Christine Sleichter, Florida

by Christine Sleichter
(Florida)

Where are you from? Born in Boston, Massachusetts

Your age? 30 something…

Where did you grow up?
My dad is a retired Air Force Seargant, so we moved  around every 3 yrs. Since I was two…all over the US and Europe.

Tell me a little bit about yourself
I have  lived South Florida  for 17 years now…I have a wonderful profession treating patients  in the field of  Physical therapy with a wide range of diagnoses.. but my forte is working with  traumatic head injuries.  I Just recently found the man of my dreams and got hitched this past May…we both kite and cable every  chance we get…We are total addicts to kiting, cable pulls and just living in the moment.

Music? Mickey Avalon, slightly Stoopid, Incubus  too many to list…

Interested in..? My Ukulele,  Kiting, Yoga, meditation, cable park,  stand up paddling…medicine,art,wine, travel…

Food? Italiano…

Heroes? My parents…In life…with regards to Kiteboarding…Mellisa Gil

Favorite kite/surfing spots for you? Local/Ft Pierce Florida ..South Jetty. Then I would have to say Cumbuco, Brazil and Kite Beach in Maui.

How long have you been doing this? 4 years

Why kite/surfing? Why not…?


What does your family think of this? They worry I will get hurt, but they see how happy it makes me and are proud of me as well.

What does this sport mean to you?
Freedom…I just feel like a kid when I am riding… just trying new things and setting new goals for myself is fun for me. It's  good clean fun…my " me time"..

Favorite tricks?
Before this year..Big Airs , rolls..Just now breaking out of my shell and trying to unhook and go for it..Trying different transition moves every session..riding switch, been getting banged up quite a bit, but it is still better than not trying…

What does this sport demand of you?
Hmmm..it demands I get my arsh out on the water when its blowin ...

Have you ever been in an accident?
Oh boy, haven't told this story in a while..lol. Just when I was learning  how to stay upwind, I broke my right ring finger after pulling my release...( was using a wrist leash hooked up to the wrong ring on my bar..derrr)...It was a gusty day in the keys, and I was  overpowered getting tea bagged and lost my board..I was petrified and was in over my head and remembered to let go of the bar if I felt out of control...so I did. After letting the bar go...the kite was suppose to depower, but because I hooked up the wrist leash to the wrong ring on my bar, it ended up fully powered and started looping pulling me by my wrist downwind, until my wrist leash snapped off my wrist...breaking my ring finger...the kite went down wind and the boat that was chasing me went after it and  to retrieve the kite..the kites lines got stuck in the prop of the engine of the boat and it took them 40 minutes to come back for me...I just kept wondering in the water...if a shark was gonna come and take a chunk outta my leg or something...thank God I was using an impact vest so I didn't have to tread  water for that long...ended up with surgery and 2 pins in my ring finger... could have been way worse though.

Vision...you wishes for the future
For the kiting community to stay friendly and not get so political with each other...just respect one another,have fun together and ride.