thoughts and prayers for injured kiter in la ventana

ricki · Since 30 Jun 2006 26 Posts

My sincere sympathy on Christina's loss to her family and friends. I wish them all the best in coping at this terrible time.

Rick

Bettyboarder · Thu Dec 11, 08 1:04 pm

Major loss for our community...I am sorry for her family and friend loss.

Please keep us posted if there is anything we can do or if any funds are set up in her name.

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Our thoughts are with her family and friends. One of my daughters plays with one of hers and we feel so sad for her loss. It's times like this when a great community shows it's sympathy and charity. We would like to help in any way we can.

Dave

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

This is super sad news. My heart goes out to Christina's family. She willed be missed but not forgotten.

I would like to share something here. Since this is a local kite forum, I will keep my thoughts here about Christina to local kiting. There is so much other stuff that can be said about her and I will leave that up to others. Most women and lots of men at the kite beach say "Christina is my inspiration". If you are not one of these people, then ask someone that is and then you'll understand a little about her passion.

Christina counted the number of days that she kited. The last I heard, she had 80 days at the Sandspit/Rufus this year. She loved being at the beach and riding with everyone, spreading her positive attitude with a beautiful smile. She loved catching big air and surfing swells by the White Salmon Bridge. Without exaggeration, she went bigger than most guys. And her surfing style was pure beauty.

One of the last days that I got to kite with Christina was this autumn. There was great swell at the bridge, about 5 people out, and the sun was setting. At this time of the year the sunset aligns perfectly with the Gorge. Everyone was hooting at this incredible sunset wave session. Christina was downwind of me as we were surfing toe side toward Oregon. She cuts back hard on a big swell and throws up huge spray. The setting sun illuminated her spray into this surreal orange mist and through it she gives me one of her classic "I am the happiest girl in the world" smiles.

That's my memory of her.

Ken Lucas

marksride · Since 18 Dec 2007 15 Posts Hood River

To be inspired is to share.
Christina always shared joy and love on and off the water.
This morning I swam with passion for her, for all that live life to the fullest.
We will miss her, cherish the time you have with friends and family.

A smile so bright will not fade.

Much love to her friends and family.

Mark Ribkoff

forrest · Thu Dec 11, 08 2:30 pm

One of my favorite people to see out on the water, smiling always. I didn't know here very well but her absence will be noticed.

My thoughts and prayers for her family and friends.

viento · Since 18 Dec 2005 56 Posts

I never met Christina but can see that she was a very special person. To see this happen to anyone at any time is tragic, but just before the holidays to a mother and one of our own breaks my heart. I know everyone wants to help and for some of us who are not close to the family a donation is one way. I just went to US Bank here in Portland to find out how to open an account for the family. It is easy to do and I amy happy to do it, however I feel somewhat uncomfortable being the trusty on the account as I am not being part of the family. If someone knows how to do something online then lets get it up and running if not someone PM me or post something and I will get the account set up ASAP. Lets do something!

Ryan Schenk

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

What a sad tragedy.

Life is so very precious, fragile, and sad at times.

marina c · Thu Dec 11, 08 2:50 pm

This is a sad day for the nw community. I do not believe I met Christina but I am profoundly saddened by this news. Christina sounds like she was a wonderful person, mom and kiteboarder who brought a lot of joy to those around her and provided inspiration for many. Gone but not forgotten, cherish what you have today as you never know what life holds tomorrow.

markmoe · Since 11 Dec 2008 2 Posts New Member

Please go to this link to share memories, pictures, and your thoughts of Christina at Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38933401247

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

I feel truly sad for Christina's family and friends. I did not know Christina but know that she was loved by many. The out pouring of sympathy makes me feel proud to be part of the NW Kiteboarding community.

Nak · Thu Dec 11, 08 3:00 pm

I never met Christina, yet I am still saddened by her loss. It's easy to see the positive influence she had on our world by reading this thread. What a terrible and heartbreaking tragedy. Christina, you will be sorely missed.

vangondc · Thu Dec 11, 08 3:20 pm

My condolences to the family, I will miss hanging with her this summer while waiting for the wind to come up for the daily afternoon kite session.

endoshred · Since 22 May 2006 232 Posts HR Stoked

i just remember Christina's warm and welcoming personality. an amazingly strong and skilled kiter with a smooth graceful style. she gave all of us so much stoke on the water this summer. seemed that at every one of the most unforgetable big swell days at the white salmon bridge she was there. she was always smiling and yelling to us as we passed......weaving in and out of the swell as we all weaved around each other. it was like dancing among the waves. you could tell she loved it. we all loved it. you could also tell that she enjoyed charging..... feeling that connection between wind, water, waves and friends. i bet to her those days were like heaven on earth. i am sure where she is she will be seeing endless days of perfect wind and waves.

very sad sad day. prayers to her and all her loved ones. a big loss to our close knit windsport community.

her smile will definately be missed on the beach and on the water.

Nick · Thu Dec 11, 08 3:32 pm

Our prayers and thought are with Christina and her family. While there are no words to express our thoughts I know all of us will miss her and the entire community feels a great loss.

With our best regards,

The Naish Family.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

While I didn't personally know Christina, I am touched by all of the stories and comments. She sounds like a wonderful person who will be truely missed.

I will take away a few things from reading here. There is so much negativity going on around us in the media, online, at work. It is inspiring to read about someone that lived life to its fullest and inspired those around her. I will try to remember her the next time I am annoyed at work or bothered by one of the many inconsequential things in life that we think are such a big deal.

Enjoy your friends, your family, your good health if you have it and don't let the little things bother you. You never know which minute will be your last.

I will say a prayer for her family as I am sure the is a devistating loss. If there is a place folks can donate set up please let me know.

tonyb · Thu Dec 11, 08 3:48 pm

This is very sad news indeed. I don't know that I ever met Christina but I had seen her out on the river a few times. Our condolences to her family and friends. Steady winds Christina.

Tony