Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks.

First things first, there’s a big wait. The swell is going to be way too big for this spot to handle from Thursday morning all the way through Friday afternoon. We’re talking a solid 10 ft to 12 ft of SW groundswell with a long period, and the combined swell energy is pumping hard (3314 to 4370). That’s just too much beef for this sandbar setup, and the wind is either cross or onshore, so it’s a no-go for a paddle surfer. Hang tight.

The first real window opens up on Saturday morning, the 8th of August. The swell drops to a still-chunky 8 ft from the SW, but here’s the kicker: it’s glassy. Dead flat water. The combined energy is still strong (2221), and with a period of 13 seconds, you’re getting proper groundswell lines. This is for experienced surfers only, though. Anything over 8 ft at Horse Trails is expert territory. The water’s about 57°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so a good thick wetsuit is a must.

The afternoon on Saturday sees the wind swing onshore and the swell bump back up to 10 ft, so it’s a morning-only mission. Sunday is a write-off with strong cross-shore wind and messy conditions.

We get a bit of a breather Monday the 10th into Tuesday the 11th. The swell drops to 6 ft – 6 ft from the SW and SSW, with clean conditions on the Tuesday morning thanks to a light offshore breeze from the east. The combined energy drops to moderate levels (1052), and the period is still a solid 12 seconds. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. It’s marginal.

Now, here’s the standout of the whole forecast. Wednesday morning, the 12th of August. The swell is 6 ft from the WSW, but look at that period: 18 seconds. That is very long period groundswell. The combined energy is still strong (2163), and the wind is a clean offshore from the ENE. That’s a recipe for some long, drawn-out lines at Horse Trails, especially for a sandbar. For experienced surfers, this is excellent. The water is still a bit cold, but it’s glassy.

Thursday the 13th morning is also a good one. A 7 ft WSW swell with a 16-second period and a clean offshore from the NE. The combined energy is strong (2262). This is another day for the experienced crew.

After that, things tail off. Friday the 14th has a small 4 ft to 5 ft swell, and the rest of the second week gets messy with strong winds and lumpy conditions. There’s a glassy window on Sunday the 16th afternoon with a 6 ft swell, but it’s inconsistent and not a patch on the earlier sessions.

The best of the best is Wednesday the 12th morning. That 18-second period groundswell with clean offshore wind will be a treat for the experts. The other top pick is Saturday the 8th morning for the glassy, big-wave session. Don’t bother with the kite surfing here; it’s a sandbar, not a flat water ramp.

Rusty, signing off.

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