Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Horse Trails.

Overall, we’ve got a solid run of surf coming, but the first couple of days are a bit of a write-off for most of us. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a good 4° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a proper chill, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit.

The surf kicks off on Friday, August 7th, but don’t get too excited. There’s a big 10ft SW groundswell (14-second period) pouring in, with a combined energy of 3673 – that’s some serious power. But for a sandbar like Horse Trails, it’s just too much. It’s a big, daunting wave that’s only for the absolute top-tier experts. Add a cross-off morning breeze that shifts to a cross-on in the afternoon, and the conditions are messy. This is a day to watch from the beach.

Saturday, August 8th, is where it starts to get interesting. The morning is the real standout. The swell drops to a still-heavy 8ft from the SW (13-second period, 2221 energy), but it’s glassy. Absolutely glassy. That’s a rare gift for a wave this size. This is excellent, clean power for experienced surfers, but it’s still solid, so leave the foamies at home. The afternoon turns onshore and lumpy, so make the most of the early session.

Sunday, August 9th, forget it. Strong, messy cross-shore winds kill the vibe completely. Monday, August 10th, is marginal with a smaller 6ft swell and moderate cross-off winds; it’s clean but just not that exciting.

Now, here’s the real run of quality. From Tuesday, August 11th, through to Sunday, August 17th, we get a fantastic stretch. Tuesday morning has a clean 6ft SSW groundswell with light cross-off winds – very good conditions. But the standout window is Wednesday, August 12th, through to Saturday, August 15th. Wednesday morning brings a 6ft WSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period and clean offshore winds (energy 2142). The tide will be key, but that’s a dreamy, lined-up wave. Thursday and Friday keep the quality up with 7ft to 8ft WSW groundswells under clean offshore breezes. Saturday, August 15th, is another gem: 8ft WSW groundswell (15-second period, 2386 energy) with a glassy morning. That’s the best of the best on offer – big, clean, powerful, and perfect for a crew of experienced surfers.

The second week starts to fade. The swell stays around 5ft to 8ft, but the winds become more onshore and cross-shore, making things lumpy. The last few days, from August 20th onward, are poor with messy wind and a washing-machine chop. The final weekend, August 22nd and 23rd, sees a spike in swell size again, but it’s accompanied by strong, dirty winds – not a good mix for Horse Trails.

The pick: Saturday, August 15th, morning. Glassy conditions, solid 8ft WSW groundswell, and a long period. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. But remember, this is a sandbar; with a long period swell that size, it’ll be breaking fast and hollow. Expert only.

Rusty, signing off.

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