Core Pace Pro 2 Kite

For context, the kite I have spent the most time on in the last year is the previous version of this kite. I think the Core Pro series kites are awesome and if you are riding at a high level or aspiring to ride at a high level then they should be at the top of your list of kites to ride. That said, they are kind of purpose built big air machines that come with some drawbacks. The XR Pro 2 is incredibly boosty and provides a TON of hang time. It's meant to be an uncompromising big air powerhouse. However, I would describe the riding experience as violent. That kite rips you off the water so fast it feels like you're being kicked in the back by a mule. That's awesome if that's what you're going for but I personally prefer a more mellow power delivery and slightly less intense kite flying experience. That is why I have mostly been flying the Pace Pro v1. You get most of the jumping ability at the sacrifice of hang time, and the kite steers notably faster than the XR Pro. The Pace Pro 1 was meant to be the best looping kite on the market and I think it probably is. It has been massively helpful in helping be dial in kite loos, but for just doing straight airs I find I can get a bit higher on some other 5-strut performance jumping kites. The Pace Pro 2 feels like it combines the best of both of these worlds. You get a kite flying experience that is much more similar to the V1 Pace Pro, but you still get that added boost and hang time of the 5-strut XR Pro. That said because of the 5-strut design it does feel notably slower than the older Pace Pro, but the hang time is improved and the catch is still good. For me, I am still trying to get better at loops and the older version of the Pace inspires more confidence for that purpose than the new one. However, If you are already a confident looper, or just want to send it big with a little less intensity than the XR Pro, then you should definitely consider the Pace Pro 2.