Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cooking at Shida over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a slow start. Thursday the 30th has a tiny 1ft SE swell with a 10-second period, so it’s weak and ordinary. The water is sitting at a comfortable 79°, which is about average for this time of year. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. Friday the 31st brings a bit more size in the morning, but the wind is cross-on and the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s messy. The afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-off breeze, but it’s still small.

The first real standout comes on Sunday the 2nd of August. Sunday morning has a 4ft SE swell with a very long 16-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 702 (moderate). The wind is a bit cross-on in the morning, but the afternoon is where it’s at: 4ft of SE groundswell, a 15-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze. The energy jumps to 760 (moderate). That’s the best session of the first week, and it’s good for a wide range of surfers.

Now, hold onto your boards. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th see a massive pulse of swell. We’re talking 10ft to 13ft of SE swell, periods of 16-18 seconds, and energy readings in the thousands (4655 on Monday afternoon, 6800 on Tuesday morning). This is expert-only territory. The waves are too big for this break, and the wind is cross-on, so it’s going to be a washing machine. Unless you’re a big-wave charger, sit this one out.

The swell continues to pump through Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th, still huge at 13ft to 15ft, all too big. The good news is the wind is clean and cross-off on Thursday, so if you’re an expert, it’s a showcase, but it’s still a massive, heavy wave.

The next real window is Friday the 7th of August. The swell drops to a still-chunky 8ft S swell with a 14-second period and a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is 2210 (strong). This is excellent for experienced surfers. Saturday the 8th is another standout: morning glass with 4ft of S swell and an 11-second period, giving you clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon stays clean with a 4ft S swell. This is the best weekend of the whole run.

After that, the wheels fall off. From Sunday the 9th all the way through Friday the 14th, the wind is a relentless cross-on mess, blowing 12 to 22 mph. The swell hangs around 4ft to 6ft, but it’s choppy and lumpy. The energy is moderate (600-1100), but the conditions are just poor. A long, frustrating gap of about six days with no real surf.

So, to wrap it up: the absolute best on offer is Sunday afternoon the 2nd of August for that clean, long-period groundswell, and then Saturday morning the 8th of August for glassy, user-friendly conditions. The big stuff in the middle is for experts only. The rest of the time, you’re fighting the wind.

Rusty.

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