I’ve taken lessons at schools run out of the back of a van on rainy fall days, with no cover and nowhere comfortable to change. I’ve also been to schools with changing rooms, showers, a hot tub, a beach bar, a restaurant, and chairs under umbrellas.
Those two setups require very different packing lists.
For most Lake Michigan watersports lessons, bring a swimsuit, towel or changing poncho, water, sunscreen, secured sunglasses, dry clothes, and a bag or bin for wet gear. Then check what the school provides, what you may need to rent, and whether the location has bathrooms, shelter, or a place to change.
What should you bring to any Lake Michigan watersports lesson?
Start with the personal items that work across kiteboarding, wingfoiling, eFoiling, and surfing:
- A swimsuit to wear under your wetsuit
- A towel or changing poncho
- Drinking water
- Sunscreen and zinc
- Sunglasses with a secure strap
- Dry clothes for afterward
- A warm layer for time spent on the beach
- A bag or plastic bin for wet gear
- Any medication you may need
- Spare contact lenses or glasses if you depend on them
A changing mat is also useful when you’re getting dressed in a sandy or muddy parking area. It gives you somewhere clean to stand and keeps your wetsuit from being dragged across the ground.
My wet bin and rinse-water jug have permanent jobs in my car. The bin contains the wet wetsuit, booties, harness, and whatever else comes off the beach soaked. The jug lets me rinse sand and lake water off myself or my gear. Without some kind of containment system, your car may eventually smell like dead cats.
What should you wear for a Lake Michigan watersports lesson?
Wear a swimsuit under your wetsuit and ask the instructor what thickness or additional cold-water gear suits the day. Air temperature doesn't tell you how cold you'll feel after time in the water, standing in the wind, or listening to instructions on the beach.
Depending on the season and lesson, you may need a rash guard, neoprene booties, gloves, a hood, or a thicker wetsuit. Bring a warm windproof layer for before and after the water, even if you don't expect to ride in it. Our cold water gear guide covers this in more depth if you're heading out in shoulder-season conditions.
On cold days, I often drive to the spot in my wetsuit. I rig while wearing an overcoat, take the coat off to ride, then put it back on while packing. Sometimes I drive straight home in the wetsuit and coat, walk into the bathroom, and get into the shower before peeling anything off.
An overcoat is for warmth before and after the session. It isn’t something I ride in.
On hot days, the priority changes. I get out of the wetsuit or rash guard after the session, put on dry clothes or a changing poncho, and focus more on shade, sunscreen, and hydration.
What equipment does Stoke Riders provide for watersports lessons?
The included equipment varies by lesson, so don’t assume that every Stoke Riders program supplies the same items.
The current surf lesson includes surfboards and rental wetsuits. Students are asked to bring water, sunscreen, and a towel or changing poncho.
For eFoil lessons, Stoke Riders provides a flotation vest and radio helmet. Wetsuits can be provided when needed, while full wetsuits and booties are recommended as an additional layer of protection around the foil.
Wingfoil students can arrange cold-water wetsuit gear in advance by sending their height, weight, waist, shoe, and glove sizes. The current lesson information also lists a daily gear rental fee for students who don’t own wing equipment.
Kiteboarding lessons use school equipment selected for the student and conditions, but confirm the complete bring-versus-provided list with Stoke Riders before your session.
Before leaving home, ask three questions:
- What equipment is included in the lesson price?
- What is available to rent, and is there an additional fee?
- What sizing information does the instructor need in advance?
That five-minute check prevents you from carrying equipment you don’t need or arriving without something the school expected you to supply.
What changes between kiteboarding, wingfoiling, eFoiling, and surfing lessons?
The personal basics stay similar, but each sport adds a few considerations.
What should you bring to a kiteboarding lesson?
Bring your personal waterwear, sun protection, water, dry clothes, and something to secure wet gear afterward. Confirm whether the school will provide the kite, board, harness, helmet, flotation, radio, and wetsuit for your lesson.
What should you bring to a wingfoil lesson?
Wingfoil beginners may spend part of the lesson on land learning to handle the wing before entering the water. A warm windbreaker or changing coat can matter as much as the wetsuit, especially when you're standing still in the wind. Confirm the wing, board, foil, safety gear, and wetsuit arrangements in advance — our wing foil Lake Michigan guide breaks down what to size for by season.
What should you bring to an eFoil lesson?
Bring a swimsuit, towel, water, sunscreen, full wetsuit, and booties when advised. The wetsuit and booties provide warmth and an extra layer of coverage around the foil. Stoke Riders supplies the flotation vest and radio helmet for its eFoil lessons.
What should you bring to a Lake Michigan surf lesson?
For Stoke Riders’ surf lesson, bring water, sunscreen, and a towel or changing poncho. The surfboard and rental wetsuit are included, so you don’t need to purchase surf equipment before trying the sport.
What should you pack for cold or changeable Lake Michigan conditions?
Cold-weather packing is less about surviving the ride and more about managing everything around it. You may spend time setting up, listening to instruction, waiting for usable conditions, moving between locations, or packing wet equipment while the wind cuts through your clothing.
