Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

January Overview | 1997 Overview


Date/Time:
Monday, January 20th, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location:
Gaviota Coast
Weather:
Cloudy morning, rain all last night and storm winds early.
Conditions:
Glassy with a little warble out of the southeast.
Swell:
West swell, chest high to just overhead on the sets.
Comments:
Almost didn't go, but Surfer Bob called, having noticed a fast back-down in the winds. It was smaller than yesterday but nobody was out. Score!

Suited up as fast as we could, attracting only one more surfer who followed us out into the lineup. Clean and fun little waves early, very rippable. Later on the sets seemed to get a bit more punch.

Late drops were the rule today, made about half of them. The other half were kinda painful. Even landed an air-drop of about two feet midway down the face, extended as I fell and then compressed through the bottom turn. The following wave doubled up underneath me and couldn't handle it, pearled and flushed my sinuses.

Eventually we were joined by two other surfers, but that wasn't so bad. We both still got a lot of waves and had a great time. Hope you got some as well.


Santa Barbara Surfing -- Last updated 1/20/97.