Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m looking at what we’ve got for Shida – and honestly, it’s a real mixed bag, so we’re going to have to be patient. The next few days aren’t going to give us much to get excited about.

Right now, heading into the first part of the period, the surf is pretty flat and messy. Friday afternoon the 3rd of July, we’ve got a weak 3ft windswell out of the ENE at 6 seconds, with a moderate onshore cross breeze. It’s not really doing anything, just a lumpy, poor surf situation.

Saturday the 4th is a little better – small 2ft swell from the east, period is 7 to 8 seconds. The wind shifts to a light cross-off which cleans it up a bit. It’s surfable but very ordinary, definitely not worth rushing out for. Sunday drops away again, nothing over 1ft.

Monday the 6th, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the east-southeast, but it’s short period at 7 seconds and the wind is a fresh cross breeze. It’s got moderate energy (588), but the quality is poor – lumpy cross-chop. Not a fun paddle.

Tuesday the 7th sees a big jump in size. We’ve got a long-period groundswell coming from the SE at 16 seconds, pushing 6ft in the morning and 7ft in the afternoon. The combined energy hits 2759, so there’s a lot of power in the water. But the wind is cross-on, creating a choppy, messy surface. It’s surfable if you’re keen and experienced, but it’s not clean.

Now, things start to turn around from the 8th. Wednesday morning has 8ft from the SE at 16 seconds, strong energy (4050), and the wind is gentle cross-on so it’s still a bit bumpy. By Wednesday afternoon it eases to 8ft from the SSE, still 16 seconds, and the wind goes cross – clean enough but with some chop.

The real standout arrives on Thursday the 9th. That afternoon, Shida gets a very clean 7ft swell from the south at 16 seconds. The combined wave energy is a massive 4073. The wind is a gentle cross-off and conditions are clean. This is for experienced surfers – over 8ft can be tough for many, but here it’s just below that threshold, long-period groundswell, good conditions. This is the pick of the bunch.

Friday the 10th keeps that run going. Morning is glassy – 8ft from the south at 16 seconds, light ENE breeze at 5 km/h, practically no wind. That’s about as good as it gets for a big south swell. Afternoon stays clean, cross-off breeze, 7ft. Saturday the 11th is also excellent. Light offshore winds, 7ft from the south at 16 seconds. Clean all day. Sunday the 12th still has great conditions, dropping a bit to 5ft from the SSW, 15 seconds, with light offshore or glassy wind. Really good for a surf.

Things drop off through the second week. Monday the 13th is still surfable – clean, glassy in the morning, swell down to 2ft. By the 14th it's tiny, and from the 15th on we get a big SW blow that kicks up some weak, short-period ENE windswell, but it’s messy and not worth it.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a write-off. The run from Thursday the 9th of July through to Sunday the 12th is the real deal – solid south groundswell, clean winds, and great conditions for strong intermediate to expert surfers. That Thursday afternoon to Friday morning glassy session is the best on offer. If you can make it, don’t miss it.

- Rusty

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