La Santa - El Quemao Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks, it’s not looking like much of a party for the paddle crew. We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s not exactly lighting up right away.

The first few days are pretty gutless. We’re looking at small, short-period swell and a constant cross-onshore wind. That’s a recipe for chop and frustration. You’ll see surf around the 2ft on the Saturday, but with that wind on it, it’s not going to be pretty. The wave energy is weak, down in the low 200s, with a period of only 10 seconds. It’s not doing anyone any favors.

We’ve got a bit of a lull in the middle of next week, but then things start to wake up. From the 6th of August onward, the swell starts to build. By the 7th, we’re looking at 8ft on the faces, and the energy jumps up to the 800s – that’s some proper power. But here’s the catch: the wind is still a problem. It's blowing cross-onshore at 30 to 35 km/h, which is making a mess of things. You might see some size, but it’s going to be lumpy and hard to ride. For the average surfer, this is too big and too messy.

Then, from the 8th through the 15th, the swell stays solid, hovering around 7ft to 8ft. The energy stays strong, with readings in the 500-800 range. But that wind isn't letting up. It’s a constant cross-onshore breeze, which is just going to keep the surface chopped up.

The one spot on the map is La Santa - El Quemao. This is an expert-only reef break, and it's consistent. The ideal swell direction is WNW, but we’re seeing a lot of NNE windswell, which is not what this place wants. The period is mostly short, between 6 and 8 seconds, which for a spot like this is more like a washing machine than a wave. You can see it’s an exposed spot, so it takes a beating from that wind.

The first time it really gets interesting is the morning of the 7th of August, with that 8ft swell and the energy jumping up to 896. But, with that 35 km/h cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a mess. For experienced chargers only, and even then, it’s going to be a survival session. The water temp is a touch warm, about 2°F above average, which is normal for this time of year.

Again, the pattern is clear: a slow start, then a lot of solid but messy swell. We’re not getting a clean day with good wind and proper swell. The wind direction is just wrong for too much of the period. If you’re a strong swimmer and a glutton for punishment, there might be some waves to be had, but it’s not a recommendation for a fun session. The whole setup looks like it might be more interesting for the kite surfers than the paddle surfers, to be honest.

So, keep your expectations low. There's size on the horizon, but the conditions are against us. When it's this consistent, it won't stay poor forever, but this stretch looks pretty average. Hang tight.

Rusty.

Read more