Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for Backdoor 4. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag with a whole lot of waiting involved, but there are a couple of sessions that will make it all worth it if you time it right.

We’re looking at a 16-day window starting from the end of August, and the first real chance to get wet comes up on Sunday morning, the 30th of August. The swell is small at around 3 feet from the south, with a clean 9-second period. The wind is glassy from the north, so conditions will be clean as a whistle. Wave energy is moderate, coming in at 250, which is enough to get a few fun ones on the reef. It’s a bit on the smaller side, but it’s a nice, gentle start.

After that Sunday afternoon, things get pretty quiet and frustrating. We hit a long dry spell. From Sunday afternoon right through until the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September, the surf quality just isn’t there. The wind is all over the place, mostly onshore or cross-shore, and the swell either drops off or is accompanied by poor conditions. There’s a lot of days in there – over a week – where it’s not worth paddling out. One morning on the 4th of September has glassy conditions but with a tiny 2-foot swell, which just isn’t enough to do anything with. You’d be better off doing something else.

Now, the first real standout arrives on Wednesday morning, the 9th of September. We get a clean 5-foot south swell with an 8-second period, and best of all, we have a light offshore wind from the south. The wave energy is moderate at 328, and conditions are described as clean. The offshore wind will keep the faces smooth, making this a good session for intermediate surfers. It’s not huge, but after the drought, this is a very welcome sight.

But the real big one, the one you want to circle on your calendar, is Thursday morning, the 10th of September. The forecast is showing a solid 8-foot swell from the south with an 11-second period. Now, the energy here is massive – measured at 1413, which is very strong. However, I have to be straight with you: the swell is predicted to be so big that it might be too much for this break, pushing the limits for even experienced surfers. The wind is onshore from the north-northeast, which isn’t ideal, but that swell size is something to see. This is one for the experts only, and even then, with caution.

If that Thursday looks too heavy, keep an eye on Friday morning, the 11th of September. We’ve got a very solid 5-foot south swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is a clean offshore from the south as well. The wave energy is strong at 500, and the conditions are described as gentle offshore and clean. This is a fantastic setup: solid swell, good period, and perfect wind. The only downside is that Backdoor 4 can get crowded sometimes, so get out there early. This is likely your best all-round bet for the entire forecast: good size, clean conditions, and plenty of energy (500).

The remainder of the outlook from Saturday the 12th onward drops back into small, messy, or cross-shore conditions. The swell fades, and the wind turns against us again. There is a small window on Monday morning the 14th of September with a 5-foot north-east swell and glassy conditions, but the period is short at 7 seconds and the energy (271) is only moderate. It could be a fun little session if you’re desperate, but it’s nothing compared to that Friday morning.

So, to sum it up for Backdoor 4: there is a lot of flat and poor quality water to sit through, but the 9th and especially the morning of the 11th of September are your target windows. For the brave, the 10th of September offers a proper heavy session. Keep your eyes on the wind and don’t waste your energy on those flat days.

Rusty.

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