Guethary - Les Alcyons/Avalanche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be real with you: the 16-day window for Guethary’s Les Alcyons/Avalanche is a tough watch. For the first week and a half, it’s pretty much flat to tiny, with mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds messing up what little there is. The real action doesn’t even start to build until the second week.

We kick off on Wednesday, August 12th, with a tiny 2ft swell from the NW, but the water is glassy in the morning with a 5 km/h WNW breeze. The water is 75°, which is 4° warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a noticeable warm anomaly. Problem is, the waves are poor and weak, with combined energy at just 69. That’s the story through most of the first week: small, messy, and not worth paddling out for.

The first real glimmer shows up on Sunday, August 16th, in the afternoon. A 4ft NW swell hits, with a combined energy of 227 – that’s moderate. But the wind is onshore from the NW at 10 km/h, and the forecast calls it “marginal” at best. Still, it’s the first sign of life.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, arrives on Thursday, August 20th. The morning brings a 4ft NW groundswell with a period of 11 seconds, and combined energy jumps to 468 – that’s strong. The wind is light onshore, but the wave size and power are there. Friday, August 21st, pushes it further: a 6ft NW swell (period 10 seconds) with a huge 513 energy, but it’s still tagged as “marginal” due to conditions. That’s a solid expert-level swell at over 5ft, and with 6ft, it’s getting into the big stuff for the experienced crew only.

But the absolute best on offer? Look at Tuesday, August 25th, morning. A 4ft NW swell, period 9 seconds, combined energy of 216 (moderate), and the wind goes glassy offshore from the E at 10 km/h. That’s clean, it’s got push, and the wind will hold it open. For a reef break like this, with a 4ft NW swell and clean offshore conditions, that’s the call. Expect crowds to be likely – this spot is “often” packed.

Later on Thursday, August 27th, the swell bumps up to 8ft from the NW, with a combined energy of 733 (very strong). That’s expert-only territory, over 8ft, and with cross-onshore winds, it’s going to be a beast. Maybe one for the kite crew if you’re into that.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. The second week builds nicely, but the standout is Tuesday, August 25th morning. That’s your window for clean, punchy reef waves at Les Alcyons/Avalanche. Get in early.

Rusty.

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