Sasha Knipp has always wanted to ride waves like his father, but an illness he battled while living in Ocean City, Maryland, prevented him from surfing. Sasha, 7, was born with tracheoesophageal fistula, a rare defect that connects the trachea and esophagus, according Chris Knipp, Sasha’s father. The condition means food and saliva can get into Sasha’s trachea and lungs.Sasha and his family moved to Florida one year ago in hopes the warm weather would help him, which Chris says has been beneficial. Sasha is on the Venice Mini Sharks swim team, practicing four times per week, and just graduated first grade on the honor roll.
But he still hadn’t surfed like Chris, and with few waves on Florida’s Gulf coast, there weren’t many chances to try it out. “So with (Tropical Storm Colin) coming in, it created a perfect opportunity,” Chris said.
Sasha regularly uses a stand up paddle board on weekends, so they brought out the board for the ride on Monday, June 6. Chris was standing near shore with the board’s leash attached to his arm and holding the cord. Sasha, meanwhile, was on the board holding on to the attached cargo net while wearing goggles and a life jacket.
Chris recorded video of the experience to allow Sasha to relive it, but it also gives a unique perspective of the waves as Tropical Storm Colin approached Florida. Credit: YouTube/Chris and Sasha Knipp