Michaela Pilkenton

Mika was so much fun from the start, putting my mind at ease as she is super knowledgeable with years of guiding and teaching experience. I progressed rapidly with the 3 days of kiting and can confidently ride upwind and stay up and ride. Had the best kiting time in my life thus far, confidently going out in 25+ and learning how to be more playfull on the board. I would highly recommend a lesson with Mika and i hope to cross paths down the road and get more kiting time.

After one of our friends came back with glowing reviews of his first session with Michaela, he inspired two of us to join him for the rest of the week. We were all completely hooked on kiting from the very first lesson and each of us raved about our personal instructors. They each adjusted to our own personal abilities and helped us make steady progress. We are all pretty much hooked now and can't wait to continue on our kiteboarding journey.

Michaela took me from zero experience to being able to do short runs in a matter of a few days. She’s patient, knows all the things and knows how to set a student up for success. Action Sports Maui had all the kites, harnesses and other equipment a student could want. I enjoyed my experience so much, I brought three friends along to learn from other instructors. I would STRONGLY recommend Michaela and Action Sports Maui to someone looking for some pro kiting instruction.

Super lesson ..very informative and I thought Mika was very professional.. she noticed several things about my learning progression and made substantial recommendations... I could feel myself getting better the whole time

I have had 5 kite-boarding private lessons prior to these sessions with Mika (Michaela Pilkenton) at Action Sports Maui. I am super grateful to have happened upon her. Mika’s enthusiasm, engagement and understanding of how to teach and build upon skills was WAY beyond the previous experiences I’ve had. I now understand all the basic skills necessary - kite, board & body - to get up on the board and ride upwind. I hardly ever lost my board because she taught me how to rise with my board angle, feet and weight in the correct position, pause, and sit back in the water and change direction, so I was FAR less likely to rise and crash as I did in previous lessons with other instructors (where these foundational bits of wisdom were not near as clearly explained and practiced prior to entering the water.) It was a joy to do a lot more riding and refining my skills and a lot less crashing or drifting. Mika is attentive to kite size and gear adjustments appropriate to my level of learning - finding a great balance of power - not too much power, which was fabulous because being thrown around by wind is not fun, but also not under-powered like I’ve had in another previously frustrating session I had a year ago (different kite school - not in Maui) which created a lot of sitting in the water with my kite flailing on the surface while I simply drifted down wind frustrated in many failed efforts to get the kite back up in the air and with eventually how thoroughly the lines had gotten twisted up creating a necessity to practice my self-rescue skills... if you are on the path of learning, I am sure you can appreciate how relieving it is to experience less drifting, crashing and losing your board, lol!! I’m thrilled with these sessions! So much progress made in each one! and I look forward to continuing to learn and refine my skills with this instructor :)

I had a great time starting to learn how to kiteboard at Floras Lake with Michaela! I highly recommend her as an instructor as she is fun, patient, thorough and very very safe. Taking on a new extreme sport is a little scary when you are over 40. It was amazing!! Can't wait to get back out on the water!

Within one week of me being at Floras Lake, my instructor Michaela taught me how to get up on a board and go. Michaela is so nice and is always ready to get out there with you and teach you how to kite! I realize now that if I hadn't gone to this school, I probably would not be able to get up on a board right now. Thank you so much Micheala for everything, and I hope I will come down to Floras again to see you!! Piper

Michaela is a gifted instructor. She understands that my objective is to take as long as necessary to learn & practice basic skills to become a safe & confident rider, not just to "get up & go." Her teaching style works well for me and she is especially good at adjusting our lesson plans as needed for me to stay in my best learning groove. I have come off the water every time feeling good about what I've learned and confident that I will be able to apply the skills on my own. She also really emphasizes safe kiting practices. It's clear that she loves the sport and enjoys teaching it to others. I will definitely recommend her.

Michaela is the bomb! She is a HAPPY and thoughtful instructor! She was patient, thorough & the first instructor who was able to minimize my kite 'fear factor' to create a positive experience on the water! I am a land girl and this was no easy feat but I am now ready and looking forward to more lessons and time on the water!

I was so impressed with Michaela my instructor from Kite Republic. I’m a middle aged female, new to kiting and she absolutely instilled confidence in my ability. She went through safety thoroughly and supported me to get up on board. Just the encouragement and technical advice I needed to keep progressing with my kiting. She’s amazing and such an advocate for female kiteboarders.