Hookipa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it's a tough stretch ahead for Hookipa. This is a reef setup that's exposed to the NNE, and the dominant swell direction is coming from the east and east-northeast, which is actually cross-shore here. The problem is, the wind is gonna be a real pain. We're looking at a solid run of moderate to fresh cross-shore breezes, mostly from the ENE, that's going to leave the surface feeling lumpy and cross-chop. For the first nine days, from Wednesday the 26th of August right through to Thursday the 3rd of September, the wave comment is just "poor surf conditions." The energy is there, but it's all short-period windswell (7-8 seconds) and the wind is ruining any chance of a decent face.

The water temp is a balmy 80°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so you won't need a thick suit, just a lot of patience.

There's a real glimmer of hope on Friday the 4th of September. The morning still looks a bit grotty, but the afternoon shows a jump in period to 10 seconds and the combined energy bumps up to a solid 553 (moderate energy). The wind drops to a gentle breeze at 9 mph, but it's still cross-shore, so the description is "gentle cross-shore with slight cross-chop." It's only a marginal forecast, but it's the best we've seen in a week, so that's when you might want to start paying attention.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September is a mixed bag. Saturday morning has a similar setup to Friday afternoon – 6 ft at 10 seconds from the ENE with light cross-shore wind – but the energy is a bit higher at 587. Still, it's only a marginal call. By Sunday afternoon, the swell drops back to 4 ft, and the wind picks up again.

The second week gets a little more interesting from a period perspective. We see a few pulses with 9-10 second periods, but the wind is still a constant issue, mostly moderate cross-shore breezes. The absolute standout, if you want to be a little optimistic, is on Thursday the 10th of September. The swell direction swings to the NNE for a moment, which is right on the optimum for Hookipa. The period stretches to a very long 11 seconds, and the combined energy hits 590 (moderate energy). But again, the wind is cross-shore and the forecast is marginal. It's a promising setup for a reef break, but it's a long way out, so don't book your flights just yet.

Honestly, for the first week and a half, this looks more like a kite-surfing session than a paddle-surfing one with that consistent cross-shore wind. The setups are all there, but the quality isn't. There isn't a single day I'd call a true standout. Friday the 4th afternoon and Thursday the 10th are the only ones with a flicker of hope, but they're both just marginal.

Rusty.

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