Santa Barbara Area Surf Reports

Talked with a fellow from Newport, heard it was going off down there.

Eventually the tide got to it and the rivermouth began to back off and close out, lots of late drops and panicky bottom turns under the dumping curtain call.

Kinda fun to watch. These kids are good.

Went back to the springsuit, and felt liberated. Had a few wipeouts, including one inexplicable fall off the back, losing my balance while hopping for speed.

Best wave was the last. Shoulder high with fun peaky rippable sections all the way from the top of the indicator down past the mouth of the river. Ahoooooooooo--oooo.

Wore a fullsuit due to paranoia about the clouds, and baked. Should have gone with the spring a little longer.

Spent a lot of time driving and checking, unhappy with the conditions at the Fairgrounds and the Strand, although the latter was pulling in some nicer peaks and better drops. Sequit was a zoo, with some stoked kids getting surf lessons from the Malibu Boardriders Club, pairs on tandems out on the shoulder. Lots of hooting and cheering from the shore at every ride. The pack on the rock was hungry, and while the waves there had more juice on the takeoff, they weren't making it very far before falling behind a mushy section.

Had more fun and luck taking off behind the outer rock and outside reef. Large sets would occasionally break out there that looked to be well overhead, then reform inside for a nice down-the-line racetrack wall. Every wave ending in a closeout coverup or kickout wishing "if only I had cranked that turn a little harder I could have made that section..."

The new board has excellent drive even in the mush and the rocker is well tuned to the late entry. Even pulled me out of a spill over the tail, popped me up to my feet leaving me incredulous.

Shape was much better in the rivermouth, as well as the crowds. Left and right peaks with workable walls and lots of cutbacks. Not bad but it was probably better to break the habit and go elsewhere.

A return of the winter crew that strangely didn't show on Thursday, people talking about their new guns for the winter and reminiscing about last year. Waves were very sporadic. Should have been there yesterday.