By Marc Hoeksema
LocalSportsJournal.com
Brothers of the wind we are.
With the Lake Michigan dunes as a backdrop, Hoeksema grabs his tail for a photo op. Photo/Pat Taylor
Sounds like something Yoda might say?
There is definitely a feeling of using “the force” when we are out there, pulling our kite left and right to control our path through the sky. Some days a light saber would come in handy when the 600-pound test kite string wraps around your head as you are tumbled in the surf, and all you want is to be free of it!
Even before kiteboarding, there was sailing and windsurfing in my life, and some of my best friends have come from sharing these sports. The thing about kiteboarding is that it provides an amazing freedom as the wind tows you across the surface and into the air on demand.
Jeff Hamilton, a principal at Portage Public Schools, catches air high above the water. Photo/Pat Taylor
Another thing about kiteboarding is the inherent danger associated with it, and the bonding it produces among friends, as we take turns rescuing each other as a line breaks, a kite is destroyed in the surf, a board is lost on the third sandbar, or a leg, rib, or some other body part is broken from a botched landing.
I’ve had my fair share of mishaps, but the drive to continue on is strong. Addiction is a word I often use when referring to this sport, and it is nearly as strong as the day I started. Now that I am a half century old, it may have tapered off a degree or so, but then again, maybe not.
I am, however, taking it easy during this “lock down” because I want more than anything to feel 100 percent healthy during this pandemic! Being out in nature, whether for a walk, bike, run, ski, kite, surf, or whatever is invigorating. In these difficult times many people are turning to nature to alleviate the stress of our situation.
Whether flying above the water or walking a path through the woods, let’s be safe and do our best to make it through this together.
-Marc Hoeksema of Norton Shores is a professional photographer and avid waterman who excels in a number of water-based sports. Back on Sunday, March 15, Hoeksema, and Portage Public Schools Principal Jeff Hamilton enjoyed a great day of kiteboarding, which produced these great photos shot by Norton Shores’ Pat Taylor.
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- With snow still gleaming on the pier in the foreground, Hoeksema makes a fun cut near the shore. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Marc Hoeksema finds himself near the roof tops while kite boarding on Lake Michigan at Pere Marquette Beach. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Doing big airs while getting inverted, Hoeksema is. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Marc Hoeksema. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Jeff Hamilton, a principal at Portage Public Schools, catches air high above the water. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hoeksema extends his front leg on a tail grab. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Jeff Hamilton goes deadman with an inverted air loop. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Marc Hoeksema grabs some air near the shore. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Catching a burst of air, Hoeksema does an inverted air back scratcher. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hoeksema cuts it close to Hamilton. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Jeff Hamilton leans back to skim the water while Hoeksema looks for his next turn. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Gliding in toward the camera, Hamilton rides the wind while Hoeksema gets in motion for his next trick. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Jeff Hamilton looks down for his landing line after pulling air. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- A concerned seagull checks in on a high-flying Hoeksema. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hamilton pulls a backside air. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Getting air, Hoeksema is. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hoeksema finds himself inverted and looking down at the lake. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hamilton leans back for an added punch from the wind. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Catching the air while grabbing backside, is Hoeksema. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Hoeksema gets deep on a frontside backscratcher. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Reeling way back, Hoeksema goes frontside with the Muskegon water filtration plant in the background. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- Marc Hoeksema gets in tight with the shore, the Norton Shores resident spends nearly 100 days in the water a year. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- With the Lake Michigan dunes as a backdrop, Hoeksema grabs his tail for a photo op. Photo/Pat Taylor
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- The desire for pumping wind, Hamilton has. Photo/Pat Taylor
Marc is a big reason I got into kiteboarding. I doubt he knows me or remembers me but when I was learning he was very friendly and helpful on the beach. Watching Marc kiteboard is like watching an Artist. He kites with a grace I have never seen even when watching some of the pros around the world. His front roll transitions make me stop what I’m doing on the beach and just revel. He is THE ambassador of our Sport in West Michigan and I’m glad he’s here. Kevin Bradley