Trestles (Uppers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the scoop on the local surf for the next couple of weeks. Let’s get into it.

Alright, mate, the outlook for Trestles (Uppers) is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some solid long-period groundswell energy rolling in, but the winds and conditions are making things tricky for a good chunk of the forecast. The water is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, so you won’t need a thick suit.

We start off on Wednesday the 9th of September with a bit of a dud. There’s a small 0.7m (2ft) SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and the combined swell energy is moderate at 434, but it’s raining and the wind is a light cross-onshore. That’s not doing us any favours. The surf is marginal at best.

Thursday the 10th picks up a touch. The swell bumps to 1.0m (3ft) from the SW, with a very long 17-second period. The energy is moderate to strong at 656. But again, we’ve got a light cross-onshore breeze from the south, which keeps things a bit bumpy. Still, the long period means there’s some quality in the water if you can find a clean lineup.

From Friday the 11th right through to Monday the 14th, it’s a tough stretch. The swell hangs around 0.7m to 1.0m (2ft to 3ft), but the winds are cross-onshore from the SSE or S, making it choppy and messy. The wave energy drops off, and the conditions are just poor for a decent surf. It’s a real grind.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. From Tuesday the 15th of September through to the end of the first week, the swell drops to a tiny 0.4m to 0.5m (1ft to 2ft), with the period still long but the energy is weak. The wind is light and sometimes onshore, so it’s all very marginal. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. We’ve got a standout window coming up. On the morning of Friday the 18th of September, we see a bump in energy. The swell is 0.6m (2ft) from the SW with a very long 19-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a solid 510. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the long period and moderate energy mean the sets will have some push. This is the best we’ve seen in a while. The swell direction is straight out of the SW, which is bang on for the optimum direction for Trestles. This is a reef and point break, and that long-period groundswell will wrap in beautifully. It’s a promising window.

Saturday the 19th of September is also looking okay. The swell holds at 0.8m (3ft) from the SW with a very long 18-second period, and the energy is strong at 540. The wind is light cross-onshore again, so it’s still a bit bumpy, but the energy is there.

The real highlight, though, is shaping up for Sunday the 20th of September. The swell is 0.9m (3ft) from the SW, period at 18 seconds, and the combined energy hits a strong 646. The wind is light and cross-onshore, but the wave quality is marginal – still, that’s the best forecast we have. The energy stays strong into Monday the 21st, with 0.9m to 1.0m (3ft to 3ft) swell and energy in the 575 to 625 range. This is the peak of the run.

After that, from Tuesday the 22nd through Thursday the 24th, the energy fades. The swell drops to 0.7m to 0.9m (2ft to 3ft), the period shortens, and the winds remain cross-onshore. Conditions go back to poor.

The final day, Thursday the 24th of September afternoon, is a real tease. We get a 0.7m (2ft) SW swell with a 14-second period and low energy at 223, but the wind goes glassy. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” so if you’re desperate for a clean, small wave session, that’s your chance. But overall, the best bet for a proper surf is that run from Friday the 18th through Monday the 21st. The long-period SW groundswell will be wrapping into the point, and if you can handle a bit of cross-onshore bump, there will be waves.

For a spot like Trestles, which is very consistent and exposed to the west, this kind of long-period SW groundswell is what it was built for. Crowds are always a factor here, so be ready for a lineup, especially when the energy is good.

Stay patient, pick your days, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty.

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