Riet River Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about Riet River. This is a point break that needs a specific SSW swell to really get going, and it’s inconsistent, so when it turns on, it’s a rare treat. The water is sitting at 64°, which is a solid 4° colder than usual for this time of year – noticeably nippy, so you’ll want a thicker suit.

The first real action kicks off Wednesday morning, the 22nd of July. We’ve got a clean 6ft SSW groundswell rolling in with a 13-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. The combined energy is strong at 1363, meaning there’s proper power in the water. This is excellent, but it’s a solid size for a point, so it’s for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so expect a few others in the know.

Wednesday afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up to a cross-off at 12 mph, dropping the swell a touch to 6ft. The energy is still moderate-strong (1172), but the tide might be tricky.

Thursday the 23rd of July starts with a 5ft SSW swell and a gentle offshore breeze from the west. The period holds at 12 seconds, and the energy is 756 – moderate. Conditions are clean and very good, but the swell is easing.

Friday the 24th of July is where it gets interesting. The morning has a 8ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and the energy spikes to 4300 – very strong. The wind is a clean cross-off from the southwest. This is a standout session for experienced surfers, but the long period will make it a bit straight at times, though a point break like Riet River handles that well. Friday afternoon sees the swell bump to 10ft (4636 energy), but the wind switches to a light cross-onshore, putting a bit of texture on the face. Still, 10ft of long-period SSW at a point is a proper session.

Saturday the 25th of July offers a 7ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore from the NE. It’s surfable but messy, and by the afternoon a 16 mph cross-onshore makes it poor.

Sunday the 26th of July is small and choppy, with wind ruining the 5ft swell.

Monday the 27th of July is a better bet. The morning has a 5ft SSW swell with a cross-off wind and 813 energy. The afternoon cleans up nicely with a light cross-off breeze and a 5ft swell – very good, clean waves.

Tuesday the 28th of July sees a big 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period and a massive 4648 energy reading, but it’s blown out by a strong cross-onshore wind. This setup is more for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.

Wednesday the 29th of July has a 7ft SSW swell with an onshore wind from the ENE, making it poor.

The best of the second week comes on Thursday the 30th of July, with a 6ft SSW swell and a clean cross-off wind in the afternoon. The energy is 1054 – moderate-strong. And Friday the 31st of July is a gem: a morning glass-off with a 6ft SSW swell and 1176 energy, and the afternoon turns glassy again with 5ft. Clean, lined-up waves.

After that, the swell drops right off. Saturday the 1st of August is tiny and blown out, and Sunday the 2nd of August is a weak 3ft clean swell but barely any energy (279). It stays flat and small through to the 5th of August, when a 4ft SW swell with a 13-second period and a clean wind shows up – surfable but small.

The standout in the whole window is Friday the 24th of July morning, with that 8ft long-period SSW groundswell and clean cross-off wind. And then Friday the 31st of July morning, with a glassy 6ft SSW swell, is a close second – clean, lined up, and perfect for a noon session.

Stay stoked, and don’t forget the booties for that cold water.

Rusty

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