Leave a few options in the car:
- A neoprene overcoat or warm windbreaker
- An extra set of dry clothes
- A warm hat
- A changing mat and poncho
- Cold-water accessories recommended by the instructor
- A sealed jug of warm rinse water
- A hot drink
- A wet bin
On a cold day, I’ll bring hot tea or coffee for a pick-me-up before and after the session. In hot weather, that becomes an iced matcha protein shake. It’s a small comfort, but it makes the drive home much nicer.
If the lesson operates from a mobile setup, pack as though the beach and your vehicle are the changing facilities. If the school has showers, shelter, food, and dedicated changing rooms, you can travel lighter.
What food, water, and personal items should you bring to a watersports lesson?
Bring enough water for the full lesson and the time spent getting ready afterward. A light snack can help during a longer session, but avoid eating a heavy meal immediately before going into the water.
Keep necessary medication close and tell the instructor about anything that could affect you during the lesson. Protect your phone from water and sand, and decide where your keys will stay before everyone begins moving equipment around.
If you wear contact lenses, you can use them during a watersports lesson. Bring spares.
I’m around -7.0 in both eyes and can’t function at all on or off the water without correction. When I was new in kiteboarding, one contact lens washed out while I was body dragging through big chop and waves. My depth perception went sideways, and I couldn’t judge how far away anything was.
I made a panicked run toward shore while yelling that I couldn’t see and telling people to get out of the way. It wasn’t a pretty scene.
I didn’t have a spare lens, so a planned three-day kite trip ended early. Spare contacts now live permanently in both my car and RV. If your vision depends on contacts or glasses, backup correction belongs with your safety gear, not buried on a packing list as an afterthought.
What should you leave at home during a Lake Michigan watersports lesson?
Leave sentimental jewelry and unnecessary expensive electronics at home. Sand, water, sunscreen, crowded beaches, and piles of nearly identical gear create plenty of ways for small valuables to disappear.
I lost my wedding ring in a kite bag. At least, I swear I put it in the bag. Maybe I didn’t. Maybe it fell out. Maybe it came off while I was kiting. Either way, it was never found.
A kite bag also taught me not to treat an ordinary equipment bag as secure storage. Another rider mistakenly took my empty bag because it looked like his. I couldn’t blame him, except his bag didn’t contain my car keys.
I was stranded on the beach for several hours until he got home and discovered the mistake.
If you use a popular kite, board, or equipment bag, mark it with colourful tape, ribbon, or another obvious identifier. Write your name and phone number inside. Keep your keys in a deliberate, secure place instead of dropping them into the nearest black bag (that may or may not even be yours!).
Heavy cotton clothing is another poor choice around the water. Once wet, it stays wet and cold. Bring layers designed to dry quickly.
How should you prepare if a Lake Michigan watersports lesson location or weather changes?
Watersports lessons depend on usable conditions. The first meeting point you discuss may not be the place you end up riding, so check your messages before leaving and confirm the final location with the instructor.
Ask about parking, bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, food, shelter, and how far you may need to carry equipment. Those details determine whether you need a changing setup in your car or can rely on facilities at the lesson site.
Bring flexible layers and leave backup clothing in the vehicle. A student who is comfortable during the water portion may still get cold while standing on the beach or packing afterward.
I haven’t taken lessons on Lake Michigan myself, so I won’t pretend every beach has the same facilities. Stoke Riders chooses locations around the conditions and lesson goals. Confirm the setup for your session instead of treating a tentative meeting point like a fixed school campus.
Should you rent or buy a wetsuit for your first watersports lesson?
Renting a wetsuit makes sense for a first lesson. It lets you try the sport without buying gear before you know whether you’ll continue.
If you plan to take more lessons, a properly fitted personal wetsuit is warmer, more comfortable, and reassuringly yours. Keep in mind that there are two kinds of people: those who pee in their wetsuits and those who lie about it.
A rental is fine. But if you can afford your own and expect to use it, at least you’ll know whose wetsuit you’re sitting in.
Ask the instructor what thickness and accessories suit the conditions before buying. A wetsuit that works for one season or sport may not be the best choice for another.
Not sure what your lesson includes? Tell Stoke Riders which lesson you booked and when you’re coming. We’ll confirm what to wear, what we provide, and any sizing details we need.
Frequently asked questions about Lake Michigan watersports lessons
Do I need to bring my own wetsuit to a Stoke Riders lesson?
Are boards, kites, wings, helmets, and flotation included?
Can I wear contact lenses during a watersports lesson?
Should I bring water shoes or neoprene booties?
Where can I change after a Lake Michigan watersports lesson?
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How can you arrive ready for your Stoke Riders lesson?
You don’t need to own a garage full of watersports gear before your first lesson. Bring the personal basics, prepare for the weather, and confirm what Stoke Riders will supply or rent.
Send Stoke Riders your lesson type, date, and requested sizing information before you leave. You’ll know what to wear, what to pack, and what can stay at home while Tyler confirms the equipment arrangements for the session.
Pack for the conditions, then let Stoke Riders handle the lesson setup. Confirm your lesson details before you leave so you can arrive ready for Lake Michigan.