Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

January Overview | 1997 Overview


Date/Time:
Tuesday, January 14th, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location:
Gaviota Coast
Weather:
Approaching clouds and rain, variable winds, cold.
Conditions:
Pristine and glassy, light offshores early and kelp assisting.
Swell:
Slightly faded west swell, inconsistent, sets waist high to head high.
Comments:
My first time surfing this spot, drove Surfer Bob and Beachbreak Max out after waiting a little while for them to finish drinking coffee and arrive at the apartment. I had actually already bailed on them (I'm not patient when it comes to waiting to surf), but saw them on the road and followed them back.

At any rate, there was a light crowd, well spread out across several peaks. By the time we left, the lineup was empty and waves were still rolling in as the rain started to come down.

Only the largest set waves broke well, with the smaller surf not quite breaking on the outer reefs, reforming on the inside and pitching in shallow water. Lots of hopping to deal with this fact, early on, but it got better.

Hit a groove towards the middle-end of the session, getting a whole series of short and steep drops followed by a fast-fading shoulder and cutback into the soup.

Caught a small mushburger that jacked up just as I stood, the lip throwing out. This was no mushburger! Adrenaline took over the drop and the pump for speed as the wave went almond-shaped and I was in a green-gold-brown room, as dry as could be and stoked out of my mind, after I had a chance to think about it once the wave closed out on me.

Finished off with a few racy waves and flyaway kickouts. The best session since New Year's Day, and that didn't even count the entertaining walk there and back, a totally different scene from the urbanism of Rincon.

Forecast? What forecast? Who cares... just go surf, it's been good for five days straight...


Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated 1/14/97.