Big air kiteboarding needs two things most spots can't offer: wind you can trust, and open water to land in. The Wild Atlantic Way, and Silverstrand in particular, has both in spades. That's exactly the kind of place the new Core Pace Pro 2 was built for, and exactly why we've brought it in as Ireland's only stockist.
Why Galway's wind suits a kite like this
Galway Bay sits fully exposed to the Atlantic, which means the wind here isn't the gusty, blocked, thermal-driven stuff you get inland or on more sheltered coasts. It's cleaner and more consistent, and on a proper Atlantic day it holds for hours, not minutes. That consistency matters more with a kite like the Pace Pro 2 than it does with a beginner-friendly all-rounder, because you're relying on the kite behaving the same way jump after jump, loop after loop. A kite that's unpredictable in gusts is a liability when you're well up in the air mid-loop. The Pace Pro 2's move to a 5-strut Aluula frame is specifically aimed at that high-end stability, so it holds its shape and its manners when the wind is properly on. Read our full Pace Pro 2 review for the technical detail.
Why the extra hangtime matters here specifically
Silverstrand and the wider bay give you a genuinely big, safe landing zone, which is rare in Ireland. Most Irish kite spots are tight, rocky, or shared with other water users, and that limits how big you can realistically go. Here, you've got room to use everything a kite like this offers. The Pace Pro 2's "Second Lift" is built to extend that hangtime phase after the initial pop, giving you more time in the air and more room to set up a clean landing rather than bailing early because you're not sure where you'll come down. On a spot with the space to use it, that's not a gimmick, it's the difference between a good session and a great one. If you want to see what else the bay offers once you're airborne, our piece on downwind foiling in Galway Bay covers the terrain in more depth.
Who this actually suits (and who it doesn't)
We'll be straight with you: this is not a kite for someone still learning to loop, and it's not a value buy. At €2,849 for the 6m running up to €3,449 for the 12m, it's a serious piece of kit aimed at riders who already have their technique sorted and want the next step up in height, control and confidence. If you're newer to looping or freeriding more than boosting, the standard Core Pace or the Core NXS will serve you better and cost a lot less. This is for the rider who's already comfortable throwing kiteloops and wants a kite that rewards an active, aggressive style rather than one that does the work for you. If Ireland's changeable weather has you wondering whether any of this is worth the investment, our piece on why the weather doesn't matter here is worth a read too.
Sizing for Irish conditions
The size range (6 to 12m) covers most of what the Wild Atlantic Way throws at you across a season, from the 6m on a proper winter blow to the 10m or 12m on the lighter, more borderline days that are common enough here too. One thing worth knowing if you're coming from an older setup: the Pace Pro 2 only flies with the Sensor 4 or Sensor 4S bar, so factor that into the cost if you're not already on one.
Where to see it
We keep the shop at Silverstrand specifically because it's one of the best big air and freestyle spots on this stretch of coast: open water, reliable Atlantic wind, and none of the crowding you get further up the country. If you've got the loop technique and the budget and you want to see whether the Pace Pro 2 is worth the step up, come out and demo it rather than buying blind. We'd genuinely rather talk you out of it if it's not the right kite for where you're at than sell you something that sits in the garage.
