Chilly Gusts Bring Out Michigan’s Kiteboarders

When frigid winds sweep across Michigan in the heart of winter, most residents retreat indoors for warmth, while kiteboarders head outside, knowing it’s the best time of year.

What is Kiteboarding?

Kiteboarding, also known as kitesurfing, is an action-packed water sport that uses a large, steerable parachute-like kite to harness the wind and propel a rider across the water on a small board. Kiteboarding combines elements of surfing, wakeboarding, and paragliding, allowing riders to glide over water, jump 40–50+ feet high, or ride waves.

Kiteboarding combines elements of surfing, wakeboarding, and paragliding, allowing riders to glide over water, jump 40-50+ feet high, or ride waves.

I have to admit, the first time I ever saw someone kiteboarding was in the summer of 2025 on Portage Lake in Onekama, Michigan. My son and I had been walleye fishing all morning, and as we headed back to shore, we spotted a guy soaring through the air, looking like he was having the time of his life.

Many enthusiasts don’t limit the sport to summer. In winter, the controllable traction kite is used to pull skiers and snowboarders across frozen lakes, ice, and snow-covered terrain, often making speeds of 30+ mph possible. Riders can cruise uphill, launch into jumps, and even catch air.

Read More: Michigan Tech Snow Sculptures Wow at Winter Carnival

Blustery Michigan Days Are a Kiteboarder’s Dream

According to MLive, Cadillac served as the gathering spot this past weekend for about 60 kiteboarders from across Michigan and beyond, some traveling from as far south as the Florida Keys and as far west as Montana.

According to MLive, Cadillac recently hosted roughly 60 kiteboarders from across Michigan and beyond at the Midwest Snow Kite Jam, an annual event that has grown over the last 12 years. The gathering included tailgate tents, warming shanties, and mobile saunas. The Midwest Snow Kite Jam welcomes both experts and newcomers interested in trying the sport before investing in equipment.

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