Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break this down for you. The outlook's a bit of a slow burner, but there are a few windows of opportunity.

We're looking at Backdoor 4, a reef break that's very consistent and exposed to the east. Right now, the water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild to report.

The early part of this week is a write-off. Sunday the 26th has some chest-high swell, around 6.6ft from the south, but the wind is light and cross, making it lumpy and marginal. Monday the 27th morning is a tease – it drops to 3.9ft, but it's glassy, dead calm. That's a beautiful window for clean, fun waves. But it's short-lived, because the afternoon turns to junk.

From Monday the 27th afternoon all the way through Wednesday the 29th, it's small, weak, and choppy. We're talking knee to waist-high dribble with fresh winds. A real nothing stretch for about two days.

Now, Thursday the 30th is where things get interesting, but it’s for experts only. We've got a solid 7.5ft to 7.9ft south swell rolling in, with a moderate offshore wind. The combined energy is strong (1106 to 1342). This is a serious, powerful groundswell with an 11-second period. For a reef break like Backdoor, this will be cranking. But if you're not solid on your backhand and comfortable in big, critical barrels, give this one a miss. It's too big for beginners and most intermediates.

Friday the 31st is even bigger, with the swell hitting 9.8ft in the morning and 8.2ft in the afternoon. The energy is very strong (3046 in the morning!). Clean conditions again with offshore winds. Again, expert-only territory. It's a standout for the big-wave crew, no doubt.

We then get a couple of days of decent, more manageable surf. Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd both offer 6.2ft swell from the SSE. The Saturday afternoon has a clean offshore wind, and the Sunday morning is glassy with a light cross-off. That 6.2ft is a solid head-high plus, and the energy is moderate (684 to 899). This is the best bet for the average competent surfer. No crowds noted in the data, so you might have it relatively quiet.

After that, from Monday August 3rd, we fade away into tiny, weak, and mostly clean but small conditions through to around Wednesday August 6th. Thursday the 6th shows a spike back to 6.6ft from the south, but the period is short at 8 seconds, making it a bit weak and wanting, and the wind is strong from the southwest. It's a poor option.

So, to wrap it up: The standout for the big dogs is Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st – huge, clean, and heavy. For the rest of us, the best on offer is the clean, head-high waves on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, August 1st and 2nd. Get on it.

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