Meet the Team
We are a small local watersports shop based in Galway, in Barna Village. We love being close to our customers and advising them on what equipment to buy or what apparel they need. We also run a kitesurfing school with all the latest premium gear, so you are as warm, comfortable and safe as you can be.
We have been running since 2022, and proudly opened up our retail shop in September of last year.
Paddy in the Elements is currently Ireland's only recognised Kitesurfing school by the British Kitesports Association (BKSA). This means we have proven that we have full commercial insurance, our school is assessed once a year by a BKSA examiner, we have proven that we have a maintenance log, accident log, emergency accident plans and standard operating procedures. All of our kit (kites, Bouyancy aids, helmets, control bars, wetsuits, harnesses) have been assessed and signed off.
We are proud to work alongside the BKSA to deliver world class training and continue to uphold the industry's highest safety standard. The BKSA have been delivering training since 1999.
Owner/ BKSA Senior Kite Instructor
Owner and Founder of Paddy in the Elements is Paddy :) A local Galwegian, avid water baby at heart, who grew up windsurfing and sailing in Galway Bay from a young age. Paddy then went off to University in the UK where he trained to be a Paramedic and worked for 12 years on a frontline Ambulance in the UK in various settings. Paddy is now registered as an Advanced Paramedic with PHECC in Ireland and is still registered as a Paramedic with the HCPC in the UK. He has worked on various frontline teams specialising in Fire & rescue, rope rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Turbine rescue, Balistics training.
With all this background Paddy places an emphasis on Water safety and should anyone ever require it he can put his background and medical knowledge to use. He also spent 6 years as a lifesaving crewmember with the R.N.L.I in both Plymouth (UK) and Galway. And has his Private Pilots License for a Helicopter, so is up to date with reading weather and charts.
Paddy started kitesurfing in 2018, and fell in love with the sport. He is our Senior BKSA instructor and only teaches 1:1 lessons to ensure students get the best tuition available.
Co-Owner/Founder/Real Boss
Meet Laura, co founder of Paddy in the elements. Laura is a local primary school teacher with over 14 years experience teaching children in both Dublin and Galway. Laura is the creative one, who designed our shop sign to look like a kiteboard and did all the signage as Gaeilge for the shop. Laura wears many hats in the business- Marketing director/Apparel manager/Store Manager/Videographer/Photographer. You will also see Laura in lots of our videos on social media testing our gear and giving reviews. Laura loves hiking in her spare time, paddle boarding and can sometimes be caught wing foiling or kitesurfing. You will mainly see her either in the shop meeting the locals, or out on the beach in sideways rain and wind capturing action shots for Paddy in the elements. Laura will be accompanied by our furry friend (fur baby) Snowy. Snowy enjoys chasing the kitesurfers as they waterstart and kite away.
Shop Mascot/Fur Baby/Photography Assistant
Meet Snowy the 3rd and only fur owner of Paddy in the Elements. Snowy joins both Laura and Paddy on all the kitesurfing adventures and loves to inspect the gear and kite. He also enjoys making sure that launching and landing of the kites is done in a safe manner and will express his dissatisfaction if it isn't (bark at you). Snowy loves digging holes on the beach when he's not watching the locals and Paddy kitesurfing. He is sometimes found in the shop at the weekend's engaging with other local fur babies and ensuring they feel welcome. On a sunny day you will see Snowy basking outside the shop in the sunshine (or checking the perimeter to make sure it's safe). All dogs are welcome in our shop, so feel free to come in and say hello :)
