Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the cards for the Shida stretch. It’s gonna be a tale of two extremes: a whole lot of nothing at the start, then a massive pulse of swell that’s too much of a good thing.

It’s a quiet start. We’re looking at a long, flat spell right through the first week. From Sunday the 26th of July, right through to Saturday the 1st of August, the surf is just not there. It’s all small, weak, and messy. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and the swell is tiny and inconsistent. You’re basically looking at a week of nothing worth paddling out for. The energy is low, and it’s a bit of a bummer.

Things finally start to show a pulse on Monday the 3rd of August. But it’s a tricky one. The swell starts to build, coming from the SE with a very long period of 15-16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, but the problem is the wind. It’s coming from the NE, which is a cross-on breeze at Shida. The swell height climbs from 5ft to 8ft through the week, but it’s going to be a choppy, bumpy mess. The combined energy is massive – we’re talking four and five-digit numbers (1099 to 3637) – but the quality is shot by the wind. The period is long, so it’ll be better suited to a point or reef break, but here at Shida, it’s going to be a lot of closeout sections.

The standouts? Honestly, there’s only one period that’s even close to being worth a look. If you’re an experienced surfer, keep an eye on Monday the 10th of August. The wind finally swings offshore (SSW) and the swell is still solid at 6ft to 7ft from the ESE with a 14-second period. The combined energy is still very strong (3575 and 2843), but with that clean offshore wind, it’s the only time in the whole forecast that looks proper. The guidance says it’s for experienced surfers, and that’s dead right. It’s still a big swell, and with that long period, it’ll be pitching. But for a skilled surfer, that Monday is your window.

The days before that, from Thursday the 6th to Sunday the 9th of August, the swell is just too big and the wind is all wrong. The forecast is calling for 13ft to 20ft swell with strong cross-onshore winds. That’s a washing machine. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddling one.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a total write-off. The second week has a massive swell, but it’s mostly blown out. The only pocket of quality is that Monday the 10th of August with clean offshore winds, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. The water temperature is sitting at 78°F which is right on the money for this time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re getting turned inside out.

Rusty out.

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