The Pines Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow starter, but there’s a real gem hiding out in the second week if you’ve got the patience.

The first surfable waves show up on Monday, July 20th, at The Pines (a reef). This spot is a real local secret – it’s very sheltered and rarely breaks, so when it does, it’s a treat. The water temp is about 15°F, which is normal for this time of year. That first morning, we’ve got a 1.0ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period, pushed along by a light NNW offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (569). It’s clean, but the waves are small and the break is inconsistent, so it’s more of a quiet paddle than a barnstormer.

Tuesday the 21st brings a little more juice, with the swell bumping up to 2ft from the SSW, still a 13-second period. The wind stays light and offshore from the NNW, so it’s clean. The energy is up (854), and the morning is the pick of the first few days. Still, it’s beginner-friendly and small.

From Wednesday afternoon through the end of the first week, the swell really ramps up, pushing well over 3ft and hitting 4ft. The problem is the wind. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday get hammered by a strong cross-shore, making it choppy and messy. The energy is huge (2,993 on Wednesday arvo, 10,039 on Thursday morning), but the quality is poor. From Friday the 24th, the wind swings cross-offshore, cleaning it up, but the swell is still big. For the 24th and 25th, we’re looking at 4ft to 3ft SSW swell, with moderate to strong energy (4,779 to 2,860). This is expert-only territory – too big for beginners. The quality is still a bit ragged, but there’s raw power there.

The real standout is a bit of a wait. After a few days of smaller, choppy or onshore winds, we get to Sunday, August 2nd. This is the one to circle. The morning shows a 2ft SSW groundswell with a 15-second period, light cross-offshore winds, and clean conditions. The combined energy is solid (1,955). The afternoon is even better – glassy, near-perfect conditions with a 2ft SSW swell, 15-second period, and a slight air from the NE. The energy is strong (2,111). This is the best on offer. The Pines is a reef, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely, though it can break a bit straight at times. Crowds are possible here, but with the break being inconsistent, it’s often a quiet spot.

Monday the 3rd of August is a nice follow-up, with 2ft SSW swell, clean conditions, and light winds. The Tuesday after that starts to fade, with dropping swell and a messy cross-shore wind.

So, in short, the first week is a bit of a mixed bag with a couple of clean, small days. The big standout is the Sunday, August 2nd, and to a lesser extent the Monday, with clean, glassy conditions and a solid, long-period groundswell. That’s your best bet. For the rest, it’s either too small, too windy, or too big and messy.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on that Sunday.

Rusty.

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