Pitstops Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the surf coming up for Pitstops.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag, but the potential is there if you’re patient. The water is sitting at 85°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – about 1° above average, so nothing too wild, just a nice, warm bath for a paddle out.

The first real action kicks off on Thursday afternoon, the 3rd of September. We’re looking at a clean 3ft SSW swell, with a 14-second period. The wind is a cross-off SSE breeze, so the faces should be tidy. The combined energy is sitting at 457 (moderate), so it’s not a flogger, but it’s a nice, gentle intro to the weekend. The surf quality is described as good, but the score is a bit low internally, so keep your expectations in check for a fun, small wave session.

Friday the 4th looks similar, with clean 3ft SSW swell and light cross-off winds. Still a good, clean option for a beginner-friendly wave.

Now, Saturday the 5th through Monday the 7th, the swell jumps to 3ft and even 5ft, but the wind picks up into a moderate breeze from the SSE and SE. It’s a cross-off, but at 12-16 mph, it’s going to be a bit bumpy. The period is long on the 5th (17 seconds), which is a proper groundswell, but it’s mostly marginal for quality. The energy climbs to 591 and 672 (moderate), but the onshore influence will make it less than perfect. Sunday the 6th sees the energy spike hard to 1000 and 1179 (strong) with the same 3ft S swell, but again, the wind isn’t doing it any favours. This is a setup that might be more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.

Monday the 7th afternoon is a bit of a red flag – the swell hits 5ft but the period drops to only 8 seconds. That’s short-period, choppy junk. Not what you want.

But then, we get a turn. Tuesday the 8th of September is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings a 3ft S swell with a 19-second period – that’s very long period groundswell. The energy is 906 (moderate), and the wind is a gentle cross-off. The afternoon sees the swell bump to 4ft with an 18-second period, and the energy jumps to 1146 (strong). This is a standout window. The very long period will make the waves push through with plenty of power, but at a beach break, that long period can make them a bit too straight, so point breaks or reefs would be better. For Pitstops, it’s a tricky setup, but the quality is touted as very good.

Wednesday the 9th holds similar energy, with 4ft to 5ft S/SSE swell and 12-15 second periods. Still good, clean, and consistent.

The absolute best of the run looks like it’s building towards the end of the first week and into the second. Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th both have 4ft SSW swell with 16-second periods, and the energy is sitting around 1000 (strong). On Friday the 11th morning, we get a true gift: an offshore wind from the East at just 3 mph. The water will be glassy and clean. That’s a premium session.

From Saturday the 12th through to Monday the 14th, the winds drop to glassy or offshore conditions (3 mph from the NE, E, or ESE). The swell holds between 3ft and 5ft, with periods from 14 to 19 seconds. The energy is strong, especially on the 12th afternoon (955) and the 14th (1024-1083). This is a solid run of quality surf. The 14th afternoon is a standout, with a 5ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and offshore wind. That’s the pick of the entire forecast.

Tuesday the 15th is still good, with a 4ft SSW swell and 15-second period, but the wind swings cross-shore, so it’s a little less clean.

We fade out into the 16th and 17th, with smaller 3ft to 4ft SSW/S swells, but still glassy or clean winds. The 18th of September also offers glassy conditions with 4ft S swell, closing out the run.

Overall, the best of it is the 8th to the 14th of September. The standout day is Monday the 14th afternoon, with that 5ft SSW groundswell, offshore wind, and strong energy (1083). That’s the one to circle on your calendar. The 11th morning is also a gem for the offshore window.

Remember, this is Pitstops, a reef break that’s very consistent and beginner-friendly, but it’s often crowded. So get there early.

Rusty.

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