ION Tales of the waterwomen Christina Gindl

team

Disconnect to reconnect

The importance of pausing, disconnecting, and realigning with yourself and the ocean

There’s a rare kind of presence that settles in when you're underwater—no noise, no screens, no rush. Just you, your breath, and the slow pulse of the ocean. For Christina Gindl, that silence isn't just a break from the world above—it’s where she truly reconnects with herself.

A surfer, freediver, and mindful explorer of all things ocean, Christina’s life is a dance between movement and stillness. Her days are shaped not by schedules, but by tides, wind, and instinct. It’s a life of intention—and one that offers a compelling case for slowing down, tuning in, and letting the water lead.

Get to know Christina Gindl

WATER WOMEN LIFESTYLE

She’s a surfer—one who charges big waves—but for her, being a water woman isn't limited to performance or progression. “Because the waves aren’t good every day, you start discovering other ways to be in the ocean. I started freediving, swimming, just enjoying every part of it. It became something deeper than just surfing—it’s a way of being.”

What began as a surf obsession slowly evolved into a broader relationship with the sea: playful, intuitive, and rooted in presence.

Magic is everywhere

“There’s nothing like it,” she says. “It’s a high-intensity sport, but you’re not sweating—you’re being cleansed. Every time I jump in, it resets me.”

Beyond the physical, Christina finds something more powerful in the ocean’s unpredictability. “You can’t tame it. You can't control the waves like you might steer a kite in the wind. You sit in the lineup, trying to understand this ever-changing body of water—and you take what it gives.”

That surrender has shaped her both as an athlete and as a person.

Balance between the calm and quiet of freediving and the wild, loud big wave surfing. The ocean can be wild and unpredictable, or slow and meditative. How do you adapt to these extremes—and what do they each teach you?

On one end of Christina’s spectrum is big-wave surfing—adrenaline-rich, powerful, fast. On the other is freediving—quiet, controlled, meditative. Both ask for presence, but in completely opposite ways.

“Surfing big waves comes naturally to me. I’ve always been drawn to adrenaline. But freediving? That was something I had to learn. It's not just about holding your breath—it’s about letting go, about relaxing every inch of your body before the dive.”

The contrast between the two disciplines keeps her balanced. “Freediving teaches me to soften, to listen, to slow down. It’s a journey I’m still on.”

From heavy surf to deep stillness in breath-hold diving

how do you switch gears mentally and physically between those states?

For Christina, the answer is always the same: breath.

“It’s the common thread between both sports. Breath can hype me up—or calm me down. It’s how I reset, how I get grounded. Whether I’m preparing to drop into a wave or sink into the depths, breath is the beginning.”

It’s also become part of her daily ritual—whether through stretching, mindful pauses, or moments by the ocean. “Even if I’m not surfing, I’ll just go sit by the sea. Sunset walks, sitting in the car by the ocean—it all brings me back.”

Freediving in complete silence has shifted Christina’s perspective in ways few things can. “When you dive, it’s like the world turns off. You might hear your own heartbeat, your breath, your body—but everything else disappears.”

There’s no competition down there. No noise. No pressure to perform. “It’s just you. And that changes everything. It’s taught me to be gentler with myself, to slow down, to listen. And in turn, that’s made me a better surfer too.”

Lessons from the line up

Unwinding in a wired world

In a time of constant connection, Christina craves remoteness. “I love going off-grid. When I travel, I pick remote places—where sometimes you don’t even have reception. I pre-work, I plan, and then I disconnect.”

Even when she’s home, she makes space for digital detoxes. “I’ll post a story saying I’m taking a week off. I’ll still check messages for work, but I won’t scroll. And when I come back, I know exactly what I want to create. It keeps my platform honest, intentional—less about fast content, more about sharing real adventures and art.”

More than anything, the ocean has taught Christina how to let go.

“There have been times I’ve put so much pressure on myself in surfing—trying to force progress. And it never worked. But when I surrendered, when I just spent time in the water without expectation, everything started to click.”

Especially in big-wave surfing, that mindset is essential. “You have to show up. But you also have to let the ocean decide. No amount of force will make the waves come. You just have to be ready—and trust that your time will come.”