I met Dean Mikulla (Spleeft on forums) a few years ago on one of my first trips to Assateague. At that time he had the heavy metal kiter look. Long hair, c-kite, an entire armada of boards with him (mutants,  surfboards, twin tips). We didn’t spent too much time chatting since it was windy but I had time to see him riding. He made things look so easy. Since then we kite together a lot at Terrapin,  Assateague and Dewey. Always fun to hang out with him and I learned a lot just watching him. Because he makes us happy while we are stuck in our offices with his movies here is an interview with him. By the way, he still looks like a heavy metal kiter.

Hi Dean, how did you get into kiteboarding?

Well, I’ve always been into board sports. I was building skateboard ramps in the late 70’s and  had a Dog Town jim Muir skate deck. I grew up in Pittsburgh so i was land locked. I got into snowboarding before it was allowed at Seven Springs and still ride to this day. I started to make family vacation trips to Ocean City , Md in the early 80’s and realized the Ocean was the place for me. I would body board the entire week I was there and savor every minute in the ocean. I started surfing around  93′ when I could make more trips to the beach from the Burg on my own. But when I moved to Maryland 10 years ago, I started surfing a lot more. When I saw kiteboarding on TV one day in 2001 I was immediately sold. I flew trainer kite for a few months then took a water lesson. 

What are your other favorite sports? Which one do  you prefer the most?

I was a jock in high school,( with long hair!). I played all the sports, basketball and volleyball where the main ones. I still love a good game of sand volleyball.

Who do you ride with?

When i first started kiting around the Chesapeake in 02′ , there were only a couple guys to kite with. Most have moved away but there are one or two left and we still kite together  a lot.  We like to look for new spots to kite and some days we’ll drive around for hours searching. Comes in handy now that there are so many new kiters! These days, it’s kinda like,” I get it when its on”! If there is a swell on the horizon and good wind, I just go for it. I usually make a few calls, on my way, to see who’ll be around . Most of the time the usual kiters are there anyway. Mike Littlejohn, Steve Sabia, and Greg Morrison are guys I like to ride with, always progressing and trying new things. Thats how I learn, by watching guys like them .

When did you start filming?  

Well, I started  filming  about five years ago. My interest in editing started around 94′ when my band made some videos for the local cable access station.

When I got my first video cam, i just started filming my friends doing all the crazy shit we like to do! Surfing, lots of snowboarding, and now kiting. I love showing people videos of themselves rippin’ it up. Its still just a hobbie, and its fun learning about movie making. Some of my movies are here, My Space Videos Link

Why do you use the name Marshall in your movies?

Marshall is my dogs name! Yes I’m a dog person! I named him after the guitar amp….!  

What’s up with Spleeft – user name?

It was available.

Worst kitemare?

Too many to count!  When first started kiting the ocean, in fact THE first time, I ended up in a situation where the kite was down and getting mauled by a 5 foot wave. I had the lines tangled around my bar and kite leash, and my board leash was wrapped around my ankles. The wave was pulling the kite and me all stretched out while the board was nose diving stretching my body out and holding me just below the surface for 10 or 15 seconds. I used to be 6′ tall, now I’m 6′2″! Ya, board leashes dont work for me!

What do like the most? Flat water or waves? Why?

I love it all, thats the great thing about kiting, there are so many disciplines. i do go through phases, right now i cant get enough of those waves. But I’m in the middle of a freestyle/flat water mini phase too! The limits of old age are creeping up on me though. When I’m in my 60’s I dont see myself doing kiteloop handlepasses, but I do see myself  slicing the top off of a seven foot peeler! So I never pass up a good wave session.

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What is in your quiver these days? Why?

I have all North Vegas kites. I like to ride underpowered or should I say perfect powered. C kites just have that sweet spot that makes flying the kite so much easier. A fully depowered kite just doesn’t turn as good. Also, this is crucial to unhooked riding while doing wake style tricks or rippin’ down a wave. I havent been able to find a bow kite yet that has that sweet spot like a C. Yes they have all that depower for major gusts but if you need that , you need a smaller kite. 

It seams you and Littlejohn spent a lot of time together? When was this love affair started? Does Safety ever get jealous?

Safety is soooo jealous!! But seriously, Mike and I met a few years ago when we started jamming together. Most dont know it, but along with being one the best kiters and surfers north of Hatteras, hes a killer drummer. When I’m down in Dewey, the typical day is surf and kite all day then rock out after dinner. There’s always a good jam session with the local musicians happening at Mikes house.

Any new cool video projects?

I just got a new camera and I’m updating all my editing gear. I want to do a “pro” looking video with all the local kiters this summer. So if you see me shooting, dont just keep tacking back and forth. Thrown down!!!! Even if your crashing , that makes great video.