Jamy did a great job on this video.

Ocean Rodeo stands behind its equipment and its customers.
Time and time again our riders tell us our warranty and customer service are second to none.

Today, in addition to our already outstanding customer service and warranty support we introduce the 100% Guarantee. Buy any current year Ocean Rodeo product and, if not 100% satisfied, return it within 30 days for a full refund, no questions asked. Please visit oceanrodeo.com for more info or call your dealer today to take advantage of this industry 1st.

Ocean Rodeo, Performance Over Hype!

Here’s a sneak peak of our new line of Custom directionals, both Race and Surf.

These boards are custom made to order (delivery in 10-14 days), available in any size, right here in California! We’ve been testing the 5′10 Race extensively at Crissy and will have a fleet of these on the water for the upcoming Cabrinha series. The Surf has been put through the paces at Waddell and in the Bay and we are super stoked on the results.

I will update the store pages with details and ordering information, but for now you can use the contact us and will be happy to process your orders or answer any questions.

Here are the pricing and details just looking into shipping before I add it to online shop:

Race:
Screaming fast in all directions, yet forgiving to ride. There will be a fleet of these in the Cabrinha Race series and at the World Championships in August. Twin fin set up with Futures boxes, can be ordered with Tuttles for a small additional cost.
No fins:  $799
With Custom Rainbow G10 Race fins $949

Surf:
Goes upwind very well, with just the right turn of speed. Works well in heavy chop (not bouncy like many surfboards on the market). Tested extensively in Bay Area chop, and on the NorCal coast. Fantastic on a real wave! Thruster fin configuration for true wave performance. Quad set up available at small additional cost.
Complete with fins: $799
Add an additional set of high end glass fins for $79.00

It is that time of  the year again!  The Pismo Beach kiteXpo will be on March 28th and 29th.  We will be down there with Ocean Rodeo.

Here are the details given by The Kite Boarder Magazine:

Spring is around the corner and that means wind, sun and swell for California kitesurfers! Come join the fun as kitesurfers from around the state converge in Pismo Beach, CA, for the annual Pismo Beach KiteXpo sponsored by Xtreme Big Air and supported by The Kiteboarder Magazine.

New this year, SUP Demos!

A great way to get your water fix and exercise when there’s no wind, the SUP demo portion of the event will take place between 9a to 12 noon daily. We will blog if this demo will happen as we are closer to the event. Stay tuned……

* Registration: Daily from 8:45a until 2p

* Demo Hours: 9a to 12p or whenever the wind starts blowing!*

* Skill Level: Use at your own risk. Need to be comfortable in the ocean, aware of others.

* Other: Must sign waiver and provide credit card info security deposit to demo gear. Demos limited

to 20 minutes unless otherwise arranged with vendor.

*SUP demo will be only happen if we get minimum four companies in SUP category.

Free Demo 2009 Gear and Accessories!

So far, 14 companies have signed up to demo. We think we’ll have around 20 total by the time of the Expo! You only need to be an intermediate level kiteboarder or better, able to go upwind consistently, self rescue and handle ‘congestion,’ to be able to demo.

Registered companies so far:

Advance, Best, Caution, Dakine, Eclipse, F-one, Liquid Force, Mystic, Naish (Sol Kiteboarding), Ocean Rodeo, RRD, Slingshot, Wainman Hawaii (Kite Naked) and Underground. Pending are Surf Industries SUP boards, Vari Kites, North, Cabrinha and ???

* Registration: Daily from 8:45a until 2p

* Demo Hours: 12p to 5p

* Skill Level: Intermediate or better only

* Other: Must sign waiver and provide credit card info security deposit to demo

gear.

* Demos limited to 20 minutes unless otherwise arranged with vendor.

Trade In Old Kites, Hang Gliding Sails and Paragliders for “Cash!”

Kitecyle.org is a non-profit organization that recycles your old gear into reusable grocery and all-purpose carrying bags. Bring your old kites, windsurf sails and hang gliding sails and get a tax write off (US Citizens/permanent resident)! Kitecycle.org will be located in/near the registration tent area.

kitecycle.org

Raffle, BBQ and More!

