Santa Barbara Area Surf Report

Still, at the time the rising swell was cause for optimism. "It's just starting to get good" is what one of the guys told me while I suited up at the waterline. Must have been what a lot of people were hoping, as before long we had a whole lot of people out and still not much swell. Good shape when they did come in with the lower tide still hanging on into evening, though nothing like the big spring swings from earlier in the week. But hard to complain too loudly, really, since this swell would make for nearly a week and a half straight of at least decent surf.

No rides stand out as memorable from this day as I write up the report nearly a week late. Grabbed several late drops on what I thought would be excellent set waves only to have them quickly fade away beneath my feet. I recall a few waves that went all the way through to inside the rivermouth section, which is where I ended my session today, not opting to go into the cove this time.

So, will this winter season be all hype or will we get a lot of underpredicted but very good swells? Time will tell. I anticipate a continued mix of both...