Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long, hard look at what’s on the menu for Thousand Steps over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch for the most part, so we’re going to be picking through the bones to find the few moments that are even worth paddling out for.

The issue is clear: we’ve got a very consistent reef break that’s exposed to the SW swell, but the swell heights are just tiny for the vast majority of the run. The water is a real standout though – it’s sitting at 74°F, which is a whopping 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, and while it won’t help the waves, it makes the wait on the beach a whole lot more pleasant.

Looking at the first proper session, Friday the 31st of July morning is the best bet early on, but it’s still a tough sell. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the S with a 14-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate at 492, and the wind is light and from the SW, which is straight onshore. That’s a real shame because the swell has some grunt, but the wind will mess it up. It’s marked as poor surf, so I’d only paddle out if you’re desperate.

From there, it’s a long, slow decline. Saturday the 1st of August drops to 3ft, and the wind goes cross-on, making it marginal at best. It’s a full week of tiny, weak waves after that, with heights hovering around 1ft to 2ft and combined energy dipping below 100 at times. The period fluctuates, but the size just isn’t there. The 3rd of August has a 16-second period on the afternoon, but it’s only 1ft – that’s not even a wave.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t come until Friday the 7th of August. The morning shows a 2ft swell from the SSW, but the period jumps to 19 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the combined energy is 355. The wind is still a light cross-onshore, so it’s not clean, but that long period means there’s energy in the water. The reef at Thousand Steps can handle that long period, so if you get a pulse, it might be the best of a bad bunch. It’s still poor surf conditions, though.

The following Saturday the 8th of August morning is marked as marginal, with 2ft and a 17-second period, and the wind is light onshore. It’s a similar story into the second week. The 10th of August afternoon has a 2ft swell with a 20-second period – very long again – and 371 combined energy. That’s a tease, but it’s marginal.

The standout for the whole run, if you can call it that, falls on Saturday the 15th of August. The morning shows the biggest swell we’ve seen: 3ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period and combined energy of 508. That’s the highest energy in the window. The wind is light and onshore from the SW, so it’s not glassy, but it’s the best height and energy combo we get. The break is very consistent, and with the optimum swell direction from the SW, it’s lining up. If you can only pick one session, this is it, but keep your expectations managable. Crowds are possible here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

The rest of the second week is more of the same – tiny waves, poor conditions, and just a few marginal windows. The 14th of August morning has a 2ft swell with a 19-second period and 416 energy, but it’s too small to get excited about.

Overall, it’s a lean period. The reef at Thousand Steps needs a proper swell to get going, and we’re just not getting it. Kite surfers might find the stronger wind days more interesting, but for paddle surfing, it’s a waiting game. The forecasts can always change, so don’t give up hope entirely.

Rusty.

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