Kiteboarding on Lake Huron

With its sugar-sand beaches and gorgeous blue water, Lake Huron in Michigan is a coastal playground that water sports enthusiasts can’t help but love. Jet skiing, boating, swimming, water skiing, sailing – the opportunities for a thrill on the Great Lakes are endless. One sport you might not have tried – but definitely should – is kiteboarding. Lucky for you, there are two kiteboarding schools just a short drive from Huron House that will teach you everything you need to know to catch some wind and waves for your newest adventure on the water.

Kiteboarding, or kitesurfing as it's sometimes called, is all about using the wind to navigate the water on a board. The rider is harnessed to a large hand-controlled kite. Powered by the wind, the kiteboarder rides and glides across the water on a board similar to a snowboard or wakeboard. This extreme sport combines elements of paragliding, surfing, wakeboarding and even snowboarding. It's different from windsurfing, however, which uses a sail instead of a kite to harness wind power.

You don't need to be young or super fit to kiteboard, or even have much upper body strength, but you should be comfortable swimming in open water. Anyone can kite with proper lessons and dedicated water time. So whether you’re a beginner looking to get introduced to the sport or an advanced rider searching for a challenging surf, you'll want to head to nearby Tawas Bay for your kiteboarding adventure. That's where two Michigan businesses offer the gear and the lessons you need to improve your flying skills.

Motor City Kiteboarding has a private waterfront shop on Tawas Bay and lesson center at Tawas Point on Lake Huron. Their introductory lessons start on land to teach you the basics: kite safety, wind theory, kite set-up, launching and landing techniques, how to manage power, and how to steer. Once you master the basics, you can progress your skills pretty quickly. Of course, if you already know how to ride, advanced lessons or a multi-day camp can help take your kiting to the next level with transitions, jumps, grabs, unhooking, and kite loops.

Great Lakes Kiteboarding School is based near Detroit but has offered kiteboard lessons and camps on Tawas Bay for years. Their instructors, who've been teaching this extreme sport for 20 years, are committed to helping you become a safe, confident and self-sufficient kiteboarder. Their two-day kite camps at Tawas State Park provide the ultimate learning experience. Camps are offered over multiple days in July, but dates are limited, so don't wait to book.