Santa Barbara Area Surf Reports

Comments:

We've had an amazing run of late winter swells. Day after day we've had rideable waves in town. Today the model looked great, long period swell swinging in out of the west. Still, I wasn't beleiving no buoy until I saw the waves first hand. High tide tossed a dawn patrol out the window and it looked like my favorite tide would be towards sunset. Rio, Greggory and Petey were all interested in sessions. In the end I went shortboarding with Pete along the Gaviota Coast. Rio and Greggory went longboarding at Campus Point. Greggorys report was that it was one of his best sessions of the year, super long waves from Poles to the stairs, and one little tuck into a tube.

Pete and I went to a shifty break that had an occaisonal nice big set that was head high + and in between waves that were waist to chest and workable. It wasn't breaking up the beach as far as I remember, I haven't been out at this spot all year. It was petes favorite setup, a low tide pushing into the beach. Big boils were swirling out near the takeoff spot and sand would accumulate on your board. Pete had some all star waves, picking off two set waves early on that he milked in to the beach. I on the other hand was picking off lots of medium side waves seldom got one of the bigger beasts outside. When I had priority in the lineup, I always got way to deep and would have never made the section.

Some guy on a fun board got two big set waves in a row, and continually paddled out past everyone and squatted on priority. Uncool man. Eventually he yeilded to a more dignified way of trading waves.

The sun never set because it was overcast. It did start to get chilly and dark so we headed in. I couldn't talk Pete into a $1.50 polish sausage at Costco.