Kiteboarding at Grand Haven

The Mecca. Home of the last five successful KiteSurfing events and Mackinaw Kite Company. The owner, Steve Negen, has been power kiting for 16 years and is a serious kite buggy rider. He saw the potential kitesurfing offered the area six years ago and has not looked back. His successful spring kite event dovetailed perfectly with kiteboarding. Last spring the kite event delivered 8 to 16 meter kiting for 4 days straight. The make up event for the fall King of the Air event delivered a 12 to 16 meter day with shoulder high surf. Matt Strand can be found daily at the beach in the summer giving lessons. This spring and fall offer a clear beach but it can get crowded in the summer. Be respectful when visiting and always launch downwind if the beach is packed. Grand Haven offers a great family beach next to a rowdy city beach. The town is a sailor's port and has plenty to offer for the whole family. Grand Haven works on anything except east winds. The best days are the strong northwesters that offer knee to head high ramps and plenty of area to kite. Locals are friendly and always willing to launch or land a kite. Local riders Brad Knoth, GS, Marc Hoeksema, Robby Pedersen, and Barry Sholtz have been spotted several times at stratospheric heights this past summer in GH. Northern visitors Matt and Keegan Myers will show you how a spin is done with style. Naish Rep Joe Bidawid visits enough to be considered a local and is always welcoming new area riders.

Because of the popularity of this beach for sunbathers, it is often off limits to riding in the summer. There is no safe way to launch when the beach is wall to wall people, we ask everyone to choose another beach during those times. On the other hand, the beach starts to clear when the winds pick up over 15 knots.