Skyhooked

That right there could be why you get bored just cruising around!

Friendliest locals around; would you believe even the Orkney tourist board gave me the contact details of a couple of the guys up there? Glad you enjoyed the vid fellas.

If it's a wave kite you're after my recommendation is the 3 struts, easiest thing in the world to fly, loads of power. Best of all it comes in a 9.5m which has a massive wind range right through the sweet spot of wind for waves. They're distributed from the UK now and demo kites are available. EDIT: Oh just seen you're after a 12m too; you really would get on with a 12m Prodigy if you want a kite with low end power that you can still throw about.

The Granitarium from Dom Moore on Vimeo.

Just bringing up my post

The Prodigy is a sweet kite isn't it? I bend my 9.5m into all sorts of situations and it doesn't seem to mind! And you're right, it does need to get into the hands of more people Right...I was responding to this statement: 'you still haven't said what the "embassadors" (sic) get for driving sales' (I had, one page prior if the asker had bothered to look lol) which I thought made it seem as if we are asking BA's to get out there and push the product or get involved in the sales process in some way, which we are not at all (although some countries we have a referral scheme but that is a different conversation.) I think everyone knows the net result of having BAs (or 'team riders' as some brands call them) is to increase sales, but we we're not asking people to change their regular riding habits or the way they approach kitesurfing, rather good people on good kit is a good association for other people to make. I think most kiters have exceedingly low pimping tolerances (or very sensitive bullshit detectors) and find people banging on about their stuff beyond the informative a bit of a bore. Where are you in Scotland? I'm not long home from a few weeks in Orkney and the Hebrides.

John (Ocean Rodeo 2) cleared this up a bit better in one of his replies - here it is again: "...the Brand Ambassador program is really our way of trying to reward the most loyal customers through recognition and empowerment to help them better a brand they love. And yes, it comes with a discount on gear facilitated by us through their local retailer. As Dom mentioned we are looking for riders already familiar with the brand so they can speak knowledgeably about us and about the gear but we are also open to applications from suitable riders who are willing to learn about the brand and remain loyal - as he said, we are not looking to back door deals to anyone nor are we looking for brand hoppers who will move onto the next best deal next year" OR is a smaller brand, but like many smaller brands there are pockets around the country / world where there is quite a presence. Down here where I live, there are often more OR kites and boards on the water on a busier day than others. And then there are the drysuits...

From the that heel kick at the start you could tell it was going to be a good day

Carl I've answered this already mate on page 4 - You know how most sponsored riders don't really get their gear for free, but at a considerable discount? The Beach Ambassador program is similar to that but instead of earning discount by being able to do multiple handlepass variations the rider just needs to be an amiable chap that really loves kitesurfing and wants to share the 'stoke' (there really is no other word for it). So it's a chance for the average kiter who puts a lot into their sport at their spot to save quite a few quid. All brands offer something similar (in some cases and some countries it's all they offer SMH) but the difference here is that OR are only after a few people already familiar with the kit and into the brand rather than someone just after a quick deal before moving onto the next brand. If it turns out that someone gets on the program for their stoke sharing ways and develops into a competition winning kiter, then there are further rewards in place for that. Call it a 'ridiculous discount', if you like.

Fixed it for you

Driving sales is done by the reps (who are compensated financially) not beach ambassadors but all the same your question can be answered by reading the thread. Well done for your spelling of 'embassadors', personally it was the apostrophe in the thread title that was driving me crazy.

You jelly?

Where's the like button when you need it. Nice one Tomeltot! Now that the conversation is drifting away from etymology, I'd like to introduce a little kite chatter if I could - to wit, if you've not flown a recent Ocean Rodeo kite, the Prodigy is a good place to start. There are a couple of demo kites in the UK or if you ever come down to Cornwall I have some that folk are welcome to try. We (OR) once did a 'pay it forward' scheme with a kite that let folk test it for a couple of weeks before posting it on to the next guy on the list. Maybe that needs revisiting. Oh, Plummet - agreed mate the 150 Mako is a little slice of heaven.

You know how most sponsored riders don't really get their gear for free, but at a considerable discount? The Beach Ambassador program is similar to that but instead of earning discount by being able to do multiple handlepass variations the rider just needs to be an amiable chap that really loves kitesurfing and wants to share the 'stoke' (there really is no other word for it). So it's a chance for the average kiter who puts a lot into their sport at their spot to save quite a few quid. All brands offer something similar (in some cases and some countries it's all they offer SMH) but the difference here is that OR are only after a few people already familiar with the kit and into the brand rather than someone just after a quick deal before moving onto the next brand. If it turns out that someone gets on the program for their stoke sharing ways and develops into a competition winning kiter, then there are further rewards in place for that.

Selling my Ocean Rodeo Razor 8m 2013 kite with bar and lines. This kite is in excellent condition. It has had very little use. I sits too close to my 7m kite so I tend to go on that when it's windy, hence this little beauty is still crispy and with all of its life ahead of it. The bar and lines have had a lot of use though. The bar and chicken loop assembly is solid, but you would want to replace the lines eventually to match the newness of the kite though they will get you going for a few sessions yet. This kite can also be flown on any standard 4 line bar with front line safety. The Razor is a high-end, premium kite. The kite with bar and lines new costs £1100. It packs a massive boost and serious hangtime - this is the kite to pull out when the wind gets over 20knots and you want to get the adrenaline pumping. It is packed with proprietary features and technology such as Venturi: this is the vent on the canopy of the kite that reduces the amount of back stall, meaning that you get a higher performance kite than is usually achievable. It also has FST wingtips - this is the angled section of the wingtip that gives you a greater surface area in the tip. This means more leverage for snappy, quick powerful turns and better balance in the sky. If you like fast turning, powerful kites with great lift, the Ocean Rodeo Razor will put a rather substantial grin on your face. Fire over any questions. this is an absolutely solid kite with excellent performance. http://i.imgur.com/s99LFZJ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/sCzROmm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5V0OgUv.jpg http://i.imgur.com/euJzu8F.jpg [img[http://i.imgur.com/GP6XcVk.jpg[/img] http://i.imgur.com/BU1NdxO.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ltC2lgx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/LRZPBiZ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/JMc48ko.jpg http://i.imgur.com/08b1doO.jpg http://i.imgur.com/DyZQLe1.jpg

Young, broke and full of stoke...t-shirt slogan there, you could be onto something Mick

Up on the eBay - worth a follow!! Ocean Rodeo Mako 130x135cm kiteboard | eBay

It's true the townspeople have dial-up, and some of them even know how to use it!

Haha, I do get your point - but these guys are Canadian, probably out chopping trees and racing snowmobiles most of the time, I think it's just their slang. Back to the OP's link - I'm pretty sure they'd be looking for riders way over the age of 19 too, at least that's what I hear!

You're getting your knickers in a bunch at the use of the word 'stoke' And in reply to your PM - How dya mean like? - As above Don't mean anything by it, just sayin' :/

Are you OK?

No, no from impact with the water; I don't think it's realistically possible. The only leak I got was on a suit with built in socks. I used wetsuit shoes once and some very coarse 'glass sand' got between the suit and the shoe and abraded it around the seam. A dive shop re-taped it in a couple of hours but that's all.

Haha that can't be true since so many folk are still wearing boardshorts over wetsuits Agreed duckdiving in a regular drysuit is impractical (impossible), there are technologies that fit a thin neoprene skin over the suit that solves that but it's not for every body.