Pitstops Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright lads, Rusty here. Let’s break down this stretch of surf.

We’ve got a solid run of waves coming, starting with some decent size and then a slow, steady drop. The big news is a proper pulse of long-period groundswell that hits mid-week, packing some serious grunt. Water temp is 85°, which is average for the season, so nothing wild there.

The real standout is Pitstops on Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of August. We’re talking a solid 7ft to 7ft of SSW to S swell, with a period of 16-18 seconds – that’s a deep-water groundswell with heaps of energy (combined energy values of 2640 and 3029). The wind is a light, cross-off breeze from the SSE, so it’s going to be glassy and lined up. Being a reef, it’ll handle that long period beautifully. But that size is strictly for the experts – over 8ft is big stuff. Crowds are a possibility, as it’s often a popular spot.

Tuesday the 18th gets the ball rolling with 5ft of SSW swell, but the wind is stronger and the conditions are more so-so. It’s a warm-up, not the main act.

From Friday the 21st, the swell starts to settle. Friday morning has 5ft of S swell with a 15-second period, still clean with that cross-off breeze. The weekend sees a bit more size on Saturday morning (6ft), but the wind picks up and the quality drops a notch.

Through the next week and into the start of September, the swell holds steady in the 4ft to 5ft range, with the wind staying light and cross-off. The conditions remain clean, and the energy is moderate (values between 739 and 1324). It’s not the same punch as that mid-week peak, but it’s still very fun, rideable surf. The morning of September 1st sees a bump back up to 5ft with offshore wind, making it another good window for the experienced crew.

Bottom line: if you want the biggest, cleanest, most powerful waves, you’re looking at the 19th and 20th of August. That’s the one.

Rusty.

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