One Sad Kiter

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

So I was out kiting monday and was getting ready to have a pretty good time. Wind was looking good, got all my gear out. Rigged my 12 and launched from the sandbar. Was out for maybe 20 mintues and figured I would do a Kiteloop. Was up around 15-20 feet and came down not to hard and was able to stick it and ride away. After the landing, I could feel the waves a lot more in my board than normal, so I headed back to shore to check it out. Turns out my board disagrees with my landing. I completely broke the core in half. So the only thing holding it together are the laminate outer layers.

Worst part of the whole story is that it isn't my board so I'm not only going to have to pay for this one, but now I have to go and get another board before I can go ride again. sigh...

So does anyone have an old beat up board that they wouldn't mind donating to me until i can save up to buy another one? Don't care how scuffed up it is, as long as it can go upwind and preferably in the 130-150 range. I would take it. I don't need pads since I got a really nice pair from the broken board.

Anything would be awesome.

Thanks Very Happy

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

How old's the board you broke? It should be covered by warranty if it's not too old, and even if it's old they may hook you up with something ridable. Worth checking at least.

forrest · Wed May 19, 10 10:32 am

Broken cores are usually a construction problem. Warranty!

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Might want to go for a wood core board on the next one. Foam is cheaper and lighter but not so strong. Bummer.

kitebot · Since 20 Feb 2007 251 Posts Obsessed

Was it a Mako? It seems they're prone to this kind of thing. Most people that break 'em are able to get warranty replacements. Best of luck.

Pepi · Wed May 19, 10 11:30 am

Just PM'd you.

oceanrodeo · Since 17 Jun 2008 13 Posts Victoria BC

We'll need a serial number and photos emailed to sales@oceanrodeo.com to make an assessment on warranty or not. Generally speaking I am in agreement that we are good with warranty on boards but we'll need to see the damage and the serial number to see how old the board is.

Just a note too. The Makos have to be foam core due to the complex curve (concave and rocker) of the bottom shape of the board. If we could make them with wooden cores we would but to date we have not been able to do so.

- BTW - ! - Come out to demo all the 2010 gear this Memorial Day weekend in conjunction with Windance in Hood River! Evan and I will be in town and running demos all day both Saturday and Sunday with a band and keg for Saturday night. Check www.windance.com for more info.

John Zimmerman
Sales & Marketing Manager
Ocean Rodeo Sports

j · Since 08 Nov 2006 94 Posts Seattle

Amazing that anyone could even recognize the board, let alone the manufacturer coming onto the board and asking for warrenty pics, and all within two hours!

respect.

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

It is a 2008 Ocean rodeo Mako 150 wide. Which I love. That board is awesome!!!

Been riding it for a while and it is by far, the best all around board on the market that I have ridden so far.

Maybe my riding style is starting to be more conducive with the zen. I guess I just need two boards.

Thanks Pepi: I'll call you tomorrow. Very Happy

Ocean Rodeo: Just emailed you guys with the serial number and more pics and I will be at the demo! Wouldn't miss it.

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

My Mako delaminated when I was out riding one day. Not even a hard landing to blame it on, the tip just opened up.

I posted it on the OR web site. No offer to cover it under warranty (but hey its more than a year old) but they did offer suggestions on how to epoxy it back together. By the amount of comments I got from other riders with similar issues it sounds like it is not an uncommon problem. Bummer as I love the board and really would like to get another Mako but its a lot of $$ to spend for a board that may not last more than a year.

FYI the epoxy job held for only one session then the board delaminated in a new spot...

wylieflyote · Wed May 19, 10 6:17 pm

My Mako got robbed from my home last month, and I was firm on racing out and getting the replacement with my ins. money. Then I read the OR forum posts and changed my mind. Too bad, that board is a hoot for downwinders.

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

I know Ocean Rodeo can't make the Mako Core out of wood, but has there been any thought on using a high end plastic such as plexiglass or an acrylic glass as the core instead of the foam? You can shape that stuff into any design and it is much stronger.

Just a thought.

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

I have to chip in here, hard to not too. Just in case someone doesn't know we are a shop that sells Makos.

Foam core boards can break, so can wood but it's a lot rarer. As John from OR said the unique Mako shape means they have to be built from foam. However we have have had less then 1% breakage. Not enough to worry about.

PM me if you need more info

Also Ocean Rodeo is here next weekend to demo the boards and kites, more on that in a later post.

Dave
Windance owner
& CGKA member

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

My mako delaminated too. one day i was doing a board off like 10000 feet up and i dropped it and i was like oh shit. So i finally came down from my huge jump later that day, and I went to the beach and got my board and shit it was delaminated. I really like this board as it is super light and gives me super boosty air hang dangle time. Is this warrantyable also? Where can i find my serial number?? I think that part of the board that has that info lost all the paint on that last jump as i accelerated upwards so fast on my jump to dangle altitude.

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

From previous post it appears that a Mako can be made with a wood core. Suspect that foam is cheaper but at $799 the Mako is not exactly an inexpensive board..

kitemare · Since 23 Mar 2010 265 Posts Seattle, wa Obsessed

UPDATE: OR is covering my board under warranty. Their customer service is awesome!

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Glad to hear everything worked out. Good of them to hook it up.