Took out the 7'2" and was thinking it was a bit too much board. Couldn't have been more wrong. I got pitched a lot and made some of the gnarliest, latest, most tenuous drops of my career, but never made anything down the line. Saw some insane barrels. I was out of my league.

Checked a bunch of spots and took photos before and after Hammond's; here's the skinny:

Devereux

Checked it at dawn, looking big and mean and lumpy, couldn't tell how big with nothing to scale by. Nobody out save one hapless soul getting mowed under all the way to DP.

Campus Point and Goleta Beach

Checked them just after dawn and also in the afternoon. Poles had overhead waves, the point was half again overhead. Best shape atop the point with a fast spinning hollow wall that subsides into a weak shoulder. Shoulder high beachpound at Goleta Beach, quite a sight.

Rincon

On the way down I saw a section at Summerland peak and throw that I've never seen before. Waves were overtopping the rocks along Santa Claus Lane with spray.

Rincon was huge, consistent double to triple overhead waves, gave it a lot of thought but eventually decided it was too much for me. Watched 10 people paddle out from the base of the stairs and get mowed all the way around the point and presumably to the freeway. Saw only one person make it out and just barely at that.

That's the southernmost point of my surf check. The Ventura pier was reported closed, with sets breaking up to 100 yards outside of it. Haven't heard yet if it has been further shortened like it was in '95.

Sandspit

Checked it after surfing, looked fast and fun with the sand heavily built up in the middle of the lineup, making it a bit more of a closeout than normal. Head high and blown out by the SE winds.

Gaviota Coast

Checked it out late afternoon, pretty bumped out with the SE wind but still overhead to double overhead waves, thick and heaving with variable crowds depending on the spot.