At Prolimit, we’re always inspired by those who push the limits of their sport, and the SpaceX Kitesurfing crew is no exception. In this interview, we dive into their recent adventure to Achill Island, Ireland—an epic kitesurfing mission full of unpredictable conditions and stunning landscapes. With a focus on fun, camaraderie, and high-quality content, the team’s journey is a perfect example of why we love supporting passionate athletes. From battling stormy weather to capturing breathtaking footage, they remind us that kitesurfing is about much more than just tricks — it's about embracing the experience and having a blast.
Hey guys! Thanks for joining us. We’re a massive fan of what you’re putting out into the media world, as well as inspiring your followers. Let’s chat about Achill Island. Why did you choose this place for your mission? Were there certain aspects of the island that inspired you to explore it through kitesurfing?
With SpaceX Kitesurfing, we were looking for an epic wind-chase mission last summer. After tracking the forecast for more than two months, we saw a storm hitting the coast of Ireland. The funny thing was that we called one of our friends who lives in Dublin, named Colly Murphy, and he told us to go to Achill Island. This remote Irish island is located on the west coast of Ireland and is known for its unique landscapes and dynamic weather, which makes it challenging and inspiring for a kitesurfing mission.
It’s definitely unique! That’s the beauty of a mission, right? The challenges make it exciting. Tell us about your surroundings when you were on the island… Did anything in nature stand out to you?
We arrived at our hostel during the night, so we had no idea what surroundings to expect. The first morning when we woke up was insane—we were next to a beautiful mountain, the sun was shining, and the Irish green is no lie! Everything we saw was green and beautiful. We rode in five different spots during this trip. Some of them were chosen for the best conditions and others for the best background or surroundings. Since we brought Wouter, we could capture not only insane kiteboarding action but also beautiful b-roll of the locations where we were kitesurfing.
One spot that really stood out was the session at the harbor. This isn’t typically a kitesurf spot, so locals came to watch us ride, taking pictures and asking about our plans, haha. We entered the water from the rocks for a short-line session in front of a stunning backdrop with a rock jutting out of the water. Unfortunately, once we were done filming and ready to start taking photos, Marijn and I (Stijn) had a major tangle during a synchronized short-line loop, which ended up breaking our equipment.
Ha! No one likes a tangle… We can definitely relate to that. It’s just a part of the game! We’re guessing it was pretty rugged weather over there. How were the conditions?
One thing we knew before going to Ireland was that rain is really common. The first day, we were super lucky with sunny weather. On the stormy day, our team had to deal with getting soaked all day. It’s a wonder that Wouter’s camera equipment survived; I had never seen such a wet camera!
While kiting, sudden weather changes created challenging conditions for Marijn and me. The combination of really strong wind, huge waves, and heavy rain fronts made it difficult to time our session right. We waited for an hour for the heavy weather to let up, and after that, we had one of the sickest sessions of our lives. Two friends on a remote beach, getting filmed by another friend, and Colly running around with Wouter to try to keep his camera gear dry made this session really special. With winds over 40 knots and waves at least two meters high, it was a session we’ll never forget.
See! There’s always a pot of gold waiting to be found at the end of the rainbow (or storm in your case). Talk us through the local community and culture on the Island.
Achill Island’s community, though small, was welcoming and curious about our mission. Locals shared insights about the island’s hidden spots and recommended areas where the surf would be especially challenging or rewarding. Colly Murphy, our tour guide on this trip, made sure we ate well, slept well, and found the hidden gems for kitesurfing based on the forecast. We were even invited to the Pure Magic kitesurfing restaurant for dinner — if you’re ever down there, it’s a must-visit! ;-)
From our experience, missions require a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Aside from the planning, there’s dealing with the uncertainty of conditions, keeping everyone stoked and ensuring you cash in on those deliverables. What was the overall purpose for this mission?
With SpaceX Kitesurfing, we want to create high-quality content. The episode we shot in Ireland will be used as a pilot to attract more sponsors so we can produce more episodes like this next year. This was our first trip with SpaceX Kitesurfing where our company covered the expenses, and we can’t wait to do more projects like this. Filming for SpaceX was a lot of fun because we were in charge of everything — the planning, locations, and filming angles. Our goal was to capture our new custom SpaceX twintip and Prolimit’s latest lineup.
That’s awesome to hear! Congratulations. You guys seem like a great tight-knit group of friends. How was the team dynamic?
We worked every day from early morning until late at night to get all the shots we needed. Sometimes we’d swing by our place quickly to eat and then head to the next location. We only had four days to capture everything, with just one day of storm conditions. We wanted to be as productive as possible. Teamwork was essential, especially given the unpredictable conditions. Honestly, everything went pretty smoothly; everyone was stoked to work hard and make the trip as sick and fun as possible. Colly even taught us how to drink Guinness the Irish way. This trip was more than just a kitesurfing expedition. It reminded us why we started kitesurfing and about the incredible places this sport takes us.
That’s got to be stressful for sure! Glad to hear you got the ball rolling nice and easy. It’s the simple moments that count, right? Oh, and we expect to see a clip of you drinking Guinness! What are you hoping the kitesurfing community will take from this mission?
At SpaceX Kitesurfing, we aim to have as much fun as possible with our friends. Even though we’re professional kitesurfers, it’s always mainly about the good times we have together on the water and on land, and we wanted to capture that. The video will include plenty of shots focused on having fun together, rather than just landing the biggest or best trick. That’s always the goal of our trips: to have fun. We took a risk traveling to an unknown (to us) location, but in the end, everything turned out perfectly.
That’s the icing on the cake, then! We can’t wait to see it. One last thing because we’re dying to know: what Prolimit gear did you rely on for this epic mission?
For this journey, we brought Prolimit’s latest winter collection. Our favorite wetsuit at the moment is the Prolimit Vapor; it’s amazing how soft a wetsuit can feel against your skin. Prolimit uses a new material called NaturePrene2, which is 100% neoprene free and more eco-friendly. Since we travel so much, it’s a bonus that the gear we wear is sustainably made. The wetsuit feels soft and stretchy at the same time. We’re really into this new suit. We also brought the sleek red Mercury wetsuit. The weather in Ireland was chilly, so we were glad to have plenty of winter gear like hoodies, booties, and other items to keep us warm between sessions.
What an awesome journey the SpaceX Kitesurfing crew had on Achill Island! Their dedication to capturing epic moments and pushing the boundaries of their sport is truly inspiring.
If you’re as stoked as we are to see the full mission video, make sure to follow SpaceX Kitesurfing on Instagram & YouTube for updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Discover the Prolimit gear that powered the SpaceX Kitesurfing crew through their Achill Island mission, including the Prolimit Vapor wetsuit and Mercury wetsuit.
