Ritoque Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it for Ritoque.

We've got a wild ride ahead over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, with some serious size and windy conditions, but if you’re patient, there are some absolute gems hiding in the second week. The water is sitting at 58°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The first real opportunity comes in the early hours of Saturday, August 7th. Friday afternoon is a complete no-go with 16 mph cross-shore winds chopping up a weak 3 ft SW swell. The combined energy is only 630, so it’s pretty limp. But Saturday morning? That’s a different story. The swell has jacked up to a massive 10 ft from the SW (combined energy of 4078), and it’s got some serious power. The problem is, that’s too much wave for this spot. This is an exposed break, but even so, 10 ft is pushing into expert-only territory. The wind is a cross-shore 12 mph, which isn't ideal, but it might be okay for the absolute pros. By Saturday afternoon, it’s even bigger at 12 ft with a 19 mph cross-shore, so that’s a pass for me. The weekend is a washout for most of us.

We get a bit of a drop on Sunday morning—8 ft—but it’s still meaty, and the wind is messy. Sunday afternoon is a total loss with a 19 mph cross-onshore. Monday and Tuesday are a slow grind as the swell winds down, but the winds are still making a mess of it. The real turning point is Thursday morning, August 13th. We get a glassy 5 ft swell from the WSW with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is 983, and with glassy conditions, that’s a fantastic morning for a smooth, clean session. That’s your first real standout.

The next big one is Saturday afternoon, August 15th. The swell is a modest 4 ft from the WSW, but the wind is a clean 9 mph offshore from the East. That’s a dream setup. The combined energy is 924, and it’s going to be peeling off nicely. That’s a top pick for an intermediate surfer.

But if you’re looking for the best of the best, you need to pencil in Sunday morning, August 16th. We’ve got a 6 ft WSW swell with a 14-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy hits 1366, and the forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That’s the one. The swell is solid, the period is long, and it’s dead calm. It’s going to be a proper session for the crew that can handle it.

The following week keeps the love alive. Tuesday afternoon, August 18th, is another glassy gem with a 5 ft SW swell and a 16-second period (combined energy 1639). And Wednesday morning, August 19th, is a 7 ft WSW swell with glassy conditions again (combined energy 1670). That back-to-back looks incredible.

After that, the swell hangs around at 5 ft to 7 ft for the rest of the week, but the winds get a bit lumpy and cross-shore. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the perfection of the 16th, 18th, and 19th.

So, the standout sessions are undeniably Thursday morning, August 13th for the glassy, long-period fun, and Sunday morning, August 16th for the bigger, glassy, expert-level swell. The run from the 16th through the 19th is the real window of quality. Make the most of it.

Rusty.

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