Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, and I've been staring at the charts for Backdoor 4. This reef break is exposed to the south swell, and what we've got coming is a proper mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. Water temp is sitting at 66°F right now, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We start off with a bit of a slow burn. The first solid action kicks off Sunday the 6th with a clean 4ft south swell, but it's a bit short in the tooth at 8 seconds. Winds are offshore though, so it'll be clean even if the energy is only moderate at 216. Monday the 7th is the real gem of the early run – glassy conditions, a 5ft south swell, and the combined energy bumps up to 298. That's the kind of morning you call in sick for.

Tuesday the 8th sees the swell start to pump up. Morning brings a 8ft south swell, but that's pushing the limits for this spot – combined energy is a hefty 981. It'll be a big, powerful wave, but it's getting into the "too big for this break" territory. The afternoon is the smarter play, with a 7ft swell, clean conditions, and a much more manageable 531 energy reading.

Wednesday the 9th is a tale of two sessions. Morning has a gentle 4ft swell with offshore winds – clean and fun. But the afternoon turns nasty, with a 8ft south swell and 28 mph offshore winds. That's 616 units of energy, but the wind is howling so hard it'll be a battle just to get out.

Thursday the 10th is a full-on swell event. We're looking at 10ft south swells with 10-second periods and combined energy readings over 1600. That is serious, expert-only territory. The wind is offshore, so it'll look perfect from the beach, but the paddle out and the drop will be for the brave only. This is the standout event of the whole period for the big dogs.

Friday the 11th keeps the power on with a 8ft swell in the morning (2478 energy!) and a 7ft in the afternoon. Again, this is all too big for a casual session. Saturday the 12th is the sweet spot for the rest of the crew – the swell drops to a clean 6ft in the morning and 5ft in the afternoon, with light winds and long 11-second periods. That's proper groundswell, and the 828 energy reading tells you there's plenty of punch. Expect some beautiful, clean waves.

Then we hit a dead patch. From Sunday the 13th through to Monday the 14th, the swell drops right off and the wind turns onshore. It's a flat, choppy mess. There's a tiny window Monday afternoon with glassy conditions on a tiny 2ft swell, but it's barely surfable.

Things perk back up on Tuesday the 15th with a 14-second period swell – that's a very long period groundswell, and at this reef break, it'll wrap in nicely. The morning has a small 3ft, but the afternoon jumps to 7ft which is again too big.

The best run of the second week looks like Wednesday the 16th morning and Thursday the 17th morning. Wednesday brings a 5ft south swell, 11-second period, and glassy conditions – 673 energy, clean, and just right. Thursday morning is similar with a 4ft swell and glass again. That's two mornings of perfection.

After that, it gets messy again. Friday the 18th through Saturday the 19th is cross-shore and choppy. The period on Friday afternoon is an insane 19 seconds, but with a 3ft swell and cross-shore winds, it's just not coming together.

We finish off the period with a bit of hope. Sunday the 20th morning is small but clean, and Monday the 21st morning has a 4ft south swell with offshore winds – a nice, gentle way to end the outlook.

So, the standout sessions? No doubt about it – Monday the 7th morning for the glassy, clean 5ft waves. And for the big-wave hunters, Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th are the ones to circle, but only if you've got the experience. For the rest of us, the mornings of Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are the best bets in the second week.

Rusty.

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