Zumaya (Playa de Itxurun) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty checkin' in from a spot that’s gonna feel the pinch over the next couple weeks. Look, we’ve got a real mixed bag coming for Zumaya (Playa de Itxurun), and for the most part, it’s a lean run. The next week and a half is pretty flat and messy, with only a few scattered moments worth paddling out for, and even then, you’re looking at small, super average conditions. There are several days in a row with no real recommendations, so you’ll want to pick your moments carefully. The standout window doesn’t really open until the second weekend – that’s where the real hope is, though it’s still a long-range call.

Alright, let’s get into the details. The real highlight of this whole outlook points to Saturday, July 25th. That morning we’ve got a solid 8 ft of NW groundswell rolling in with a very long period of 13 seconds. That’s proper energy, no doubt – combined energy coming in at a strong 1969. Problem is, with that size and that period at a beach/jetty setup, it’ll be marching straight in, and with an onshore wind from the NNW, it ain’t gonna be pretty clean. The afternoon drops a little to 8 ft from the NW, same long-period class at 12 seconds, but cross-on wind is still messing with the face. Even with the “marginal” tag, this is the only time we see real size and grunt. That’s an expert-only day – too big for beginners and the conditions aren’t doing it any favours. Still, if you’re after power and don’t mind a bit of chop, that’s your weekend.

Before that, it’s a struggle. The first week is stubborn. Saturday the 11th kicks off with a tiny 1 ft NW windswell in the morning (98 energy), cross-on wind – just flat and disappointing. The afternoon does turn glassy for a 2 ft NW swell (92 energy), but it’s so small it’s barely a ripple. Sunday the 12th sees a slight bump to 2 ft from the WNW (67 energy) with clean conditions in the morning thanks to some cross-off wind, but it’s still very ordinary. Monday the 13th is probably the best of that early week – a 4 ft NW swell (121 energy) but it’s a short period of 7 seconds, and the glassy morning wind makes it look surfable, if a bit weak and mushy. The afternoon turns cross-on, so catch the early session if you’re keen.

Then it drops right off. From Monday afternoon all the way through to Friday the 24th, the surf is small, weak, and mostly blown out or onshore. We’re talking 0.7 ft to 2 ft stuff, periods all over the shop, and combined energy rarely breaking three figures. The wind stays tricky – mostly onshore or cross-on from the north. There’s a tiny bright spot on the afternoon of Friday 24th where it goes glassy with a 3 ft NW swell (95 energy), but it’s a one-off small window before the main event. Don’t expect much.

Bottom line: if you’re around Zumaya this fortnight, you’re mostly waiting. The standout is that big, raw NW swell on Saturday the 25th – it’s got the power but not the polish. Everything else is a lesson in patience.

Stay salty.
- Rusty

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