Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a slow start for the first week, but there’s a sneaky little pulse brewing that could make things interesting right at the end of July and into the first of August. We’ve got one main spot to focus on here, and that’s Thousand Steps. This is a reef setup, so it’s got that potential for a better shape when the swell lines up, but with the wind we’ve got early on, it’s a bit of a tease.

The water is sitting at 71°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. That’s a real treat, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

The first few days are a bit of a grind. From Friday the 24th through to Thursday the 30th, the swell is small, mostly hanging around 2ft to 4ft from the SW or SSW. The period is pretty short, between 16 and 24 seconds, so while it’s better than flat, the cross-onshore wind is a constant buzzkill, keeping things choppy and messy. The combined energy sits in the moderate range, around 500 to 863, which tells you there’s some energy there, but it’s not doing much for us. Honestly, it’s marginal at best, and you’d be scratching for a ripple.

Now, here’s where it gets a little more interesting. Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August, we see a noticeable bump. Swell size jumps to 5ft to 6ft from the S, with a period dropping to 13-15 seconds. The combined energy cranks up to between 916 and 1325, which is a solid moderate to strong pulse. The wind looks a little better too, with some light offshore or light cross-onshore conditions. This is the standout window. The swell is a bit on the bigger side for the reef, so it’s going to be more for the intermediate crew; the shorey might be a handful for beginners. The direction is SW, which is the optimum for this break, so the lines should set up nicely. Just keep in mind, the crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

After that pulse, things drop off again quickly. From Sunday the 2nd of August onwards, the swell fades back to 1ft to 2ft with energy levels dropping below 400, and the wind stays cross-onshore. It’s a pretty poor run for the rest of the outlook, with nothing to recommend.

So, to wrap it up, keep your powder dry through the first week. The best bet is the morning of Friday the 31st of July or the morning of Saturday the 1st of August at Thousand Steps. That’s your window for a few clean, fun ones.

Rusty.

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