The HQ Neo is a crossover kite that can fly on the snow, water, and land. I have flown the kite for almost a month now on the land and the water.

For landboarding, it is an excellent kite with a lot of pop. I've been able to jump 3 meters high and 5 meters in length on the land with no problem (I weigh 175 pounds)--the wind was around 10 to 15 knots.

The 11 meter is equivalent to a 13 meter LEI, so for kitesurfing, you need to have at least 15-20 mph in order to get going (if you weigh as much as I do). The kite does not generate enough power for kitesurfing in 10-15 knots (I recommend getting the 14 meter if you are interested in light wind kite surfing).

I had two problems: the bar needed to be tweaked--remove one of the safety releases, and then everything works fine, and the second was setting up the bridle (you have to have the lines set up in a triangle, not like a square--I have the Apex, so I was a little confused at first-- I also had one of the bridle lines get undone and didn't put the brake line on right--it took me a second to fix that, but then the kite flew fine).

The kite also takes a little while to inflate (30-60 seconds), but once you learn how it inflates as it goes up to the zenith, there's no problem. People were watching me at Cape Hatteras and were really amazed that it just took off immediately (just don't forget to zip it up before you try to self-launch).

Now, water launching with this kite is not a problem. It easily relaunches from the water. The only time there could be a potential problem is if you crash the kite where large waves are crashing onto the beach. Then, the closed cells do get some water in them (but your LEI would just BURST--I've burst a bladder before!), but HQ has put these dirtouts/waterouts that let all the water out really easily. Then you can relaunch it, even without undoing your lines.

I love this kite because in 8 mph steady wind at the beach, I can landboard really fast and jump. When the wind kicks up, I just get my kiteboard and go kitesurfing. So, you can basically do everything you want with this kite. Launching is extremely simple, just like my 10 meter Apex open cell kite. I haven't gone snowboarding with it, so I can't inform you about that aspect of the kite. I can say that there are a lot of people out on the web who are knocking this kite (but they haven't even flown it, so what do they know LOL!). I guess they have a Flysurfer or Peter Lynn and can't be objective (I'm sure Flysurfer makes great kites, and so does Peter Lynn, but I can't evaluate them because I've never flown them! I hope you don't think I have to buy a Peter Lynn to write this review....). I have flown C-kites with a lot of power, and I can say that this kite has one advantage over a 12 meter C-kite--its rockhard stability. I almost NEVER crash this kite because it responds directly to the input I give it on the bar.

I was landboarding once, and I lost a nut on the beach. I just jumped off my board and looked for the nut, all the time while the kite was hovering in the air. It is probably not as stable as a Peter Lynn (you do have to move the bar every once in a while), but it is amazingly stable. As for modifying the bar, that was easy to modify, just take out the big red ball and the yellow line near the bar by undoing the lark's head knot near the safety release. I'll swear that the Neo is a good kite--and I've flown different kites from inflatables to foils.

One last point: this kite is good for intermediate riders. I would not suggest it for beginners. There is one primary reason: it has a lot of power and can easily lift you. Beginners also would benefit more from a very stable kite without much lift, like the HQ Apex (that kite is designed only for beginners). You can see that the Neo has a lot of lift in the videos posted on youtube. I like it--I am not even using my inflatables anymore because I don't like the hassle of pumping up kites and getting help with launching.

Now, on another note, I am sure that a Flysurfer, a Peter Lynn, a Neo, and many inflatable bow/hybrid kites are all great kites in the hands of a rider who is familiar with her or his own equipment. So, if I can contribute anything to discussions about the validity of a review, I suggest that those who make comments knocking a kite first go and try one out and see how it flies. As for those who fly Flysurfers and think that they are the only way to go, more power to you. For those of you who prefer an Ozone, just remember that the Neo is a kite like the Ozone with the advantage of being able to fly on water as well. I am really happy because I enjoy landboarding and always wanted to kitesurf with a kite I landboard with. This kite has been perfect. I just wish I also had the 14 meter for kitesurfing on light wind days (I live 200 miles from the beach). I hope this review has been useful for you. I don't work for HQ, but I am satisfied with my kite so far.