Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, this is Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks.

The water's sitting at 57°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you'll want a good thick wetsuit—it's a bit nippy out there.

We kick things off with a bit of a slow start. Thursday the 27th has some small swell, around 5ft from the SSW, but the wind is all over the place and the conditions are messy. It's really not worth paddling out for. Friday the 28th has a moment though: a glassy morning with zero wind and a tiny 3ft WSW swell, but the period is a massive 16 seconds. That's proper groundswell, and for a sandbar break like Horse Trails, that long period can make waves break a bit too straight. Still, it's clean, and if you're a longboarder, it might be a fun little session. The energy is moderate (644).

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see the swell building, but the wind turns onshore and choppy, so it's pretty ordinary. By Monday the 31st, the swell drops back to 7ft from the WSW with an 11-second period, but the wind is onshore again, making it a tough call.

Now, here's the real standout: Tuesday the 1st of September morning. The swell is 8ft from the SW, with a 13-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-shore. The wave energy is pumping hard (1778), but the size is pushing into expert territory. It's a solid session for the experienced crew, but beginners should stay well clear.

Wednesday the 2nd of September is a beast. The swell hits 13ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and the energy is massive (6402). The wind is light cross-shore in the morning, but honestly, this is way too big for paddle surfing at Horse Trails. If you're a kite surfer, this setup is going to be absolutely insane—strong winds are forecast later, and the swell is huge. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are also very large (10ft to 12ft), but the wind is strong and cross/cross-off, so it's still more of a kite or tow-in scenario.

Things finally settle down by Saturday the 5th of September. The morning looks clean with a 6ft SSW swell, 11-second period, and a nice cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (812), and the conditions are glassy. This is the best paddling window for most surfers in the whole forecast—a proper fun session.

After that, the swell drops away quickly. Sunday the 6th through Wednesday the 10th of September is mostly small, weak, and windy, with wave energy below 200 – not worth your time. Then on Thursday the 11th, another big pulse hits with 13ft from the SW and a 12-second period, with clean cross-off winds. But again, it's huge, so only for the hardcore crew or the kite surfers.

All up, if you're looking for a paddle, the standout is Saturday the 5th of September morning. For the big-wave hunters, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 11th are massive but only for experts. For kite surfers, the whole second week has some world-class potential.

Rusty.

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