Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with the outlook for Ritoque.

First up, the week ahead is a mixed bag. We've got some small swell filtering in from the Southwest, but for the first few days, the conditions are just ordinary. Monday the 24th sees a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a moderate 13-second period, but the wind is a cross-off shore and the energy is weak (186). It's surfable, but nothing to write home about. The water's sitting at 57°, which is pretty average for the time of year.

Tuesday morning the 25th, the swell drops right off to 2ft, but we get a glassy window with a long 15-second period from the WSW and a jump in energy (313). That's your best early option – clean, but tiny. That window closes fast as the afternoon brings a cross-shore breeze.

Wednesday the 26th, the swell bumps up to nearly 3ft, but it's on the short-period side (down to 10 seconds) and the cross-onshore wind kills the quality. The energy picks up (464), but it's messy.

Now, Thursday the 27th is a big, big dose of reality. The swell is forecast to hit 12ft from the WSW with a solid 15-second period, and the combined energy is massive (6079). The wind is glassy in the morning! But here's the kicker – at 12ft, this wave is only for experts. For anyone else, it's just too big and dangerous. The break is exposed, so it's going to be a raw, powerful session for the crew who can handle it. Later in the week, from Friday the 28th through the weekend, the swell stays big (over 7ft) but the winds turn cross-onshore, making it ugly. The energy is still strong, but the conditions are marginal. This stretch is way more interesting for the kite surfers than for paddle surfers.

Looking further out, into the first week of September, the swell drops back to the 3ft to 7ft range, but the cross-onshore wind is a persistent issue. There are some long-period (15 to 18 second) pulses on September 2nd and 3rd, but the onshore breeze will chop them up. There is a glimmer of hope right at the end: on Tuesday morning, September 8th, the wind goes glassy again, with a clean 7ft, 14-second WSW swell and strong energy (1695). That's a promising long-range signal – good for experienced surfers – but it's far out so keep your fingers crossed.

Overall, if you're not an expert, the small glassy window on Tuesday morning is your best bet. If you're a charger, the Thursday morning window is the standout, but it's a heavy one.

Rusty.

Read more