This month was very good, bordering on excellent. Several solid swells kept the Santa Barbara coastline pumping for nearly half the days of the month. Conditions remained relatively benign and it was possible at the right times to find clean, unpolluted, and uncrowded surf even on the stormy days.The highlight of the month was New Years Day at Rincon, my first day back in the water after my return from Hawaii. After that session, the rest of the month was just gravy.
The month was not without its occasional flat spells and associated insanity. But by far the lowlight of the month was the summary removal of the East Santa Barbara channel buoy. Coming in close second was a session-ending ding.
Out of eighteen reports (the most since the archive began), got good surf fourteen times (also a record for most actual good days in a month, though not for the best percentage, which is held by December 1995 at 12/13). Surfed my longboard two times, once as a result of that ding and again on Super Bowl Sunday. Took the 7'2" semi-gun out a few times. Average wave height was in the shoulder to head high range.
The Reports
- January 30th, Rincon
- January 28th, Rincon
- January 27th, Rincon
- January 26th, Campus Point
- January 20th, Gaviota Coast
- January 19th, Gaviota Coast
- January 18th, Devereux / I.V.
- January 16th, Rincon
- January 14th, Gaviota Coast
- January 13th, Rincon
- January 12th, Rincon
- January 11th, Rincon
- January 10th, Rincon
- January 9th, Rincon
- January 4th, Gaviota Coast
- January 3rd, Rincon
- January 2nd, Rincon
- January 1st, Rincon