This strictly a novelty spot: there are makeable waves if there is a strong storm with north winds. I surfed it once in a heavy snowstorm. I have pictures somewhere I'll try to find. You're only hope is for some knee to waist high soft mushburgers with a 30kt onshore wind, but it can be done!
There is loads of parking and no crowd. There might be kiteboarders now, but that hadn't been invented yet when I surfed it.
Golden Gardens...really?
If anyone has pics of these "clean, head-high" sets, would love to see them. I've lived there almost my whole life and never seen anything really rideable (and I spent a lot of time drinkin' on that beach before I was old enough to hit up the Sloop). Good on ya if you can say you rode it though!
comment by Anonymous, 2007-08-28 16:38:37
hmmm
i've been going to golden gardens for 6yrs and never seen it break.
comment by Donny D., 2007-05-15 08:57:52
the 'Gardens' was firing Monday
Don't know what did it. Maybe the combo tide and the big northerly wind. Whatever it was made for some clean head-high sets and otherwise four or five hours of consistent waist-high fun. And it was 75 degrees and sunny out! You'd never guess you were a three minute drive from Ballard. Long live the Sloop Tav!
comment by Dan, 2008-04-03 22:24:48