Freighter Wave Surfing Locations on Puget Sound
Of course everyone’s heard of tanker wave surfing in Texas featured on Dana Brown’s Step into Liquid. Same thing here, but no need to tow-in and ours is a beach break.
Fabled Waves?
Seattle Surf Photo: Jon Kwon
Freighter waves are not as well known or a popular activity as many don’t think it could exist and/or that we could get good waves. But here in Seattle, the ocean is 3-5 hrs away depending on where you choose to go, so we take what we can get – and surprisingly it’s pretty good.
NW Coastal surf can like any waves be flat, blown out or too big which is always a bummer after a few hour’s drive long drive. We do on occasion get up to one hour of continuous waist high freighter waves, which is always pretty epic and a shorter commute.
During the peak of the season in summer, often we’re surfing 3x a week in Seattle. When we head for ‘real waves’ on the coast, we’re in surfing shape vs not having surfed for a few weeks.
Read my article in the Inertia on Freighter Waves
Where do Freighter Waves Break?
Use aerial photo sites of local beaches to find possible breaks. Google maps works well for Puget Sound, as does this page. Check webcams that have beach views to track boats, tides and weather.
Then use a ship tracking app to track shipping traffic. For Seattle, we need a fast freighter, container ship, and various other speedy boats to make it happen. Even fast moving recreational boats can put off a sweet wave.
How We Found the Waves
Two friends and I ‘discovered’ our local waves around 2002 while out sea kayaking. This was before SUP and ship tracking apps. We would go to the water and look for boats, and over time figured out some ship schedules and where to be and when. And the same for tug surfing.
Which Craft to Use for Surfing
We started surfing these on sea kayaks, then surf kayaks then SUPs. Now 20 years later, I personally prefer a 14′ downwind SUP and 18′ surf ski. Friends do surf sups, boogie boards, surf kayaks, regular 11′ SUPs and a few do traditional surfing ideally with long boards, and prone paddle boards. If you’re good anything will work.
Most efficient for longest rides, most wave count will be surf skis, outrigger canoes and 14′ SUPs. Longer is faster, less work. But use what you got and go from there.
Tug Surfing
We also surf tug waves from specific tugs that put off big peeling waves. Like some freighter waves,
these are on a schedule and have a specific route so we know where to be and when to be there.
Tug wave are big but not powerful, so we need 14′ or longer SUPs, sea kayaks, OC or surf ski’s to catch and keep up with the waves. We get one set and that’s it, so we have to catch it!
Tugs in Seattle do come on a specific schedule and at other times.
Partial List of Surfing Breaks for Freighter / Container / etc waves…
Seattle area:
– Duwamish Head – Great for ferry waves at lower tides.
– Point Wells, Edmonds.
– Des Moines Beach Park (north of pier).
Haven’t tried it but I’ve heard these break:
Dash Pt, Saltwater St Park, Rolling Bay; Restoration Pt
Those that don’t work:
– Pt No Pt, Three Tree Pt, Carkeek Park, Alki Point.
– Friends in Vancouver BC say they haven’t seen waves there but there’s good wind waves at Crescent Beach.
Tidal Waves
- Deception Pass – I teach folks how to surf standing and progressive waves in the Pass all year. I offer classes in Deception Pass!
- Places like Bremerton’s Port Washington Narrows have swift current. Add a boat wake and you have some fun!
About Rob Casey – Named a pioneer in the SUP industry by Stand Up Journal, Rob is the author of “Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers” and “Paddling the Salish Sea 80 Trips.” Rob owns Kayak and SUP school Salmon Bay Paddle in Seattle. Surf photo of Rob by Jon Kwon.