .

It does have some twists when under powered
It will stall and drop back in the power setting
but it's very gentle and you can feel it coming.

The kite will generate a lot of power by sineing it .
But it feels just as good to use the sheeting.

I never have been a "Park and ride" guy
But this kite loves that just keep pulling in on the bar and the faster I go.
If there is some kind of compromise being made to allow this type of consistant power ,it's not noticable to me.

Fast turning on the fast turn setting and slow on the slow setting.
On the full power setting it does carry some pull with it ,,it continues to pull a little when sheeted out ,but a little edging will bring it forward really fast,this setting will give a lot of low end ,(Like another kite size)
On the less power more range this goes away, the sheeting is full and easy.
It's the first time I have had a kite that all the settings are usable and enjoyable.
Jumps are very easy and seem to be at hand at almost anytime.
Loops with authority smooth all the way round.
Easy bar pressure but "feel " is very good, never wondering where the kite is it.
Doesn't luff-up every time I bear-off ,stays close the zone on it's own.

In summary I would say that this a good direction for kites.
Bomber build, smooth power ,great internet presence ,reputable company ,price is in the ballpark.
The most noticable feature is the trim being so spot on all the time,
the kite is in the ready mode in any situation (so far).
The downside would be that there is a hole in it already ,from leaving it on the beach inflated with a board on the canopy,the strut inflator hose from the leading edge to the main strut wore through on the clamps they used for the connector.
I'm really enjoying this kite and look to get some more.

Great job OCEAN RODEO

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1874 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

ya those vents
I could see them working when turned into the sun just the right way
they would open under great pressure (overpowered)
There is nothing that will stop a underpowered kite from falling back if you oversheet it
but when powered ,
It will not stall,gets a little mushy and then comes forward ,then mushy then forward etc.
I didn't really try it unhooked much but it does fly well in a set position

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 491 Posts Obsessed

had a chance to ride the 6m for a while. definitely a kite you need to demo first. some nice traits, but also some surprisingly weird things for me.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Gabe
What's up with the six?

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 491 Posts Obsessed

Well everyone has their own preferences, but this is what I found. Low end was really impressive—like a 7m waroo at least for me, and really good at pulling upwind even when light. Also lots of power in the turns, which is nice and helps low end. I flew it on both the #1 and #2 settings which were the most recommended, but maybe I should have tried #3 as well. The main thing I really disliked was how much force was required to make it turn. Felt like turning a 10m or bigger to me. Maybe they dumbed the 6m down on purpose so people don’t get spooked by a zippy small kite, but coming from the small waroo that I can basically loop with fingertips, it felt like a real struggle. I also couldn’t control it one handed when walking around, waterstarting, etc. The speed of turning is okay, but a huge pull required to initiated. Second, and maybe this is more controversial, but I strongly disagreed with the “stall resistant” claims. To be honest, I found it to be the most stall prone kite I have ever flown, which was a real challenge and was the first time I’ve ever flown a kite that made me feel out of control. I had tons of trim to play with, and continually adjusted it, and still felt like this. Perhaps I’m clueless on how to trim a kite, but I don’t think so. I would have it well trimmed for going upwind (often with rear lines sagging), and then if I hit a lull and oversheeted by an inch, it would lose all power and I would just fall backwards off the board. Or, if it began as well trimmed, and then I fell and lost all my speed, a couple times it would seriously fly backwards right through the power zone toward the water, until I pushed the bar all the way out. Most kites I’ve flown just get inefficient when stalled, but this honestly seemed to stall catastrophically, which is something I have never experienced and always thought was only something beginners complained about. It’s really weird because they market the technology as so anti-stall. Who knows. Maybe it just takes a couple sessions to get dialed into the unique feel of how and when it stalls. It also would drop from the sky if sheeted out too much, which some other kites just always hang up there. The stalling behavior was actually so weird and unexpected that I didn’t really know what to make of it, and I would be willing to investigate it more if I liked everything else about it. But for me the heavy turning was the deal breaker, and I didn’t think setting #3 was going to make enough difference. Other reviews have been good, so no idea if this is just the 6m, or if there was something wrong with the bridle or what, but I’ll pass the feedback on to the company. The construction, value, and design goal of the kite are great, but riding it really left me scratching my head in confusion.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Blow hard - thanks for the review of the kite!! Always love to read about people's experiences with the newest stuff!!

