Teahupo’o Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Alright, so we’re looking at Teahupo’o, and I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a mixed bag. The first few days are a write-off, but the real action gets going later. The overall pattern is a consistent, long-period SSW groundswell that starts to build, but the wind is the enemy early on. There’s a long spell of clean, rideable waves starting around Sunday the 30th of August, and that’s where the magic is.

Right now, Wednesday and Thursday (26th and 27th of August) are a no-go. Strong cross-shore winds are wrecking the lineup, and the swell is a short-period, choppy mess. The water temp is sitting at 78°, which is pretty much average for this time of year.

Friday the 28th of August is more of the same – big, strong cross-onshore winds and a 7ft SSW swell, but the quality is just junk. The combined energy is massive (2598), but it’s all wind and chop. The swell is way too big for beginners and the conditions are ugly.

Then we get to the real window. From Sunday the 30th of August, the winds start to ease and swing offshore. The standouts are the mornings of Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August. On Sunday the 30th, we’ve got a solid 10ft SSW swell with a very long 15-second period. The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze, which for Teahupo’o is a dream. The combined energy is through the roof (4119), meaning there’s a ton of power in the water. This is a big, heavy, groundswell. A 10ft wave at Teahupo’o is for experts only – it’s not for the faint of heart. The long period is perfect for this reef, but it’ll make the paddle out slower between sets. It’s a full-on, deep-water experience.

Monday the 31st of August is another good one. The swell drops a little to 7ft, still from the SSW with a 14-second period. The wind is again clean and cross-offshore. The energy is still strong (1997). This is a bit more manageable than Sunday, but still very serious. You’ll be sharing the water with the regulars, so expect crowds.

The good conditions extend into Tuesday and Wednesday (1st and 2nd September), but the swell size drops significantly. By Wednesday the 2nd, the swell is a tiny 2ft, but with a very long 18-second period. The wind stays clean, so it’ll be a fun, gentle day for logs, but not the main event.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th of September has some promise. Saturday the 5th has a clean 7ft SSW swell, but the energy is lower. The real standout is Sunday the 6th of September afternoon. That’s a clean 6ft SSW swell with a fresh offshore wind from the NE. The combined energy is still solid (1768), and a clean offshore wind at Teahupo’o is a rare treat. The waves will be glassy, walled-up, and perfect. This is a great option for strong intermediate to advanced surfers.

The very end of the window, around the 10th of September, sees a shift in the swell direction to the SE, with a shorter period. The wind turns cross-onshore, so the quality drops off. The size is still there (8ft), but the shape will be messy.

So, for the best of the best: if you’re an expert, the morning of Sunday the 30th of August is *the* session. Big, powerful, and clean. For a slightly smaller but still epic day, the morning of Monday the 31st of August is your call. And for that perfect offshore glass, look to the afternoon of Sunday the 6th of September.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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