CORE Kiteboarding Pace Pro 9m 2024
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
The Pace Pro is being hailed as a groundbreaking addition to CORE's impressive lineup of kites. It is explicitly designed for enthusiasts seeking ultimate big air performance and fast kite loops. This kite represents a significant evolution in the realm of big air and freestyle for CORE, making it the fastest big air kite they have ever developed.
A standout feature of the Pace Pro is the three-strut airframe constructed from Aluula, an advanced material that combines stiffness and lightness. This construction allows for an exceptionally thin leading edge and strut diameters, reducing air resistance and enhancing the kite's speed. The build quality as ever on the CORE kites is second to none. The canopy is made from their exclusive CORTEX 2® triple ripstop canopy, which is highly durable and has been tested extensively in their lab.
The bridle is fixed, and there are no pulleys, which helps improve the kite's responsiveness and offers a more direct feel through the bar. This new feature for CORE, which has always used a pulley bridle system, allows the kite to turn much faster and makes it very easy to loop, which was the key design feature when working on the kite.
The Pace Pro is specifically optimised for use with the Sensor 4 bar, developed alongside the kite to enable CORE to use a fixed bridle and still offer a full depower when the safety is deployed. The new Single Frontline Safety (SFS+) system allows the kite to fully depower in case of an emergency, ensuring rider safety while maintaining the kite's refined performance features. It is crucial to note that the Pace Pro should only be flown with the Sensor 4 bar to guarantee optimal functionality, as older models like the Sensor 3S do not support the necessary safety systems for fixed bridles, meaning you won't get a full depower when the safety is deployed.
The kite is very lightweight, and there is a noticeable difference when you pick it up compared to a kite using standard materials.
Sizes: 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 10m, 11m, 12m, 13.5m
In The Air
The first thing you will notice about the Pace Pro is how fast it is. With no pulleys on the bridle, the kite is super responsive and very direct. You can really feel the connection through the bar and the instant response from the kite. It is a very dynamic kite to fly, and it feels like an extension of your body.
The kite generates plenty of power in the turns, and you can really feel the pull from the kite as you steer it through the window. It is an exciting kite to fly and perfect for riders looking for a high-performance big air kite. The jumps are explosive, and the kite has a good amount of lift, allowing you to get some serious airtime.
The hangtime is impressive too, allowing you to throw some big old tricks in the air, perhaps not as much hangtime as the XR Pro, but it isn't far off. The kite is also very, very good at looping, and you can generate some serious power by sending it through the window. It is a very stable kite, and the loops are very fast and predictable, allowing you to get the timing dialled in. If you crank the bar, you can get a fast pivotal loop, which is easy to pull and great for inspiring confidence; pull the bar a little less, and it develops a more powerful arc with lots of pull through the turn.
One thing the Pace Pro is very good at is catching you; the last part of the loop, the kite, climbs with ease, thanks to the lightweight nature of the kite. You will struggle to get caught out with the Pace Pro and this will keep your confidence level high throughout the session. The kite generates a decent amount of power through the turns, which helps to keep you powered up. The kite also has a good amount of depower, allowing you to dump power when needed. This makes it easy to control and gives you the confidence to go for new tricks.
One question people will always ask about this kite is whether they should choose the Pace Pro, the XR8, or the XR Pro. They are very different kites; the XR is an easy-to-use jumping machine, and the Pace Pro is much faster, making it a kite that needs good pilot skills to get the most out of it. If you are a confident rider with good kite skills looking to loop and loop a lot the Pace Pro is for you, if your ride is more about the freeriding, big air and hangtime, then the XR is the way to go.
The relaunch is very good, and the kite is quick to roll over and get back in the air after a crash. The thin struts and leading edge help the kite to shed water, and the lightweight construction makes it easy to relaunch even in light winds.
Overall
The Pace Pro is an exciting new addition to the range from CORE. It is a high-performance freeride kite that offers excellent speed and responsiveness. The jumps are explosive, and the kite generates plenty of power through the turns. The loops are predictable and stable, and the depower is impressive. If you are looking for a kite that offers excellent performance at a competitive price, then the Pace Pro should be on your radar.
Videos
This review was in Issue 107 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit CORE KiteboardingRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
