Sep 18, 2023

Surfing in Seattle!

Seattle is not the first place most people think of for a surf trip, and for good reason! There aren't many natural surf waves in Seattle but with near endless water, there are plenty of places to boat...and therefore surf behind a boat!

I love Denver, CO, but there aren't a lot of places to boat, or even get in the water. A quick trip to Seattle is the perfect getaway for water sports. In my younger years, I would have spent the weekend wakeboarding or tubing, but after a few bad wipeouts and associated whiplash injuries, I have left those activities in the past. Wakeboarding requires the boat to travel at 20+ mph which can lead to an intense water/body impact. At minimum, these forces can lead to you feeling sore the next day, but often, these impacts can result in whiplash, concussion, and/or a burst ear drums. Tubing can be just as dangerous with all the same risks, and even more dangerous if there are multiple people and/or tubes involved. Most boats can create a decent surf wave at a much slower speed (~ 10-12 mph) leading to "softer" crashes and therefore a significant decrease in impact forces and injuries!

A Fun Seattle 2 Day Boating Itinerary:

A lovely boat cruise from La Conner south to Port Madison, located on Bainbridge Island

Games of tether ball and pickle ball followed by a cookout style dinner and a comfortable sleep on the boat

Pancakes and coffee in the morning followed by a trip through the locks to Lake Union and Lake Washington

An afternoon of surfing behind the boat in Lake Washington

A How to Guide: Surfing Behind a Boat

What you need: a boat, a surf board, a tow rope, and a good attitude. There are many types of boats, some produce very high quality waves, and others not so much. My friend's boat in Seattle is not designed as a surf boat (it's more a "cabin cruiser"), but when you live in Denver, a wave is a wave! Although he doesn't have a perfect surf boat, he did invest in a great wake-surf board; these specific surf boards are shorter and thinner than a regular surf board which allow you to maneuver easier on the wake. For me, a mediocre/bad surfer, I need a tow row to get up and into the wave, as well as to stay balanced on the wave. For others, like my husband, he can drop the rope and stay in the wake to surf more "naturally".