For the last year I have owned a 3 metre polaris firebird kite which I think is a fixed bridle kite. I use handles and a Ground Industries Flite Lite board.

I am competent enough now to freeride around, make a transition of direction and get a little bit of air. I have a lot of experience with snowboarding, a bit of wakeboarding and a few lessons on the water kitesurfing.

I am looking for a depowerable kite for use on the land board in the widest amount of wind conditions but I would also like to be able to take it onto the water if possible (even if that meant only in a small window of wind conditions). The land board is the priority but even on land I spend most of my time in a grassy bumpy and sometimes boggy football pitch so I need a fair bit of pull to get going.

Im 5ft 8” and 14 stone (pretty stocky build).

I have done some research and think I need a HQ Neo or Flysurfer Pulse 2 but wondered if anyone could give me some advice?

The kite surf instructor told me I should get a 12M bow kite for the water and not to get a flysurfer style kite but I only will get on the water a few times a year and not sure if this would be practical on the land? I could always get a normal depowerable kite for the landboard and a totally separate kite for the water? But ideally thought a NEO or FLYSURFER might work in both the football field, beach and help me practice on water when the opportunity arose (I live a long way from the beach so only a few times a year)?

I realise there is a big price difference but I belive you get what you pay for so don’t mind paying the extra for a flysurfer (or even getting a good kite for land only now and getting a dedicated water kite later?)

I will also need a harness if you can recommend one that can be used in all environments?

Thanks

Ryan

You can use the Neo, Pulse 2, & any inflato on land and water.

Inflatos are very popular with landboarding these days, so are cross over kites like FS and HQ's as they cut down on costs of owning land and water based kites, this is something that will grow in popularity 3 fold in the next few years.

Relaunching inflatos on land is a PITA, especially if you are new to them.

If you can recognise the difference in quality vs price, the Pulse 2 you will see why it costs more than the Neo.

It does not surprise me your kite instructor steers clear of closed cell inflatos (HQ, FS) mostly it is ignorance, majority of them do not land kite which means they have not used open cell or closed cell foils before, hence where the mindset comes from.

You should make your own decision, try before you buy if possible, test inflatos vs closed cells and see what fits best for you, if you are only on the water a few times, look more at the closed cell kites. Easier to land and launch, and will take more punishment on hard ground.

Something else to consider resale value on inflatos is lousy, closed cells especially FS kites hold their value much better, this will only matter to you if you update the kites often.

Luke S.

What kind of winds do you typically have ?

Have you looked at Peter Lyn arcs ?

I am still being converted but am finding that a 15m seems to cover a huge range. It's big draw back is that it needs about 8+ kts. to fly. The arc has 2 big advantages. Auto zenith and it's gust munching style.

If your winds are mostly sub 8 then your options get limited.

f you are going to be landboarding, definitely go for an ARC.... i have found that i am a whole lot more comfortable being hooked into my phantoms than i am being hooked into my flysurfer (has nothing to do with size)... the arcs have power available, when you want to dial it in... they also allow you do lay off the power a little better IMO...

flysurfers are great kites, i want at least one more.... but they deliver power very well... this translates into higher, more abrupt speed on a landboard... i like the smooth delivery of power from an arc.... and yes, you can fly an arc on water...

my new quiver will consist of arcs for landboarding, fixed bridles fo r buggying, and flysurfers for surfing... when i become wealthy of course