FIRING · GO EARLY · DAY OFF
Tippers (Cardiff Reef)
Sat Sep 26 · first light 6:15–7:30am · 6'3" Sci-Fi 2.0

Odalys SSW groundswell (~205–212° @ 12–13s) holds or peaks, with a small WNW underneath. Expect 3–4ft faces, waist to chest with bigger sets (Surfline LOTUS 3–4ft+; today's cam saw 2–3ft). Dawn is glassy, 0–5 mph N. The tide sets the clock: ~2.8ft at first light, rising to a 5.5ft high at 9:26am. The reef swamps past ~4.5ft around 7:35am, so be out at first light. It's Saturday on a clean south, so expect a crowd. Backup: South Ponto 4:30–5:30pm if the wind eases. Water 75°F.

Data pulled Fri Sep 25 ~5:40pm PT (evening run, targeting Sat 9/26 dawn) · buoys + NOAA tides + NWS + Open-Meteo + Wavecast (Thu 9/24) + Surfline (Smart Cam + LOTUS).

Condition Gauges — 6:15–7:30am dawn window

Tide — Saturday September 26 (La Jolla 9410230)

Tippers low-to-mid window (≤4.5ft) dawn session (6:15–7:30am) · backup Ponto 4:30–5:30pm tide height

Stoke Meter (dawn window)

Tippers clears all four factors. SSW at 12–13s is the reef's best angle and period, dawn is glassy, and the tide is mid and incoming until ~7:35am. Windansea scores the same on paper, but it's heavier and farther, its mid-tide window closes ~7am, and it's a Saturday with locals. South Ponto fails on tide at dawn (over 3ft by ~6:25am). Sunset Cliffs only gets the S angle marginally. Oceanside Harbor needs NW and has under 1ft of it. Blacks is out: 205–212° misses its south window and the tide is too high.

Days to Watch

Sun Sep 27: Odalys leftovers + early Polo (Surfline Ponto 4–6ft), but it's a work day. Mon–Tue Sep 28–29: big Polo swell. Wavecast has hazard advisories out (rogue waves, coastal flooding with ~6ft high tides). Oct 8–10: Surfline long range shows 6–10ft (low confidence).