"a young island girl ... a free spirit alive in, on and over the ocean ...growing up kiteboarding HARD, FAST and FULL out on warm tropical seas, then there was a SERIOUS ACCIDENT and things CHANGED ...the question is for how long ... our actions may determine the answer. If you have ever loved to shred or crave the free abandon of blasting over the waves or hurling skyward, read this and please act to help our fellow young rider...

Carolina "Chocalate" Diaz, a 16 year old, suffered a serious injury while kiteboarding at Los Roques, Venezuela last weekend. She fell and sustained a harsh injury from a height of 25 ft. She was concussed and apparently suffered neural damage. Few accident details are coming in at this early time, but they aren't all that important at this point ... not to Carolina. Carolina has had one operation and is to have another tomorrow. She is in the shadow of paralysis at this critical time. From one report, if things work, out she may face a full year of hard, expensive rehabilitation after which she MAY walk again.

Venezuela is going through hard times these days, political instability, shortages and lost tourism. Carolina is from the fishing village of El Yacque on Margarita Island, Venezuela. She was wealthy in a lust for life, kiteboarding and an idylic times growing up on the sea, but not necessarily in material. If sufficient money isn't found, it is possible that Carolina may forego vital, expensive additional operations and rehabilitation over the next year. The potential cost of such a path is painful and wrong. It could mean no full recovery for this vibrant young lady but merely to languish, bed ridden. We need to ACT to stop this from happening.

Paul Menta related stories to me tonight about Carolina. He first met her about 2 1/2 years ago. She started windsurfing at 10 or 12 years and moved into kiteboarding at 14, two years ago. Paul said that she is an amazing, beautiful girl always radiating a wide, friendly smile. Paul described her as a extremely active 5' 2” girl who would ride FULLOUT be it in 15 mph or in nuclear conditions at 30 mph+ with a small kite. He called her a 90 pound girl with the courage and heart of a 225 pound guy on the water. When he last saw here about two months ago, she had moved into doing double forwards, with NO HANDS. They have kept in regular touch weekly online since.

Carolina is a rare talent on the water and he felt that she would be a notable international champion by 18 years. She had competed this year in the PKRA World Cup in Margarita and in other local competitions. She has been called the National female kiteboarding champion of Venezuela. She assisted Paul with instruction with Kitesurftheearth, New World Kites and other operations on the island.

Paul described giving Carolina two kites. She was launched into her element by these gifts and found new thrills and purpose on the water. Despite being an extremely skilled waterperson, this young lady also has a playful side being as likely to drench you with a hose or to try to yank your baggies off while you are shredding on the water. Paul and other like minded kiteboarding concerns just wanted to help Carolina move up in kiteboarding by helping her when and where they could. They couldn't help themselves this young lady's appeal was so infectious. Carolina's friends were planning on helping her to travel to Maui to participate in the Red Bull Competition along with other events. Paul was even planning on helping her to move to the USA to progress along this path. They had an agreement that she would finish high school and NO boys! Dreams and good ones too but that is all threatened now .... but we can help. So please dig in to help out this rare young rider in her time of need."