Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let me break it down for you.

The next 16 days at Shida are a real mixed bag. We’ve got a long, quiet patch to start, then a solid pulse of energy shows up, but it comes with a massive dose of size that’ll only be for the brave. We’re looking at a pretty flat start, so don’t be in a rush.

The first few days out of the gate are poor. Saturday the 25th is a no-go with a risk of thunderstorms, a messy cross-shore wind, and only 1ft of weak, long-period swell (143) that won’t do a thing. Sunday the 26th shows a slight flicker of hope. The morning is still junk with a short-period 4ft wave from the NE, but Sunday afternoon is our first real glimmer. We get a clean 3ft wave from the ENE with a light offshore wind. It’s small, but it’s surfable. Monday the 27th through the end of the month is mostly a write-off – onshore winds, choppy conditions, and tiny waves. The water temp is sitting around 78°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We then hit a big gap. From the 27th of July all the way through until the 7th of August, there’s almost nothing worth paddling out for. You’ve got some glassy mornings on the 1st of August but with only 1ft on offer, it’s barely a ripple.

Now, here is where it gets interesting. A massive long-period groundswell from the ESE builds in from the 3rd of August, but it’s way too much. The combined energy goes from 1070 to over 5000, with wave heights climbing from 5ft up to a solid 12ft. The problem is, the wind is cross-on and choppy the whole time, and the sheer size will make it a washing machine. For beginners, anything over 5ft is a handful; this is pushing expert territory. The forecast actually says it’s too big for this break on the 5th and 6th, and I agree. It’s more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

The real standout, the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday the 7th of August. The swell drops back to a much more manageable 6ft from the ENE, with a clean offshore wind from the SSW. The combined energy is still a healthy 962, and the conditions are described as “very good.” This is your window. It’s a solid, lined-up swell with good wind. The next day, Saturday the 8th, is also excellent. The swell swings around to the SSW, with a very long 16-second period, and it’s a clean 5ft. For experienced surfers, Sunday the 9th could be the pick of the bunch, with a glassy 6ft SSW groundswell and a massive energy reading of 2301. The long period means it’ll have plenty of push, but at a beach break it could be a bit straight. It’s one for the reef or point if you can find it, but it’s a thrilling prospect.

Rusty.

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