Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for Shida. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a big payoff if you’re patient.

The first couple of weeks are pretty quiet. There’s not much to write home about until the very end of July and into early August. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

We kick off on Wednesday, July 22nd. The morning has clean 3ft surf from the east with a 10-second period. The combined energy is moderate (202), and with a light breeze, it’s actually not bad. But this is a tease. The afternoon goes downhill fast with a strong 15 mph wind, and the rest of the week through to the 31st is a write-off with tiny, poor waves and onshore winds.

There’s a little glimmer on Sunday afternoon, July 26th. It’s tiny, just 2ft, but the wind drops to glass for the afternoon. It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it.

Then things start to get interesting. On Monday, July 27th, the swell bumps up to 6ft in the morning from the ESE, but it’s a short-period 6-second wind swell, and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. The energy is moderate (352). The afternoon is better with 4ft, clean conditions, and a light wind. Worth a look if you’re desperate.

Now, the real standout.

Saturday, August 1st: The morning goes glassy calm with a 1ft swell from the ESE, but check the period – 17 seconds! That’s a very long-period groundswell. The energy is moderate (212). The afternoon has 2ft from the south at 14 seconds and clean. This is a promising little window, but it’s small.

Sunday, August 2nd: This is the one. The morning delivers 4ft from the ESE with a 15-second period, and it’s blowing gentle offshore from the south. The energy is strong (1014). The afternoon is the same size, also offshore, with energy up to 1175. This is excellent, clean surf for experienced surfers. The long period means better-shaped waves, but at a beach break, it might break a bit straight. Still, this is the best on offer.

Monday, August 3rd: The morning is even bigger. 7ft from the south with a 15-second period, and clean with a light ESE breeze. The energy is huge (4099). This is expert territory. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, but it’s still a solid 7ft. This is a big swell, and it’s the best quality window.

After that, the wind turns nasty. From Tuesday, August 4th, through to Thursday, August 6th, the swell stays big (6ft to 6ft) with a very long period (15-16 seconds) and the energy is very strong (3008 to 1672), but the wind is a mess. It’s onshore and strong, up to 43 mph on the 6th. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a blowout.

So, the early week is a bust. The standout is the clean, offshore window from Sunday, August 2nd into Monday, August 3rd. That’s your best bet. Crowds are likely at Shida, so get in early.

Rusty.

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