Big Ben Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Big Ben over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – it's a tough stretch ahead. We're looking at a real flat spell to kick things off, with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The first week is grim. There’s a bit of small swell around, but the wind just won't play ball, leaving the conditions messy and choppy. It’s one of those periods where you’re better off waxing your board and waiting.

The only real standout in this whole 16-day window arrives on Thursday, September 10th. We’ve got a solid pulse of swell, but it’s a tricky one. The combined wave energy is strong, hitting up to (1695) on the Thursday morning. That’s a lot of water moving. We're talking 8 ft of swell from the S, which is expert territory – way too much for beginners. The period is 10 seconds, so it's got some juice but it's not the long, drawn-out groundswell you’d hope for. The bigger issue is the wind, which is forecast as a moderate cross-shore. It’s not going to be perfect, but it will be surfable for the experienced crew who know how to handle a bit of chop. It's the biggest energy we see, but it comes with a serious health warning.

Before that, there’s a brief moment on the afternoon of Sunday, August 30th that deserves a mention. The swell is tiny, just 2 ft from the E, but the wind goes glassy. It’s clean as a whistle. The energy is weak (108), so you won't be getting barreled, but for a longboard or a foiler, that’s a beautiful little window. It’s the cleanest the water will be all outlook.

Looking further out, the second week from September 7th onwards is a constant battle with fresh cross-shore winds. The swell tries to pick up, but it’s mostly messy. There’s a bit of a pulse around the 9th, but a near-gale cross-onshore wind and close to 7 ft swell will blow it out completely. Kite surfers might get a kick out of that wind and chop, but for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off.

So, to sum it up: keep your eyes on Thursday, September 10th if you're an expert and don't mind a bit of cross-shore chaos. Or, get the log out for a glassy but tiny session on the afternoon of Sunday, August 30th. Everything else is a whole lot of nothing or a whole lot of wind.

Rusty.

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