Zurriola hondartza Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for the San Sebastián area. Gotta be honest with you, the forecast is looking pretty grim for a solid stretch. The first week and a half is mostly a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. We're talking about a long gap of over a week where the surf just isn't there. The waves are small, the wind is mostly on it, and the energy is weak. We do see a few glassy windows, but the swell is just too tiny to get excited about. The only real glimmer of hope comes way out at the end of the 16-day window, so you'll need some patience.

Let's talk about the one spot we have to work with: Zurriola hondartza (Spain). This is a fairly consistent beach break, but it's going to be a tough slog.

The first few days from August 4th through the 6th are basically a no-go. We're looking at onshore winds and swell heights barely cracking 3 ft, with periods as short as 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak, only hitting 123 (moderate energy) at its best, but the wind is messy. It's just not worth wetting the wetsuit.

We get a little tease on the morning of Friday, August 7th. The wind goes glassy, but the swell is only 3 ft from the NNW with a short 7-second period, and the energy is a low 74. It's “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – a knee-high dribbler for the dedicated. The crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so you might have company for those tiny waves.

That pattern of small, underpowered surf continues right through the middle of the month. The morning of Sunday, August 9th, offers another glassy morning with a faint 2 ft, 11-second NW swell. That 11-second period is a bit more interesting, and the energy is 104 (moderate), but the size is just too small to call it a session. The morning of Tuesday, August 11th, and Wednesday, August 13th, are similar stories – glassy but tiny.

The one standout, and really the only time to get your hopes up, is the morning of Sunday, August 16th. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The wind is dead calm, glassy, and the swell from the NW is 5 ft. It's a bit punchy with a 7-second period, but the combined energy is a solid 200 (strong wave energy). The forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is a proper head-high wave for the experts. Anything over 5 ft can be a handful for beginners, but 5 ft is a solid intermediate-to-expert wave, especially with that peaky, short-period energy. It won't be a long waiting game, but the sets will have some punch. For a beach break, that short period means it won't be breaking too straight, so the shape should be fun.

The Monday morning after, August 17th, also looks glassy with 4 ft swell, but the energy drops to 143 (moderate), so it's a decent follow-up but not the standout.

So, to wrap it up: the first 12 days are a bust. The morning of Sunday, August 16th, is your best bet by far with clean, glassy conditions and a punchy 5 ft NW swell.

Rusty, signing off.

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