MORGAN BLITTNER
6/29/78
ACTIVITY/SPORT: Surfing/Kitesurfing/Stand Up Paddle/Snowboarding
PROFESSION: Owner of The Kiteshop  & F1rst Store-Kitesurfing/SUP/Surfing & Beach Apparel Retail Stores
HOMETOWN: Rockaway Beach NY 30 minutes outside NYC.

When did you begin living an active lifestyle and what inspired you? What motivates you to continue to live an active lifestyle?
I began surfing at the young age of 10 years old, and hasn’t stopped since. My most rewarding job was a NYC Lifeguard in Rockaway Beach which I held for 9 years.
For me there is no better place to spend time then in the ocean or the water for that matter.  When I realized that I could get just as good of a workout in water, as in the gym, I was all about it.  To be outside and in the elements is the ultimate playground, and there is no other place I would rather be. It becomes a lifestyle and offers more then you can ever imagine.  To live near the water is the ultimate gift! The ocean has always offered me a fun out and peace of mind, and continues to do so.

How has your life been impacted by both professional and personally by your lifestyle choices?
About five years ago, a good friend of mine and I, decided to take our passion to the next level opening our first shop on Key Biscayne in Miami, Florida.  We wanted to cater to the new sport of kiteboarding that was just begginning to take off. We knew in order for a retail store to be successfull is would have to be within close proximity to where kiteboarders were riding.  Crandon Park, on key Biscayne at that time was and still is one of the top kiteboarding spots in Miami.  Since then we have opened another shop in the heart of south beach tapping into the surfers whom are now showing great interest in Kite surfing.  The crossover between surfing and kiting is tremendous and has been blending the two sports. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) has also had a more recent impact on my life especially in alternative physical training.  I have participated in several races around Florida including a fundraiser for Autism which consisted of paddling 28 miles around NYC.

Favorite quote:
“THE ONLY LIMITS ARE THE LIMITS OF OUR IMAGINATION”  BONO

Check out Morgan Blittner’s Stores:
The KiteShop
260 Crandon Blvd, Unit 33
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
305-361-0168
thekiteshopmiami@gmail.com

The KiteShop @ F1rst
100 Collins Avenue, #2 & #3
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-397-8103