Didn't really see another wave like that all morning, as the tide continued to drop and the sandbar started turning all the peaks inside out. Waves that looked like a makeable but fun barrel on the takeoff would mutate through the bottom turn, with the trough turning sandy and drawing out concave. Tried to get through two or three of those suckouts but got flipped every time, hitting my shoulder hard into the sandbar once. Taking a high line on the drop didn't help, either, as I kept getting pitched from the top instead of getting turned over in the suckout on the bottom.

After going in and grabbing a jersey and giving everyone the heads-up on how gnarly it was, I paddled back out for more punishment. Decided that only the big waves would get through all that by breaking a little more outside, and so that's where I sat. One real set came in during our entire 50-minute heat. I got the first wave of the set, but the best ones followed. Had a good time yelling as the rest of our team ripped it up to the call box.

Didn't stick around the contest area past 2pm, so I don't know who won, but the Carpinteria Middle School kids and Clyde Beatty's team really tore up the point. The Santa Barbara and Pacific Beach surf clubs were also pretty good.