HOOD RIVER, OR — 4/17/2025 – Slingshot Sports, a global leader in kiteboarding innovation, is excited to announce that professional kiteboarder Michaela Pilkenton is joining the Slingshot family as a New School Big Air Team Rider. Known for her expertise on the water and her dedication to fostering community, Michaela perfectly embodies Slingshot’s motto, "Different by Design."
A trailblazer passionate about empowering women in the male-dominated world of kiteboarding, Michaela has been a force of change in the sport. She has inspired countless individuals to take up space and own their unique journeys both on and off the water.
“My very first exposure to the sport was on gear from Slingshot," Michaela recalls. "This brand was there at the start of my kiteboarding journey, helping me carve my identity as a kiteboarder. From my first water starts on a Slingshot Z-kite, to my first ocean sessions on the WAVE kite, to my first loops on the RPM. It feels like I’m coming full circle by returning to the brand and community that shaped so much of my love for the sport."
At Slingshot Sports, sustainability, innovation, and athlete-driven design are at the core of every project, aligning perfectly with Michaela’s advocacy for growth and connection within the kiteboarding community. By joining Slingshot, Michaela plans to leverage the partnership to strengthen her mission of encouraging women to thrive in the sport and inspiring the next wave of kiteboarders worldwide.
“Michaela represents everything Slingshot stands for—boldness, creativity, and the drive to do something new and different,” says Elliot Tauscher, wind marketing manager at Slingshot Sports. “We’re beyond excited to have her on board and can’t wait to see how her energy and ideas elevate not only our brand but also the broader kiteboarding community.”
Michaela is already engaging with the community through events, clinics, and competitions. She’s also actively collaborating with the Slingshot team to bring big ideas to life—grounded in the heartbeat of the community and built to spark even more joy, connection, and stoke out on the water.
Stay tuned for updates on Michaela’s bright future in collaboration with Slingshot Sports.
Michaela's Quiver
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