Downwinders

• Alki Point
  • Dynamics similar to West Point (described below) with good surfing options on a strong S/SW wind against a flood current, creating ideal conditions for many laps. A large back eddy often forms north of the point, steepening and smoothing out the waves as one passes the point. Also possible to do a downwind run to West Point and beyond (or vice versa). Plenty of street parking near Alki Point Beach.
  • Alki - West Point - Ballard Locks 8 miles video (paddler went on 7 miles more to Montlake)
• Duwamish Head
  • Between Alki Point and West Point, Duwamish Head juts into Elliot Bay just west of the Duwamish Waterway (industrialized estuary of the Duwamish River).
  • Good surfing on strong North/northwest winds with ebb current out of Elliot Bay, especially if there is strong flow out of the Duwamish River (the Duwamish is the name for the last (lower) 12 miles of the Green River).
• Lake Washington (watch for boat traffic)
  • Cedar River - Enatai Beach 5.5 miles
  • Wild Race - Length of the Lake 2014
  • Juanita Bay - one of those catcher's mitts that will catch you for a run with S, SW wind. video
    • (washdown station at Juanita Beach Park with non-freeze showers on all winter)
    • Evergreen Point - Juanita Bay 4 miles video, video2
  • Sand Point
    • ​​​​​​ ​Adams Street boat ramp - Sand Point 8 miles
    • Madison Park - Sand Point 3 miles video
  • Conditions on Lake
    • 520 bridge webcam
    • WindGuru Magnusen Park
• Shilshole Bay
  • Ballard Elks Club - Olympic Beach Park (Edmonds Marina) 10 miles video
  • SalmonBayPaddle
    • Shilshole Downwind Description, 4 Shilshole Bay Downwind Runs
  • Webcam
  • Downwind Video 2019
  • Tug Wakes, Freighter Wakes
  • Golden Gardens downwind laps
  • Shilshole Bay - Apple Tree Lane (27th Ave NW?) approx 6 miles? video
• West Point (Discovery Park)
  • A local favorite spot
  • Launch locations
    • Ballard Elks Club (public beach) .2 mile paddle to the point. Street parking unless you are a member, but over the years, cars have quickly unloaded boats in the turn around circle and then been parked on the street, with no complaints.
    • Discovery Park Beach but the beach parking lot is small and requires a permit from the Discovery Park office.
  • West Point is at the south end of Shilshole Bay with Discovery Park on the southside facing Elliot Bay
    • North/NW wind with ebb current: If the wind is blowing out of the north or northwest at 15-25 knots, the 20 miles of fetch from Everett/Whidbey Island can generate 2-4 foot windwaves. When combined with an ebb current, large white caps form. Combined with gusty winds, the wave action can be somewhat chaotic and challenging. A large back eddy tends to form on the south side of Discovery Park beach, and one can sometimes surf a wave around the point into a protected lee where the waves become smooth and almost glassy, just tiny wind ripples. Conditions become truly challenging when a strong north wind weather front moves in with winds greater than 25 knots and waves in the 3 to 5 foot range.
    • South/SW wind with flood current : Similar dynamics as above, just from opposite direction. However, there is a sand bar and shallows extending off the point which creates more consistent surfing opportunities and good lap intervals. Flood current max speed is rarely over 1 knot, but even a slight .5 knot opposing current steepens the waves significantly, opening up the possibility for long wave train rides.
  • West Point - Golden Gardens 2.5 miles (south to north boundary of Shilshole Bay) easy downwind video
    • Downwind laps video
  • West Point Lighthouse - Edmonds 10.5 miles video (1.5 miles upwind from Ballard to Lighthouse then downwind)

Surfing Boat Wakes

• Boat Traffic
• Lake Union
  • Lake Union wake surfing video
• West Point/Discovery Park Beach
  • West Point Boat Wake Surfing
  • Tugboat wake surfing video
  • …