Hello All. I got an Ocean Rodeo Stick Shift bar last year. I really like the adjustable stopper that I put way out for my long arms. The on the bar power/depower I am not to keen on, but it is OK. I also like the light weight and feel of the curved ends.
However, I broke one of the central lines.
I contacted the person at the company that sold it to me, they sent me a set of 4 lines for 200US$, but these are the outer part of the lines, no the proximal part of lines that go through the bar that I need. He tells me he contacted OR and they are "not available".
I contacted Ben Wilson, since his bars are identical(he co-designed them), also not available and offered to put me in touch with someone that can make some.
I have sent Ocean Rodeo email after email, phone call to customer service and even sales, no reply.
Anybody else have this experience with Ocean Rodeo?
Hard kick in the face from a company to which I paid 700$ for a bar...

Hi Desertsurfer,

Perhaps you could post some clear pics of the parts you need and how they join together? Where did that line break? OR says their front lines are rated for 580KG so it seems odd that they would break that easily within the first year.

If the company that makes the bar can't help you that's usually not a good sign.

I would suggest you contact Ocean Rodeo Canada directly regarding this issue. They have been really helpful back when I was a customer of them.

There are long threads on Kiteforum about this bar, I suggest you read them.

As a last resort you could tweak/customize this bar yourself but I wouldn't recommend this especially if you've never done any such mods before. This could compromise your safety system or lead to other issues.

Good luck

Christian

Thanks for the input Christian.

No performance issues or problems with the safety or anything else.

One central line broke due to no fault of Ocean Rodeo, I had the lines laid out on the beach, a quad went over them and only one of the central lines broke, the one that goes straight through the swivel at the top of the chicken loop and to the ring for the safety leash.

I will keep on trying to contact Ocean Rodeo, which I have been doing since July 17th.

If nothing else, wanted to make people aware of the lack of support/part from Ocean Rodeo if you are considering buying their stuff. They of course make some nice stuff, but I have been stuck with an unusable, product that could be easily fixed with replacement line.

Hey DS where are you? Not in Australia?

I have PM'd you, I'll try and help get you sorted.

Christian - the parts are easy to replace mate, all parts - lines, winder etc are easily accessible on this bar, it's probably hard to see that clearly on Google.
I haven't had / heard of any safety release issues here yet either.

I have the stick shift and had an issue of my own making, and Nigel at East Coast kitesurfing sorted me overnight.
Ocean Rodeo do have great service I can attest from this Australian agent.

PS. love my stick shift.

Yea Paulo, I like it a lot too. I am 6'2" and have long gorilla arms like the picture of the guy giving the finger on your image. To be able to push way out for depower on the wave I move the stopper way up on the plastic tube.
The power/depower with the knob is more accessible, but you give up the ability you have on the traditional systems to give it a good yank and be fully depowered. So good and bad there.

Hey mate, definitely get on to EastCC. Nigil is a top bloke and will definetly help you strait away. I cant help but think there must have been some sort of "lost in translation" situation with the lines and communication

Finally got through to OR, don't know what the reason was for a month of delay, but all good, 25$ plus shipping for the "leader lines" as they are called, will get me back on my OR Stick Shift bar, which I am looking forward to...

Good to hear. Sorry for the delays, not sure why, but they're checking into it.

Just a thought, leader lines are usually 3m dyneema. I'm guessing the leaders would have a loop at each end to attach to the trimming mechanism.

It's dead easy to splice dyneema. You could have bought some dyneema and spliced up new leaders for about $5.

It's fair enough to expect service from a manufacturer and local dealers. But if you're stuck then being able to sort it out yourself makes life so much easier.

More importantly, it would encourage confidence in a new product if your expensive revolutionary bar is easily serviced using readily available materials and common techniques.

Select to expand quote

Gorgo said..
Just a thought, leader lines are usually 3m dyneema. I'm guessing the leaders would have a loop at each end to attach to the trimming mechanism.

It's dead easy to splice dyneema. You could have bought some dyneema and spliced up new leaders for about $5.

It's fair enough to expect service from a manufacturer and local dealers. But if you're stuck then being able to sort it out yourself makes life so much easier.

More importantly, it would encourage confidence in a new product if your expensive revolutionary bar is easily serviced using readily available materials and common techniques.

Correct, easily replaced and a loop either end on the fronts, so if you're into making you're own lines you just need to get them the correct length and you're away.
Rear leaders are easy as well.

Correction
That'll be $5 per meter for dyneema.
Depending how long your lines are, sounds like $25 is a bargain.

Someday will learn to splice lines, maybe get the stuff to do it and spend time on the beach doing this on windless days...
Got the leader lines, now the only problem is getting the thick doubled up leader line through the metal tube that goes through the safety system. I am told to lubricate the line with water or something, will try this and see if it does the job. I ran a wire through and pulled and pulled, but unable to get it through so far.

Select to expand quote

Desertsurfer said..
Someday will learn to splice lines, maybe get the stuff to do it and spend time on the beach doing this on windless days...
Got the leader lines, now the only problem is getting the thick doubled up leader line through the metal tube that goes through the safety system. I am told to lubricate the line with water or something, will try this and see if it does the job. I ran a wire through and pulled and pulled, but unable to get it through so far.

It goes through relatively easy but you need to use a piece of fishing line or something similar to pull it through.

any questions or issues pm me.

Yes Nigel, got it done by pulling it through with a thin wire. Back on track, thanks for all, got a working Stick Shift again.

I have one for a year now, but I got it from a demo stock, they had it for a Qld season and I've had no problems with it so far.
Let me know if you need this part I have a new spare, as I was travelling to Mauritius and didn't want to risk it.
I have the " frontline leaders liros Dpros 2.5" and Im in WA. Contact me on bonnysulistyo@gmail.com happy to help.