Ninja's Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a solid run of swell coming through, but it’s not going to be perfect every day. The main player is a long-period groundswell from the south-southwest that’s got some serious energy to it, but you’ll need to pick your windows carefully for the cleanest conditions.

Kicking things off this weekend, Sunday the 30th of August, the swell is already pumping with a solid 6 ft from the SSW and a period of 19 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, meaning heaps of energy and nice, well-shaped lines. The combined energy is a massive 2378 (moderate), so you’ll feel the power. The wind is a cross-off from the west at 9 mph, which is good for keeping the faces relatively clean. But there’s a risk of thunderstorms, so keep an eye on the sky. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird there.

Monday the 31st sees the swell up a bit more, 7 ft in the morning with that same long-period groundswell. The energy is still high at 2544 (moderate). The wind picks up a notch to 12 mph from the west-northwest, still cross-off, but those afternoon winds get a bit stronger. This is pushing into the territory where it’s better for experienced surfers only, as 7 ft is pushing the limit for beginners.

Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell drops back to a more manageable 4 ft, but the period is still a long 16 seconds. The energy drops to 1206 (moderate). The wind is lighter from the west-northwest. The afternoon session is looking clean with a cross-off breeze. This is a good day for a wider range of surfers.

Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is where we start to see a real standout. The swell is 5 ft in the morning, building to 6 ft in the afternoon from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds. The wind is a light 6 mph from the west, creating a clean cross-off. The energy is solid at 1282 (moderate), and the conditions are described as "excellent" for experienced surfers. The morning glass-off is your best bet for the cleanest lines.

Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th, the swell drops and shifts to the SSE. It’s smaller, around 5 ft, with a shorter period of 10 to 11 seconds. The energy is lower, around 400-600 (weak to moderate). The big news is Friday morning the 4th: glassy conditions with the wind dropping to 3 mph from the west. That’s a rare treat, but the swell is a bit weak. It’ll be clean but gutless. Crowds are likely at Ninja's, so keep that in mind.

The first week of September trundles along with small, clean surf from the SSE. The energy stays low, around 300-400 (weak). It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s surfable. The wind is light and cross-off most of the time, so it’s a good week for a longboard or a funboard.

Then we get a second pulse. Thursday the 10th of September, the swell from the south picks up again with a 4 ft height and a long period of 18 seconds. The energy jumps to 1250 (moderate). The wind is a clean 9 mph cross-off from the west. This is a promising window, but keep in mind it’s still a week and a half away, so treat it as a heads-up, not a guarantee.

The real standout of the second week is Saturday the 12th of September. The swell is 4 ft in the morning, but the period is a massive 21 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell. The energy is 2235 (moderate). The wind is a clean 9 mph from the west-northwest. This is the kind of day where the waves will have a lot of push and shape, but at a beach break, that long period can make them close out a bit. It’s better suited to a point or reef, but Ninja's is a reef, so it should handle it well. Sunday the 13th of September is another big one, with 7 ft from the SSW and a period of 18 seconds. The energy is reading 3010 (moderate to strong). The wind is 9 mph cross-off in the morning. This is for experts only, as the size and power will be serious.

So, to wrap it up, your best windows are Wednesday the 2nd of September for the best combination of size and clean conditions, and Saturday the 12th of September for that long-period groundswell. The first week is small and clean, the second week is bigger but less certain. Keep your eyes peeled, and don't expect perfection.

Rusty out.

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