La Palue Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

To be honest, mate, it’s a quiet stretch ahead. The 16-day window is mostly a run of small, messy, or onshore conditions. There’s no real pulse of energy, and the spots that do show any life are few and far between. The first few days are a write-off, but there are a couple of windows where it might be worth a paddle if you’re local and desperate.

Looking at the first real chance – Saturday, August 3rd, early. La Palue coaxes a tiny bit of life out of the water. We’re talking a 2 ft swell from the west, with a 10-second period – that’s a bit of groundswell, which is better than the short-period junk we’ve been seeing. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NNE, which will keep the surface clean. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The combined energy is weak (69), so you’re not going to get any power, but for a small, clean morning session it’s about all we’ve got. It’s a beginner-friendly wave at that size, and the lack of crowd on a clear morning is a bonus.

The next stand-out, and the best of the bunch, is Sunday, August 11th, first light. Now, this is a week and a half away, so treat it as a promising whisper rather than a definite. La Palue should see a 3 ft swell from the WSW, period up to 9 seconds, which is a decent groundswell shape. The wind is forecast to be light offshore from the east, so the surface will be clean and glassy. That’s a rare combination here. The combined energy bumps up to a moderate 132, which is the highest in the whole outlook. The swell direction is a direct match for the spot’s optimum. Everything lines up for a good session. The downside? The crowd factor is listed as “often,” so if you’re not early, you’ll be sharing it.

Through the rest of the period, it’s a lot of onshore slop. The swell never gets above 4 ft, and the periods are short, often 6 or 7 seconds, which is just windswell junk. The wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, making everything choppy and lumpy. The combined energy stays in the weak to moderate range (low 100s at best), so there’s no real grunt in the water. The 8th of August has a clean morning with a 3 ft swell, but the wind is cross-off, not quite full offshore, and the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s average at best.

Forget the second week. The 15th of August sees a strong breeze from the WNW hitting 28 mph, with a tiny 2 ft onshore windswell. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

So, on the whole, it’s a lean run. Don’t get your hopes up for the next week, but mark the 11th of August in your calendar. That’s the one to chase.

Rusty.

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