Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking the waves at Ritoque for the next couple of weeks. Water temps are about average for this time of year, nothing to worry about.

We start off slow. Friday the 21st, you’ve got a 6ft SW swell with a short 8-second period, so it’s a bit weak. The energy is only 646, and the wind is cross-shore, not helping. The afternoon picks up to 8ft from the SW with a longer 11-second period, giving it more punch at 1183 energy, but it’s still a bit messy. Not a great start.

Saturday the 22nd is quiet. The morning has a 5ft SW swell with a cross-on breeze, nothing special. But Saturday afternoon, the wind drops to glassy calm, and you’ve got 5ft of SW swell. It’s short period at 7 seconds, but the glassy conditions make it the standout for the first week. It might be a bit inconsistent, but when they come, they’ll be clean.

Then it goes flat. Sunday the 23rd through Tuesday the 25th, swells drop to 2ft to 4ft, with very low energy (205 to 317). The wind is glassy or light, but there’s just no size. You’ll be taking a few days off.

Wednesday the 26th morning is a hidden gem. The swell picks up to 5ft from the WSW, 12-second period, and it’s glassy. The energy is 605, and it’s clean. That’s a solid session. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on breeze.

Now, big news: Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th bring serious size. We’re talking 10ft swells from the WSW, periods of 13 and 14 seconds, and energy over 3,200. That’s pumping, but it’s way too big for most of us. The file says it’s too big for this break. Experts only, and even then, it’s a beast. The wind is light, but the swell is overwhelming.

After that, the swell drops to 7ft on Saturday the 29th morning. WSW direction, 13-second period, and glassy – that’s the best of the big stuff. The energy is 1,572, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a bit onshore, but the morning is premium.

Sunday the 30th is a write-off: 7ft swell but with a cross-on breeze picking up to 25 km/h, and it’s rated poor. The end of the month is mixed. Monday the 31st morning is glassy with a 4ft WSW swell (12-second period, 648 energy) – that’s a nice clean session. But Tuesday the 1st of September is back to a cross-on breeze and sloppy.

The first week of September keeps the energy up. Wednesday the 2nd morning has a 4ft WSW swell with a very long 18-second period (1,977 energy), but it’s cross-on, so not perfect. Then Wednesday afternoon and Thursday the 3rd go huge again – 10ft to 12ft swells, energy over 4,700, and again, too big for the break. That’s a monster.

Friday the 4th drops to 6ft, and Saturday the 5th morning is looking good with a clean cross-off wind and a 3ft WSW swell (12-second period, 678 energy). The file says it’s very good surf conditions. That’s a nice way to wrap up the forecast.

So, best bets: Saturday afternoon, August 22nd for the glassy 5ft SW swell when it’s clean and quiet, and Wednesday morning, August 26th for the glassy 5ft WSW swell. For the big wave crew, Saturday morning, August 29th is your moment with 7ft, glassy, and excellent conditions. The rest is a mix of small, messy, or just too big.

Rusty out.

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