Guethary - Les Alcyons/Avalanche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming our way for Guethary - Les Alcyons/Avalanche (France). This is a reef setup that needs a clean west swell, and it’s strictly for the experts. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, so don’t rush to grab your board just yet.

Right now and for the next few days, it’s pretty grim. Tuesday and Wednesday are a write-off with tiny, weak swell – the combined energy is only around 19 to 60 (weak), and the wind is all wrong. Thursday morning turns glassy, but the swell is still pathetic at 1ft from the northwest, so it’s not worth a paddle. Friday morning sees a bump to 6ft from the WNW, but it’s a cross-onshore breeze with moderate energy (384), and the conditions are only marginal. Friday afternoon gets bigger at 8ft, but the onshore wind is howling at 12 mph, making it a lumpy mess. That’s a pass from me.

Now, Saturday 29th August morning is where we start to get interested. The wind goes glassy from the east, and we’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the northwest with period around 9 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 323 (moderate), and conditions are described as good. That’s a nice little session for the early crew. Sunday 30th August morning is very similar – glassy again, 5ft from the NW, energy at 288 – another solid morning window. But both afternoons get chopped up by a north-northwest wind, so get it while it’s clean.

There’s a bit of a lull through Monday and Tuesday (1st September) with bumpy, onshore winds and messy surf. The morning of Tuesday 1st has 6ft from the WNW and energy up to 501 (moderate), but the cross-onshore wind keeps it from being great. Wednesday 2nd September morning is glassy but tiny at 3ft, so only worth it if you’re desperate.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Sunday 6th September. The morning brings a solid 6ft from the northwest with a longer 11-second period – proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is a massive 924 (strong), and the wind is glassy from the south-southeast. Conditions are set to be very good. This is the pick of the forecast. The afternoon holds up at 6ft but the wind goes cross-shore from the northeast, so the morning is the window to aim for.

We then get a couple of messy, windy days, but hold on – Tuesday 8th September morning is a big one. The swell jumps to 10ft from the WNW with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy rockets to 4314 (very strong). That’s serious groundswell, only for experts, and it will be a bit choppy with a moderate cross-onshore. The afternoon stays at 10ft with a period of 14 seconds, and the wind eases to onshore. This is raw power – reef breaks will handle it well, but beach breaks will be straight and angry. Finally, Wednesday 9th September morning looks like a great recovery: 5ft from the NW, 11-second period, glassy wind from the WSW, and very good conditions. That’s a clean, juicy morning to wrap things up.

So overall, the week starts flat and poor. The best windows are the mornings of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August for smaller, clean waves, and the absolute standouts are the mornings of Sunday 6th and Wednesday 9th September for quality, powerful surf. The big 10ft day on the 8th is for experts only. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Stay stoked, and I’ll see you out there.
Rusty

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