Shida Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Shida (Big Island) stretch over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows where it could get real fun.

The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you'll be comfortable in a shorty or just boardshorts.

The outlook kicks off on Monday, August 3rd, but don't get your hopes up for the first few days. We've got a solid 8ft SE groundswell (17-second period) rolling in, but the wind is a fresh, lumpy cross-on from the NE at 19 mph. The combined swell energy is a moderate 3223, but the conditions are just poor. It stays like this through Tuesday and Wednesday, with the swell actually building to a burly 13ft. The wind stays cross-on and choppy, making it a complete write-off for paddle surfing. Honestly, with that much size and onshore wind, it's looking more like a kite surfer's playground than a surfer's. The combined energy peaks at a very strong 7937 on Wednesday morning.

Things start to shift on Thursday, August 6th. The swell drops to 10ft from the SSE with a 14-second period, and the wind swings to a gentle cross-shore in the morning, cleaning up the faces a bit. The combined energy is still strong at 3589. The forecast notes say the wind and tide are favorable, but that swell is still predicted to be too big for this break. It's a marginal call, but for experienced guys only.

Friday the 7th sees the swell drop to 8ft from the S, and we get a clean, cross-off breeze. The combined energy is still strong (3405), but the forecast is calling it marginal with questionable tide conditions. It's a step in the right direction, but not a standout.

The real standout comes on Saturday, August 8th, in the afternoon. The swell is a more manageable 5ft from the SSW, with a long 15-second period. The wind is a gentle cross-off from the ESE, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is a moderate 1735. The forecast is calling it "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is the best bet in the first week. The long period means the waves will have plenty of energy, but at a point break like Shida, it should set up nicely with clean lines.

Sunday the 9th is a drop-off, with the swell shifting to the ESE and the wind turning cross-on again, killing the quality.

The middle of the week (Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th) is a mess. Strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions make it a no-go until Wednesday afternoon, August 12th. That afternoon, the wind swings offshore from the SSW at a gentle 9 mph, with a 6ft E swell at 12 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (1161), and it's clean. A very good, but not epic, option.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th offer small, clean waves with light winds. The swell drops to 4ft with a short 10-second period, so the combined energy falls to a weak 554. It's a great chance for a longboard or a fun session on a fish, but it's not going to be powerful.

Looking into the second week, Saturday the 15th of August looks interesting but tricky. The morning is messy, but the afternoon sees a big jump in swell to 12ft from the E (10-second period) with a moderate cross-shore wind. The combined energy rockets to a strong 2753. The forecast says it's too big for this break, so it's a serious expert-only session if it cleans up, but the short period might make it unruly.

The final few days from Sunday the 16th onward are a write-off with persistent cross-on winds and lumpy conditions, despite some lingering swell.

So, the pick of the lot is the afternoon of Saturday, August 8th with the clean 5ft SSW groundswell. The second-best window is the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12th with the offshore winds and 6ft E swell.

Rusty.

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