Cover Article | By Jocklyn Mundy | Photos by Windermere Photography
Though Peter and Kari Fleck come from different backgrounds, their shared values, unwavering faith, and dedication to family and community have shaped a life of purpose and success. Peter’s adventurous childhood in the changing seasons of Wisconsin and Kari’s upbringing in South Miami Beach reflect the unique paths that led them to one another. Together, they have built a life defined by hard work, integrity, and compassion—qualities that have fueled their personal and professional achievements while enriching the Windermere community, where they have made their home for over 30 years.
L-R Sam, Sammy, Shane and Stella Goldfarb, Peter and Kari Fleck, Aly, David, Reagan and Jaclyn Frey, Zach and Niki Blackstone
Peter’s Determination
Peter and his three siblings grew up surrounded by the natural beauty of the outdoors; he loved any outside activity. At two years old, Peter was already an avid snow skier. Recognizing Peter’s potential, his uncle, the nation's leading supplier of water ski ropes, introduced Peter to water skiing. Remarkably, by the time Peter was four, he was water skiing. His natural athletic ability was apparent as he quickly took to snow and water skiing, with a passion that hinted at his future success and competitive nature. Peter says, “It was my cousin, renowned as ‘the best water skier that never left Wisconsin,’ who truly inspired me.” Despite the legacy and environment, Peter’s journey to becoming a skilled skier was primarily self-driven. His success was not a product of formal training but of passion, practice, and a commitment to self-improvement.
In his teens, Peter’s talents led him to Central Florida, where he was drawn to join SeaWorld’s Water Ski Show. His skills and ability to perform the demanding lifts and tricks were assessed during his tryout. Peter recalls, “I was just a skinny 15-year-old, by far the youngest, but I made the team.” However, there was one obstacle that Peter couldn't overcome with hard work: he was too young to be officially hired. Returning to Wisconsin, Peter was set to head back to Florida when he reached the required age. Well aware of Peter’s determination, his father proposed a compromise: His dad would support the move if Peter graduated high school early by earning enough credits through advanced placement courses. By January of his senior year, he had met his father's conditions. With his Father’s Blessing, Peter made the move to Florida. Peter reflects, “My dad’s a doctor and a lawyer. He’s been to school all his life. He still supported me making a living doing what I enjoy.”
When Peter arrived in Florida, eager to start working with the team, he was met with another unexpected delay—the next seasonal rotation for the team wouldn’t begin for another four months. Undeterred, Peter remained focused on his goal. He lived out of his truck, making the most of his time by giving private ski lessons and continuing his rigorous training.
Peter, San Diego X-Games on the way to the Gold Medal
South Beach Beauty
Kari was born and raised in South Miami Beach, her parents divorced when she was a toddler; Kari, her brother, and her twin sister became a blended family of seven when her mother remarried. She embraced responsibility and cultivated a strong work ethic from a young age. Reflecting on her childhood, Kari smiles, "I was always eager to be working. Whether it was lifeguarding, dog sitting, or house sitting." Her exceptional work ethic quickly earned her a spot on the Beach Patrol, making her the youngest deep-water lifeguard in South Miami Beach.
Kari, the epitome of a South Florida natural beauty, was also crowned Miss Miami Beach in the Miss America pageant. Yet, her athleticism, not just her pageant success, truly defined her accomplishments. Her talent as a competitive swimmer was a passion she pursued for 16 years, earning her a college scholarship. Kari’s ability to excel in multiple arenas—a blend of discipline, intelligence, and skill—set the foundation for a life characterized by success.
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While growing up, Kari’s family were self-proclaimed “SeaWorld junkies,” frequenting the park often. While her family enjoyed other attractions, Kari would spend hours at the ski stadium, captivated by the performers' athleticism. She never imagined that one of the athletes she admired from the stands would become her husband.
The Fateful Encounter and Blossoming Love
After years of working with the Sea World Ski Team in Orlando, Peter transitioned to a new opportunity, which brought him to South Florida—partnering with a colleague to run The Ski Show at Six Flags Atlantis in Fort Lauderdale. Peter recalls, "I had just moved down and was trying to find my buddy’s apartment. I ran into Kari and asked her for directions.” The place he was searching for was the very apartment she had just left. Neither would have guessed that their brief exchange would be the beginning of a life together.
Their paths crossed again a few weeks later when another mutual friend formally introduced them. Peter laughs, “At this point, I was convinced Kari was stalking me.” This time, their connection was undeniable. Within a year, Peter and Kari were married. The following year, they welcomed their first daughter, Alexandra (Aly), and their daughter, Samantha (Sammy) a couple of years later.
Home in Windermere
Shortly after Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida, Peter was offered an opportunity back in Orlando. Recalling his initial journey to Central Florida at 15, he fondly remembered Windermere, where some of his teammates lived. Embracing this new chapter, Peter and Kari purchased their first home in Windermere, sight unseen, on Lake Down. This move marked a pivotal point in their lives. Kari says, “I immediately fell in love with Windermere—the friendly small-town charm, the strong sense of community, and the stunning Chain of Lakes. We were grateful to call Windermere home and raise our daughters in such a wonderful place.”
While Peter remained focused on his flourishing career, Kari became deeply involved in the Windermere community, dedicating her time to volunteering wherever she was needed. Aly and Sammy attended Premiere Academy, where Kari formed strong bonds with other mothers whose husbands were also professional athletes. These women provided a vital support network, sharing the camaraderie and understanding needed to navigate the unique challenges of marriage to a professional athlete.
Water Sports Around the World
Peter’s career in performance sports advanced to the pinnacle of competitive extreme sports, establishing him as a world-class skier and barefoot jumper. Renowned for his fearless approach and pushing the boundaries of his sport, he faced several severe injuries but remained undeterred, driven by his passion for the sport.
