Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a bit of a quiet start, but the first real opportunity comes in on Friday, the 7th of August. Shida is the only spot on the menu, and it’s an inconsistent little number, so when it fires, it’s a bit of an event. Friday morning kicks off with a solid 6ft south swell, with a nice 12-second period pushing some serious energy through (1314). The wind is offshore, light but clean, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. This is proper surf for experienced surfers, and the size is getting up there, so it’s not one for the beginners. The long-period groundswell will be best handled by the more experienced. Friday afternoon keeps the quality up with a 5ft south swell, still offshore, and still clean.

Saturday, the 8th, backs off a touch. Swell drops to 4ft from the southeast, with a cross-offshore breeze. It’s clean and the energy is moderate (621), so a good option for a wider range of skill levels, but nothing massive. Sunday the 9th sees a shift; the swell picks up again to 6ft from the east-southeast, but the wind turns cross-onshore. The quality drops, and it just gets a bit messy. Monday and Tuesday are a write-off with strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions, even though the swell pushes up to 8ft on Tuesday – that’s a big, messy wall of water, experts only and even then, not pretty.

The best of the window looks like it’ll be Thursday, the 13th of August. The swell comes back around 6ft from the east, with a 12-second period and a cross-offshore breeze that keeps things clean. The energy is strong (1073), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the standout day. The wind stays light and the sets will have some grunt.

After that, things get a bit patchy again. The 14th and 15th are marginal at best, with onshore components and average quality. Sunday the 16th sees a massive spike in size – 10ft east swell – but the wind is cross-onshore. The energy is through the roof (3493), but it’s just too big and messy for Shida, which is an inconsistent spot that rarely handles that kind of size well. That’s a pass for paddle surfing, and honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing.

The final week is mostly a letdown. The 17th and 18th are blown out with strong onshore winds and poor conditions. There’s a tiny glimmer on Thursday the 20th afternoon with a clean 4ft east swell and cross-offshore wind, and then Friday the 21st morning looks glassy with a small 3ft south swell. That’s a nice little glassy session for the longboard or a fun fish, but it’s small. The rest of the week goes quiet again.

So, to sum it up: the clear standout is Thursday the 13th. Get on it if you can. Friday the 7th is also a good option for the experienced crew. The rest of the window is a mix of small, clean waves or blown-out, oversized lumps. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but don’t expect much action in that second week.

Rusty out.

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