08/30/2026
📖 A piece of Great Lakes kiteboarding history…
In 2004, The Kiteboarder Magazine featured Lake St. Clair in an article titled “Lake St. Clair – Exploring the Midwest Slicks.” Written by Joe Bidawid with photography by Ryan Riccitelli, it showcased what many of us already knew—Lake St. Clair was becoming one of North America’s premier kiteboarding destinations.
➡️ Swipe to watch a video from those early days.
Long before hydrofoils, wings, GPS watches, or action cameras, this was the heart of the Great Lakes kiteboarding scene. Riders from Ontario and Michigan gathered whenever the wind lined up, helping build a community that would inspire generations of kiters.
These sessions weren’t just about learning a new sport—they helped establish Lake St. Clair as one of the most recognized flat-water kiteboarding locations in North America.
A huge thank you to Joe Bidawid, Ryan Riccitelli, and everyone who was part of those pioneering years for documenting and growing the sport.
If you were there, or remember these sessions, tag yourself or someone who helped shape the early Great Lakes kiteboarding community. We’d love to hear your memories.
🌊 Here’s to the pioneers—and to everyone still chasing the wind today.
