This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire.
In this episode we connect with fellow Canadian waterman Michael Pisarczyk—a dedicated foiler based in Sarnia, Ontario, right on the shores of Lake Huron. Recorded as fall conditions ramp up on the Great Lakes, these two passionate riders share stories from the water, celebrating the world-class (yet underrated) foiling potential hidden in these massive inland seas.
Episode Overview:
- Michael's backyard access to Lake Huron—convenient home sessions, epic downwind runs (30-50K along the coast or on the mini-Hood River-like St. Clair River), and why almost any wind direction works here
- His multi-discipline journey: from youth sailing and windsurfing, to high-school kiting obsession, strapless surfboarding, and how foiling (wing, prone, pump, downwind) reignited the stoke with lower-wind windows and endless glide
- Pair winging progression: starting rough, unlocking upwind tacks against river current, and the unique freedom (and challenges) of no lines or booms—just pure hand-held power on small sinker boards
- That unforgettable first committed prone downwind run: full-send on the industrial-lined river, no falls allowed, pure focus on older square boards with paddle starts
- Building the "Great Lakes Waterman" channels to showcase lake potential—inspiring more locals (and globals) with stunning drone footage, while growing a small but frothing community
- Family foiling fun: gently introducing his 9- and 7-year-old kids to e-foils (knees-first mastery turning to stand-up runs) and side-by-side cruising sessions
- E-foiling's role in scratching the itch on flat days, keeping skills sharp with endless turns, and the exciting growth of competitive tours like the Surf Foil Tour (SFT)
- Why the Great Lakes are tailor-made for modern foiling—long fetch for rolling swell in lighter winds, massive playgrounds, and those rare but magical "world-class" bangers that make the chase worthwhile
From cold-water commitment to uniting disciplines and dreaming of Canadian SFT events, this chat is a love letter to Great Lakes foiling—and a call to get more people out experiencing the magic.
If you've ever chased lake swell, battled commitment points in downwinders, or wondered why these massive freshwater oceans deserve way more foiling love… this is it.
Follow Michael Pisarczyk → @great.lakes.waterman (YouTube/Instagram) | https://www.greatlakeswaterman.com
