Ekas-Outside Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Ekas-Outside. It’s a reef break, fairly exposed to the swell, and it’s got a solid run of waves from the SSW direction. But honestly, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the whole stretch is a bit of a frustrating watch. The wind is stuck in a cross-off position from the SE for the whole 16 days, which is not ideal. It’s not offshore, it’s not side-shore, it’s just that awkward in-between that keeps it from being truly clean. It’s a persistent, moderate to fresh breeze, so the surface will be a bit lumpy.

The swell starts out strong on Wednesday, July 15th. We’re looking at 7 ft of SSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is a solid 2444 (moderate to strong), so there’s plenty of push. The water is 81°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so you’ll be in boardies. That morning is the best of a pretty average bunch, but the wind is already a cross-off 9 mph. The afternoon gets windier, 16 mph. The sets will be big, but the shape is questionable with the wind.

Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th see the swell drop a little, still 5 ft to 5 ft from the SSW and SW, still with a long 15-16 second period. The energy is still decent (1151 to 1737), but the wind is a steady 16 mph cross-off. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it. The conditions are ‘clean’ in the data, but with that wind, it’s more like a clean-ish mess.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Saturday the 18th through Sunday the 19th, the swell drops to 4 ft, and the energy dips below 1000. The wind picks up to 19 mph on the Saturday afternoon. It’s not worth the paddle-out.

Now, there’s a little spike on Monday, July 20th. The swell jumps back up to 7 ft to 7 ft from the SW, with a 17-second period on the morning. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is back up to 2625 (strong). For a reef break, that long period can be a bit of a double-edged sword – it’ll be powerful and have long gaps, but it might wall up and close out. The wind is still 19 mph cross-off, which is a bummer. If the wind was offshore, this would be the standout. As it is, it’s a heavy, difficult wave for experienced surfers only. The 7 ft is right on the edge of being too big for most.

From Tuesday, July 21st all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a slow decline. The swell drops to 4 ft, the energy gets weak (often under 700), and the wind stays strong. By the time we get to the 24th and 25th, the energy is pitiful, and the wind is 22 to 25 mph. The last few days, starting around July 26th, the swell direction swings to the SE, and the period drops to a short 8 seconds. That’s windswell, not groundswell, and it’s a whole different, weaker beast. The energy is low, and the conditions are poor.

There is no standout in this entire forecast. The best on offer is the first morning, Wednesday, July 15th, and Monday, July 20th for the big swell. But both are let down by the persistent cross-off wind. If you’re a beginner, stay away when it’s over 5 ft, which is most of the first week. Honestly, with these strong winds and the beach/reef setup, this stretch looks more interesting for a kite surfer looking for punchy, wind-lines than for a paddle surfer.

Rusty.

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