Once again we will have some exciting raffle prizes to give away on both Saturday and Sunday including some Waterproof cases and headphones from H20 Audio and new, high quality watches with kiteboarding graphics from DonkeyDickKiteboarding.com.Stay tuned for updates!

The UCSB Collegiate Kiteboarding Club will be back again to host the BBQ on Saturday the 28th. Tickets are $10 each and quantities are limited. BBQ will start between 5:30p and 6:30p, depending on how long the wind lasts that day! Email

cgherb@aol.com

to make a reservation. We are also trying to get some music. We’ll see!

www.xtremebigair.com/kitexpo for more info

I have been kitesurfing with the H2Audio cases for about 3 years. So I figured I would put a review together for anyone thinking about kiting with music.

First I looked at all the options out there between using a waterproof player or a case for a player. I decide to go with a case for my iPod because of the simplicity. I was already using iTunes to manage my music and it just made sense to keep going that way. I know I played right into what Apple wanted but after talking with a friend using a waterproof player and the problems he had adding and managing music for that player I am glade I did.



When I bought my 1st case the only H2Audio case available was one for my 3rd generation iPod. I am not even going to say how much I paid but it was way too much.

What I learned with this one was that I really didn’t need all the iPod features and that most of the time I would just select a playlist and hit the water. The other thing I learned is that waterproof headphones are not that great. Here are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation H2Audio earphones I have used.

Each generation gets better. Also you do need to be careful with the earphone wires. I have had 2 for the 4 pairs I own break on the inside after getting yanked. A thing that is hard to believe is that they do stay on your head. I would say that 3 of 5 major crashes they stayed in place or just came off of 1 ear.

After a year of kiting with the original case. I saw the shuffle version online and order it along with the second generation earphones. This has turned out to be the best set-up for kiting. It is the perfect size and it is easy to use while kiting.

Over all I have found that the H2Audio cases have worked well for me and most importantly have not leaked.

H2Audio released a new version of their headphone a month or so a go that claims to have better sound. I most likely will pick up a pair and maybe a 2nd generation shuffle and case for it for the 2009 season.

On a related note. Don’t buy the swimman waterproof shuffle. I bought one at the start of this season. After 3 sessions it stopped outputting sound. All other functions worked so it basically became a very expensive thumb drive. I sent it back and they could not fix it so they sent me another one. After 3 sessions the same thing happen to the new one. If you do get one and it last more than 3 sessions let me know

Ocean Rodeo’s international team rider Jeremie Tronet killing it on 2009 Rise and his 129X39 Zen Pro model.

2009 Ocean Rodeo Rise Venturi and Zen 129×39 Jeremie Tronet Pro board from Ocean Rodeo on Vimeo.

I added 1 of my race fins , a 4 inch A-TAC, to my 2009 Mako 140. I put it so it is on the “back” of my strong side and left the stock fin on the “front” side. The results was I could carve super strong in the waves.


I took it out at Dillon beach where the waves where almost double over head on the outside an hip high on the inside. It turned out really good. The Ocean Rodeo Mako twin-tip boards already carve as good as surfboards. The only issue I have ever had is when I really lay into it and the fin breaks free.
With this fin I never had it broke free. I will try it with the 4″ A-TACs on both ends and report back.

We have a fan Now get your own!

Inspection of the 2009 Mako 140

Ocean Rodeo hit a homerun with the Mako 140 kiteboard, I am loving it!

I am just figuring out this board.  It was my second day on it.
It is a true freeride board.
It carves like a surfboard but it is also light and snappy like a skateboard.
If the 150 is a hybird carving surfboard,  the 140 is a hybird carving twintip.

Loading up for a jump is the only thing I need to modify.
Because the tips are round and it only has a center fin on each side you need keep the fin in the water and not use the rail to load up for jumps.

I will post more tips about jumping this board as I learn them.