We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa KiteMermaid Mejia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa KiteMermaid, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Seeing first hand how kiteboarding changes lives to a much more healthy, freeing and joyful lifestyle. When you are kiteboarding, you don’t think about anything else, all problems go away when you are just being pulled by a kite and gliding on the water. It is true joy and a great therapy for those who are seeking to have an healthy release from their everyday stress.

I became very passionate about the sport after my very first lesson. It took me less than an hour of kite flying back in 2010 for me to know that it was what all I wanted to do, and that this was my purpose in life: I needed to share this amazing sport with more people. They needed to find out it existed and feel this freedom.

Being the only female in South Florida that owns a kiteboarding school (actually there’s only a couple of females that run kite schools in the United States) I knew that if I worked hard enough, I could make it work, and I would make it work because I knew undoubtedly that this is what I was supposed to be doing all along. I had dropped everything else in my life to follow this journey of freedom. I had found my calling in life. To be honest, it wasn’t easy, even learning the sport for me was quite challenging, but I wanted it so badly, I didn’t stop.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our school is the best in the area  because not only our teachers are top notch, but our spots are ideal for fast and easy progress. We give our lessons at varios Miami Sandbanks but our favorite spot is Stiltsville, a beautiful massive sandbar south of Key Biscayne, accesible only by boat. There you can find the easiest conditions possible for kiteboarding: flat and shallow water that makes it much safer and faster to learn. Students learn in half of the time than they do on the beach, and with very little risk. They are away from obstacles, buildings, beach goers & waves.

It was not easy to obtain a commercial access to this spot, it actually took us almost 2 years to obtain the permit to be able to operate at Stiltsville,
This permit, which didn’t exist before, was primarily created by us, South Florida Kiteboarding, working along with the very helpful and committed NPS park rangers. It took us several weeks to reach a mutual understanding of the park’s rules and their concerns, as well of their complete understanding and support of our sport and its implications.

By the park addressing their particular environmental safety concerns and their set protocols, we were able to co actively commit and find the best way we could team together to positively fight for the park’s preservation and overall regulations. We created a strong bond that had lasted throughout the years.

And now, by being able to instruct in the best spot in the area, our kiteboarding students are becoming independent riders fast but in a more safely manner.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I have friends in town, if windy,  we of course go kiteboarding! But if not, we meet at our beautiful Rickenbacker Marina where our vessels are located, and I take them to see Miami by boat! We go snorkel at Stiltsville, grill at Boca Chita, and we finish our day at Rusty Pelican for happy hour to enjoy an incredible view of miami skyline and the sunset from the bay. 

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank all my clients that have put their trust in me. They have been loyal to South Florida Kiteboarding and the sport, and by word of mouth have turned our community into a big family. Thank you all!

Website: www.southfloridakiteboarding.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/southfloridakiteboarding?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SFKB1?mibextid=O4c6Bo

Image Credits
Kike Valderrama

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.