Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

December Overview | 1996 Overview


Date/Time:
Wednesday, December 11th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location:
Gaviota Coast
Weather:
Light sprinkles and light variable air.
Conditions:
Fair, some bump and lump. Fast dropping tide from +6.5 feet to -1.2 feet, our highest high and nearly our lowest low and our biggest swing for the year.
Swell:
Inconsistent and pulsing, shoulder high to overhead with some sets pushing to overhead and a half.
Comments:
Waited for the low tide after a promising morning check near West Campus. Hooked up with Surfer Bob and Tim' for a check of this spot. Mud everywhere on the walk out. Thought I could wipe the gunk off my feet on some rocks, turns out they were sedimentary shale which only led to more clay on my feet until I wiped out and landed ass-first in the mud.

I swear the surfing went better. Tim' went home for lunch and the rest of us suited up fast and hurried out. Took my 7'2" for the first time since the three-month anniversary of Big Wednesday. Big Wednesday was coincidentally 52 weeks ago today, and the 1-year anniversary is in 2 days.

Watched and waited for a lull before going out, been pounded here too hard once before. Immediately some well-overhead sets pushed through which had us at first sketched out and then stoked. Plenty of waves to share between the two of us and totally makeable drops with the bigger volume and longer boards. A longboarder came out to share the peak with us for a few minutes but went in just as quick... this was not the place for a log today.

Lots of good, fast drops and drives down the line. No time even for a cutback with most of the waves, just a push to make the approaching dumping hollow section. Got a lot of time under the brown curtain but never made it out the other end.

Eventually ran into Tim' who was sharing the more mellow and rippable and crowded peaks that we passed up. Went in as the sun went down, stoked and tired and hungry. I like Wednesdays.


Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated 12/11/96.