Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag here at Horse Trails. This is a sandbar setup that’s fairly exposed to the SW swell, and it’s got a fairly consistent track record when the conditions line up. The water temps are sitting right around average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The big story right now is the energy. We’re starting off with a strong pulse of swell – the combined energy is hitting 2112 (moderate to strong wave energy) – but it’s coming with a cross wind and a cross-chop that’s making things messy. The swell is a solid 8 ft at 12 seconds from the SW on Sunday, but those winds are a real buzzkill. Sunday and Monday are looking pretty poor, with the score being low and the wave comment calling it marginal or poor. Tuesday sees the swell jump up to 10 ft, and the energy is even bigger – 2561 – but the cross-onshore wind is just going to chop it up again. It’s a shame, because there’s plenty of power in the water.

Now, Wednesday morning, September 2nd, is when things get interesting. The swell is still a thumping 10 ft from the SW, period stretching out to 14 seconds, and the combined energy is up at 3499 – that’s strong wave energy. The wind is a light cross-onshore, only 6 mph, so it’s clean with just small ripples. This is big, powerful, groundswell, and at 10 ft, it’s expert territory only. The wave comment says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is too big for this break. For a sandbar, that long period (14 seconds) can make the waves a bit too walled-up and fast, but if you’ve got the skill and the right board, this could be a serious session. This is the standout in the first week – massive, clean energy, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

After that, Thursday and Friday get wrecked by a strong breeze from the SSE, blowing 28 mph. The swell drops, but the wind is howling and the surfaces are a mess. Thursday is especially bad, with the wind making it a write-off. Friday the wind is cross-off, so the faces are clean, but the wind is still strong, and the swell is down to 5 ft, so it’s not worth the fight.

The weekend of September 5th-6th is a bit of a breather. The swell drops to 4 ft, and the wind is light. On Sunday morning, the 6th, we get a nice cross-off wind from the north, the swell is 5 ft from the SW at 14 seconds, and the energy is 801. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and it’s clean. This is a much more manageable size, and the quality is there. This is the best option for intermediate surfers and a solid pick for anyone who wants a fun, clean session without the heavy stuff.

The second week starts off mellow. Monday the 7th is small, and Tuesday the 8th morning has a nice little pulse. The swell is 5 ft from the WSW at 13 seconds, the wind is a light cross-off from the SE, and the energy is 891. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and it’s clean. That Tuesday morning is a real gem – not huge, but well-shaped and clean. After that, the swell fades again, but there are a few more promising windows. The 11th of September sees a rising swell, 7 ft to 8 ft from the WSW, but the wind is cross or cross-on, so it’s marginal. The 12th, Saturday morning, is another big one – 10 ft from the WSW at 13 seconds, energy at 2904, and the wind is a light cross, so it’s clean. But again, that’s expert-only size, and the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. The 14th, Monday morning, is a nice finish: 5 ft from the SW, light cross-off wind from the ESE, and the wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” Clean and fun.

Overall, the standout is Wednesday morning, September 2nd – massive, clean, and powerful, but only for experts. For the rest of us, Tuesday morning, September 8th, and the morning of the 14th are the best bets for clean, fun waves. The crowds at Horse Trails are sometimes an issue, so keep that in mind, especially if you’re hitting it on a weekend.

Rusty.

Read more