Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it for Ritoque.

We've got a bit of a mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks, but there are some absolute gems hiding in there if you're patient. The water's sitting at 55°, which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year, so you'll want that extra mm of rubber.

Monday the 20th kicks things off with a modest 3 ft swell from the west, but with glassy conditions in the afternoon that light breeze will keep it clean. It’s a decent warm-up, nothing to write home about.

Tuesday the 21st is a write-off. Heavy rain and howling winds from the NNE at 19 mph will chop everything to pieces, and the swell drops away to a weak 2 ft. Not worth paddling out.

Now, Wednesday the 22nd is where we see the first real jump. The swell picks up to a solid 6 ft from the west, and the morning is absolutely glassy with easterly winds. The wave energy is moderate (884), and this is a proper clean session for the confident intermediate.

Thursday the 23rd settles back a bit to 4 ft, but with a cross-offshore breeze from the southeast, it’ll be clean and fun. Not a standout, but a good day to be in the water.

Alright, here's the first true standout. Friday the 24th. You want to be out there for the morning. We’re looking at a 7 ft swell from the WSW, with a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1179, and the comments say it all – excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the one. Afternoon goes glassy too, so if you miss the dawny, the evening will still be magic.

Saturday the 25th drops back to 4 ft but stays clean in the morning. A nice little rest day after Friday’s feast.

Sunday the 26th is interesting. The swell is only 3 ft, but that is a very long-period 18-second groundswell in the afternoon. That energy is significant (866), but at a beach break, a period that long can make waves stand up and close out. Worth a look if you're on a log or a point break, but it’s a bit tricky for the main peak.

Monday the 27th brings another pulse of 7 ft swell, this time with glassy conditions in the afternoon that will make for some serious grins. This is for the experienced crew.

The pattern continues into the next week. Tuesday the 28th holds 7 ft, and Wednesday the 29th offers 6 ft with glassy morning winds. These are all solid, powerful days for those who know what they’re doing.

We hit a rough patch around Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st. The swell sticks around, but strong northerly winds at 19 to 22 mph will trash the surface. Friday the 31st sees 8 ft of westerly swell, but with 22 mph winds creating a lumpy cross-chop. That’s expert-only territory, or honestly, more a day for the kiteboarders to have a field day.

The reward comes at the end. Sunday the 2nd of August is the second outright standout. The morning brings a 7 ft west swell with glassy conditions and a combined energy of 1633. This is pumping, clean power for the strong crew. The afternoon holds 7 ft and stays glassy. If you can only surf one day in this entire run, make it the 2nd.

Monday the 3rd fades, and the last decent chance is Tuesday the 4th afternoon, with a clean 4 ft swell from the SSW if the wind plays ball.

Overall, a slow start, a proper classic on Friday the 24th, a bit of a blown-out lull, and then a banger of a Sunday on the 2nd of August to close it out. Keep your eyes on those dates.

Rusty.

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