Capbreton - La Piste Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu at Capbreton - La Piste.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a slow cooker. The first week and a half is pretty much a write-off for anything decent. The water is sitting at a warm 76°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the paddle out won’t give you a chill.

We’ve got a long stretch of flat or weak, messy conditions. The combined swell energy is barely a whisper, in the tens to low double digits on the 23rd and 24th, with tiny 0.7ft to 1ft windswell. The wind is mostly cross or poor, so it’s a combo of small chop and no push. The 25th through the 27th sees a slight bump, but the quality is still poor. By Thursday the 27th, the swell nudges up to 4ft – 5ft from the WNW, with energy jumping to 199–288, but the wind is cross-onshore, messing up the face.

Friday the 28th is a no-go. The swell hits 7ft with a whopping 630 energy, but it’s onshore wind from the West, making it a lumpy, blown-out mess. Saturday the 29th is the biggest push of the period, with a 8ft swell from the WNW and energy screaming at 1117. That’s strong, heavy wave energy. But the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the score is a flat 1. A big swell with bad wind is no good for a paddle; honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The only real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Sunday the 30th. We get a clean 5ft from the NW with light offshore wind from the East. The energy is still moderate (262), and the conditions are described as “clean.” It’s not a classic, but it’s the best call on offer. Expect a bit of a crowd here, as it gets “often” busy.

After that, Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September are a mess again. However, the morning of Tuesday the 1st has a 4ft WNW swell with a cross-offshore breeze from the NE and clean conditions. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions,” but the energy is a moderate 267. It’s a solid option, not a standout.

The real standout, the one that’s got me a little excited, is the morning of Wednesday the 2nd. It’s a glassy 3ft from the NW with a 125 energy. That’s small, but it’s clean, and the wind is dead calm. It’s a sneaky good session for a longboard or a funboard.

Then we hit a dry spell again. The 3rd to the 5th of September are all tiny, flat, or poor energy. A tiny 3ft from the WNW on the morning of the 7th is clean, but it’s ordinary.

The final note is a big one: Monday the 7th of September afternoon. The guidance is calling for a massive 12ft WNW swell with an energy of 2087. That’s a monster, but the file says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a miss for us. That’s a strikeout for the end of the period.

Best Bet: For the whole 16 days, the morning of Sunday the 30th is the standout. Get an early one with the 5ft NW swell and the light offshore wind. The morning of Wednesday the 2nd is a close second for the glassy, clean conditions on a small swell.

Rusty.

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