Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.

First things first, Shida is the only break on the cards for this outlook. It’s an exposed, intermediate-level spot that can be inconsistent, so don’t expect it to be pumping every day. The water temperature is sitting at 81°, which is basically bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The next couple of days are pretty average. Saturday morning the 22nd sees some 3ft east swell with a period of 11 seconds, mixed with a cross-off breeze. It’s clean but not much push, with combined energy reading 204. Saturday afternoon picks up a touch to 3ft, same direction, and the wind goes offshore. Still, it’s not a standout. Sunday the 23rd drops off into smaller, choppy conditions – mostly a write-off.

Now, Monday the 24th rings a bell. That morning we’ve got glassy conditions with a 4ft south-southeast swell, period stretching out to 18 seconds. That’s proper long-period groundswell, meaning shape and power, but at a beach break it might run a bit too straight. The combined energy is massive at 1140, so there’s some grunt in the water. This is the best on offer for the first week – clean, punchy, and for experienced surfers only, really.

Monday afternoon jumps to 7ft from the same direction, period still long at 16 seconds, and the wind stays favourable, cross-off. Another strong session, energy reading 2104, but the afternoon’s rated as marginal, so morning is the pick.

Tuesday the 25th keeps the 7ft swell pumping, with 13-second periods and clean cross-off winds. The combined energy is roaring around 1800-1900. These two days – Monday and Tuesday – are the clear standout window. Big, clean, powerful swell. The afternoon wind freshens to 16 mph, but still cross-off. Not a beginner’s playground.

From Wednesday the 26th onward, the swell starts to drop back. Still clean, but the size fades to 4ft or less. Thursday and Friday get smaller, with onshore or cross-onshore winds kicking in, making for poor conditions. The weekend of the 29th and 30th is a write-off – messy onshores and tiny waves.

We hit a bit of a gap in quality after the 27th, but there’s a flicker of hope on Monday the 31st, with 5-5ft southeast swell, but the wind is cross-on and choppy. Not worth paddling out.

Now, roll into September. Tuesday the 1st – glassy morning with 4ft southeast swell, period 10 seconds. Wind goes offshore in the afternoon. Clean, decent, but not as big as that earlier window. Wednesday the 2nd holds 5-6ft, cross-off then cross-shore, still clean. Energy is up around 900. That’s a solid session for the second week.

Thursday the 3rd to Sunday the 6th – it gets messy again. Onshore winds, big cross-chop, and the swell jumps to 8ft to 10ft, but the wind just ruins it. That Sunday morning of the 6th has an 8ft south-southeast groundswell with a 14-second period, energy at 2898, but cross-shore chop makes it a mess. Too big and blown out for paddle surfing. That kind of setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean wave ride. By the afternoon it’s worse.

So, if you’re chasing the best of this 16-day window, lock in Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 25th. Glassy morning on the 24th, big groundswell, clean. Tuesday the 25th is still pumping. After that, you’ve got a long stretch of mediocrity or blown-out junk, with a brief clean-ish spell on the 1st and 2nd of September. But nothing touches that first standout.

Rusty, signing off.

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