L'Hippodrome Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. I’m looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a tough one for us here at L’Hippodrome. This is a beach and reef set-up that’s exposed to the swell, but it rarely breaks, and that’s the story for pretty much the whole run. The water’s sitting at 83°F, which is a massive 9°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, and it’s going to feel like a warm bath.

The forecast kicks off on Tuesday, August 4th, with a tiny 2 ft swell from the east, but it’s short-period stuff at 4 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore. The combined energy is next to nothing at just 10, so don’t expect much. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions,” and that sums it up. Wednesday the 5th gives us a glassy morning, but the swell drops to 1 ft with a 3-second period – energy is only 4. It’s not rideable. Thursday the 6th is even worse, with 0.3 ft of swell and energy at 1, then the rest of the week through to August 16th sees mostly zeros for swell height and energy. We’re looking at a long, blank stretch.

The only glimmer of hope comes much later, on Wednesday, August 19th. The morning shows a 4 ft swell from the south with a 6-second period, and the combined energy climbs to 80 – still weak, but it’s the biggest of the run. The wind is light cross-shore, which is okay, but the period is short, so it’ll be choppy and weak. The wave comment still says “poor surf conditions,” so I wouldn’t get too excited. Even that day, the afternoon turns onshore.

So, what’s the standout? There isn’t one. No break in the 16-day window offers anything worth paddling out for. The consistency is terrible, and L’Hippodrome is a spot that rarely breaks anyway, so this blank run isn’t totally out of character. If you’ve got a kiteboard, the 4 ft south swell on the 19th might be more interesting than a paddle. Otherwise, keep your board in the car and watch the forecasts – things can change.

Rusty.

Read more