Peter's remarkable achievements at the highest levels of competition have earned him international recognition. He represented the U.S. Elite Barefoot Water Ski Team for seven seasons and is a 10-time National Figure-8 Endurance Champion. In 1995, he shifted his focus to jumping, setting a world record that same year and winning titles such as the Barefoot Jump Champion at the Budweiser Pro Water Ski Tour, multiple World Barefoot Open Men's Jump titles for Team USA and is a two-time X Games Gold Medalist. His contributions to the sport were immortalized with his induction into the Wisconsin Water Ski Hall of Fame, recognizing his profound impact on the sport.
In 2012, Peter came out of retirement to win the gold medal in the open division for jumping at the U.S. Nationals. Kari explains, "He keeps going in and out of retirement. He’ll tell the family, ‘I’m hanging up the ski rope,’ and then not only does he come back, but he wins!"
His experiences have taken him around the world, from clinics on the Amazon River to skiing for King Hussein of Jordan on the Red Sea. Despite his global recognition, Peter’s most cherished achievements are the relationships he has built. Reflecting on his career, Peter said, “I’ve skied on every continent except the Arctic and the Antarctic. Throughout it all, Kari was very supportive.”
Building a Legacy: Faith, Family, and Community
Peter and Kari’s focus was not limited to his sports career. Peter explains, “Professional water sports have a lot of downtime and seasons, so you’re always looking for something to do. I bought my first house when I was 18, on Lake Rose here in Central Florida. In the off-season, we would purchase real estate, both residential and commercial; most of the time, it was a project that needed refurbishing.” Kari managed their properties as their portfolio grew. Through their projects and investments, they learned a lot about Real Estate; Kari says, “I realized I could help others with our knowledge.” In 2000, Kari became a realtor, and in March 2007, she opened her brokerage, The Real Estate Collection. When the market crashed in June, just a few months after opening, Kari immediately pivoted into property management. When Peter purchased the historic bank building on Plant Street in Winter Garden two years later, he moved Kari’s office into the new space.
Continually growing and developing, Kari is proud of her team and their accomplishments. The most recent is being named 2023 Female Broker of the Year and Boutique Brokerage of the Year by Orlando Real Producers.
During this time, Peter began designing and building the sets for the water sports shows. As the president and owner of Water Ski Entertainment Services, he contracted ski shows in theme parks, designing and building the jumps and stunt sets of pro courses for tours worldwide. One of Peter’s most unique builds was the Red Bull Depth Charge—the world’s first underground wakeboard event, utilizing a 120-foot underground flooded mine from 1864. Peter says, “We had a 10-foot diameter hole in which we had to crane all the equipment. We set up an entire wakeboard course underground through seven caverns, some the size of the infield of a baseball field.”
Kari laughs, “As if our life was not busy enough, we took on another project when we purchased our current home in Windermere, on Lake Down.” Peter, Kari, their two oldest daughters, a husky, a Maltese, and a Parrot named Charcoal lived in an RV while the house was redone. Less than a month into this adventure, they discovered they were expecting their third daughter, Nikole (Niki). Kari reminisces, “We all chipped in; we have sweet memories of our little family working together on the different projects, making this house our home.”
As time passed, Peter began to reflect on the growing demands of his career and the precious moments he was missing with his family. "The girls were growing up so fast," Peter recalls. "I was missing birthdays, and they became more involved in school. I was traveling around the world, especially during the summer when they were out of school—it became harder and harder to be away." This realization led him to make a pivotal decision: he sold his business and shifted his focus. With his extensive knowledge of water construction, it felt like a natural progression to transition into the local boat dock industry. This marked the beginning of a new venture, Q-Ice Builders, which allowed Peter to combine his expertise with a lifestyle that provided more balance between work and family.
Peter has also continued developing and refurbishing commercial properties throughout the years. His projects have received multiple awards, including the Golden Brick Award for a historic redevelopment of a property in Orlando. Q-ice Builder's most recent awards include the 2023 First Place NADRA Docks Category and the 2023 First Place NADRA Commercial Outdoor Living Project.
A Life of Purpose
Peter and Kari's greatest blessing is their growing family. Aly married David Frey in 2012, they have two daughters, Jaclyn, 6, and Reagan, 5. They reside in Texas. Sam Goldfarb and Sammy married in 2016, and recently moved to Satellite Beach with their two children, Stella, 6, and Shane, 3. Niki married Zach Blackstone in 2021, and the couple currently live in California, where Zach is attending Loma Linda Medical School.
Throughout the years, Peter and Kari have actively supported a variety of ministries and community initiatives that have greatly benefited Windermere and the wider West Orange area. They have served on numerous boards and continue their commitment today. Peter serves on the West Orange Dream Center board, while Kari leads their annual Dream Big event. Additionally, they are dedicated supporters of Edgewood Children’s Ranch and the American Heart Association.
The Flecks' unwavering commitment to integrity and excellence in all aspects of life has built a foundation rooted in faith, family, and service to others, creating a legacy that goes beyond professional sports achievements. This dedication is evident in everything they do—from supporting local ministries to revitalizing properties that enrich the community. As they continue to shape their legacy, the Flecks remain steadfast in the values that have guided them.
Windermere is a community and culture tied together by the lakes woven throughout it. Dirt roads with Spanish moss hanging from historic oak trees—this quaint Floridian town with southern charm is a unique and hidden gem, worth preserving. Now that we live out of state, the Windermere scenery and lifestyle of my childhood is something my heart will always crave.
— Aly Fleck Frey