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Gabe,
I hear you
The 8.0 does stall in the most power setting
It also keeps pulling momentarily after you sheet out ,in the most power setting.This is something I like because it keeps pulling a bit it also keeps it back in the window and ready to go.

I'm thinking that's where you had it front lines in the front setting
and back lines in the front setting
This combo gives it a really low end(oversheets easily) and slow as shit turning (I crashed it on the beach it's was so slow)
I would guess they were thinking 2 kites for one.

With it set in the back and back settings ,I found it to fly very fast ,as easy as the Roo with effective sheeting and little effect on the power without the stall being so prevalant with similar bar pressure as the Roos.
This is the first kite I have owned that the different settings actually do something.
I'm liking some of the traits of each of the two settings and am going to use both front settings at once to see if how that works.
I hear you though.
I had the same troubles at first and would imagine that with a smaller kite the situaton would be even more exaggerated.

A final note is that when I am underpowered I always sine the kite before I pull in on the bar (same as Roosters),,But when powered up I just pull in on the bar,something I never can do with a Rooster.

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 491 Posts Obsessed

cool, sounds like i should have tried #3.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Just got in and was thinking about what I saying about oversheet.
In the front, steering setting I would guess that I will need to shorten the steering lines about 4-6 inches.(slow steering )

They need a bit of back line tension when turning.
The Rise does ride pretty firmly on the front lines but needs to be sheeted in a bit to turn fastest and produce the most power

Kinda opposite of the Roo's
Where they have a really good low end the upper end can be scary.
And they will turn fastest and develop the most power when sheeted out.

So today it was approaching 30 and I had to sheet a bit but still had plenty to go, kite felt very soild no flapping even when sheeted all the way out and swinging kite through the zone hard.

Kite performance is very good in the upper range.
Perhaps the 6.0 would start about 35-40 mph.

still blowin and still no rain ,
Good for a grey day

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 491 Posts Obsessed

wow, that florence sensor must read way low on the southerlies.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Ikite-suffer is way off on all points except north
which is correct for the beach
figure 10 more at the end of the jetty.

NWS FCOG is right on the north jetty
Sea Lion Caves is pretty representitive
they are showing 24-43

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

after riding this kite for a while I would say the upper end is 35 mph
and the lower end about 17 staying to windward on a 4'6" surfboard
in not much current.

Although a lot less "chasing of the trim" than my Roo's

I looking for a new "C type"

The variations in line tension caused by turning the kite everytime I turn
finds the bridled kites not staying ahead of me
but rather luffing up when I bear off
and pulling me off my bottom turns because lines are too tight.

Instead of staying low and in the window as all my old C kites did

anyone try the Ocean Rodeo Diablo?

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

I have the 6/8/12 08 rise quiver, and have used the kites 1 month.

(+)'s
- great performance when powered up and at upper end of wind range
- depowers well
- kite loops super smooth w/ even power thu the loop
- excellent unhooked when powered up & trimmed properly
- turning: 12m - a little slow w/ 50cm bar. 8m - fast & controlable when powered. 6m - v. fast w/ 50cm bar (only used once - 40cm now avail.)
- good relaunch when powered
- bomber
(-)'s
- not a low wind kite - needs power to perform
- chick loop not designed well for unhooking
- prone to back stall (8/11)- tried multi bridal settings and trim
- back stalls unhooked when not trimmed properly ( like 06 waroo )
- long bridal prone to hang ups etc.
- challenging low wind relaunch

Took me time to get used to these kites (from Waroos) - Timing was all off, and I felt kookish Confused

- Just now getting the hang of them. Def. a nice design from OR tho Twisted Evil