Trestles (Uppers) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck into it. The region here is Trestles (Uppers) – a renowned reef and point set-up that really needs a clean, medium-to-long period swell from the west to fire properly. Gotta be honest with you, the next 16 days look pretty tough. There’s a long stretch of small, onshore-pushed swell that’s just not going to deliver much for a paddle surfer.

The first recommendation doesn't show up until Friday the 7th of August, and even then it’s only a marginal call. For the next several days after that, it’s a similar story – the swell is on the small side, around 2 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the SSW, with short to moderate periods. The wind is a real problem too, mostly coming from the SW or WSW, which is straight onshore or cross-onshore at Uppers. That’s going to mess up the shape. The combined energy is moderate – we’re seeing readings like 410 and up to 730 depending on the day, but it’s wasted because the wind conditions aren't right. Thursday the 13th of August afternoon actually has a bit more energy in the water, with a combined energy reading of 525, but the wind is still onshore from the WSW. The same goes for Friday the 14th into the weekend of the 15th and 16th – we get a slight bump to 3 ft swells, and the energy hits strong levels, like 528, 730, and 586, but the wind is still a cross-onshore / westerly breeze. This is the kind of small, choppy, poor-surf conditions that might actually be more interesting for kite surfing than for a clean, sculpted point-break wave.

For a true standout, nothing here jumps out with total confidence. The very best we have to look at comes on the afternoon of Thursday the 14th and the morning of Saturday the 15th of August. On Thursday afternoon, you’ve got a 3 ft swell from the SSW with an 18-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, full of energy (730). The catch is the WSW wind is only 6 mph, but it’s a cross-onshore, so the face won't be clean, and these long-period swells from the south can break a bit straight on this point. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary. Saturday the 15th morning is a similar vibe: 3 ft from the SSW, 16-second period, and 586 energy, with a light WSW onshore breeze. Crowds at Uppers are always a factor – just so you know, you’ll have company. But if you’re out there on that Saturday morning with that deep, long-period energy pushing through, it could be the pick of a pretty average run.

Honestly, for the bulk of this two-week outlook, the surf just isn't cooperating. It’s either too small, the wind is wrong, or the combination leaves it feeling junky. If you're desperate for a paddle, the 14th through 16th are your best bet, but keep your expectations low. It’s a flat spell with a few glimmers. They say it never stays poor for long around here, so I’d be checking the charts again in a few days.

Rusty.

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