Continent |
North America |
Country |
Washington (USA) |
Next Big City |
Seattle |
Next Town |
Seattle |
|
Type: |
Lake |
Rider Ability: |
Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Parking |
Water
Type: |
Flat, Chop, Small wave |
Hazards: |
No information |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
The water conditions are mostly flat and choppy. Higher wind can create swell with 2-3ft, but not near as big as Puget Sound.
Beach
Type: |
Grass |
Size: |
None |
Hazards: |
Rocks, Trees |
Beach Users: |
No information |
Rigging is on grass, since there is no beach at Magnuson Park. Kiters launch and land at the south end of the park, near the boat launch. Access to the water is between trees. There are also big boulders on the shoreline. The trees create some bad gusts, and lulls. Most kiters receive hold downs while launching, and walking to the water. Along the shoreline, trees and bushes block most access to the water. If you get caught down wind, there are only a few small clearings, where a kiter can come back to shore. No body will be there to help you land. When you get close to the clearings, you will have to land your kite in the water, and self rescue to shore. Then deflate your kite to walk back.
Weather
Spring:
|
Normal |
Summer:
|
Shorts, Shorty |
Fall:
|
Normal |
Winter:
|
Thick |
Around summer the water temp is in the mid 70's°F. During winter, it's really cold, around 40°F.
Wind
Best Months: |
January, February, March, April, May, December |
Wind Type: |
Frontal |
Best Direction: |
SSE, S, SSW |
Main Direction: |
No information |
The place works best in winter and spring in southerlies, before and after southerly storm fronts. If the wind is SW a few trees just south of the launch can produce a narrow wind shadow and make it very dangerous to launch and land. Magnuson is good on South winds. Strait South, and Southwest are the best.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Short walk |
From northbound I-5 take 65th St exit and go east on 65th until you hit the water. The launch is just south of the boat ramp.
Extra information
This is one of the more risky launches area's in Seattle due to the trees around the launching area.
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