Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Shida over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and we’ve got a long wait for anything truly worth getting wet for.

First up, the water temp is sitting at a nice 79°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The early part of the forecast is pretty quiet. Saturday morning, the 1st of August, we’ve got a tiny 1ft SE swell pushing through with a decent 11-second period, but the energy is weak (60). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’s clean, but honestly, it’s just surfable, nothing to get excited about. The afternoon cleans up even more with a glassy offshore breeze and a longer 16-second period, but still only 1ft. It’s a session for the longboard if you’re desperate.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Sunday the 2nd right through to the 9th of August, the wind turns nasty and onshore, ramping up from 15 mph to 18 mph. The swell gets big – way too big. By Tuesday the 4th, we’re looking at 10ft to 13ft of SE swell, and the energy is absolutely pumping (up to 9100). But with that strong cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a complete mess. That’s not a paddle session; that’s a write-off. The whole week is a no-go, pure and simple.

The next week doesn’t offer much hope for a clean classic session. The 11th of August has a massive 12ft swell again, but the wind is light and cross-on, and the energy is still huge (6025). The notes say it’s too big for this break, and I agree – that’s for experts only, and even then, it’s a gamble. The 12th of August, Wednesday morning, is as close as we get to a standout. The swell drops to a more manageable 7ft from the ENE, the period is a punchy 10 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-off, making it clean. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. The energy is moderate (1117). That’s the one to circle on your calendar if you’re an advanced surfer looking for a proper session.

After that, it fades. From the 13th through the 16th, we’re back to marginal conditions with onshore or cross-shore winds and dropping swell energy. The weekend of the 16th sees the swell dropping to 5ft to 5ft, but the period is short (8-9 seconds) and the wind is messy, so it’s not going to be pretty.

Best Bet: The 12th of August, Wednesday morning. It’s the only time the elements line up for a clean, powerful wave, but it’s still a solid 7ft, so keep your wits about you. The rest of the run is either blown out, too big, or just plain flat.

Stay patient, check the forecasts again closer to the date, and I’ll be here.

Rusty.

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