Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

March Overview | 1996 Overview


Date/Time:
Wednesday, March 13th, 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Location:
Rincon Point
Weather:
Partially cloudy skies with variable winds and occassional showers.
Conditions:
Fair to poor, leftover bump from yesterday's blowthrough plus additional new bump coming in from the channel.
Swell:
Head high to double overhead, sometimes jacking, sometimes mushy.
Comments:
The buoys began to jump last night, so I waxed up my new 7'2" that I figured I'd have to wait 9 months to get a chance at using. Checked Campus Point at around 7:00 and it looked to be about head high. Not big enough!

The paddle out at the indicator was an interesting exercise. Crumbly whitewater that packed little punch but swept down the point hard, especially once the waves began to round the tip. From there on it was an exercise in paddling, surfers trying to reach the top in a long line and occasionally taking a set. Felt like treadmill work.

Eventually got one wave all the way into the cove, decided to walk back up top rather than battle the longshore current for the rest of my life. The board worked great, easy paddling and dealt cleanly with the bump, yet still carved a solid cutback without difficulty.

The second go-out was less successfull as I took a serious pounding from an outside set just as I reached the outside, got swept all the way to the top of the cove. After a few false starts on some jacking waves, began the long grind back up to the top.

Saw some sets standing up and once breaking on the outside reef, once again as far from the shore as the lineup. Eventually tired, got pounded by a set, and caught a wave in.

Realized on the drive home that this swell landed three months to the day since the swell on Wednesday, December 13th. I wonder if we'll get another killer winter swell on June 13th?


Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated 8/6/96.