Page 451 - California Diving and Surfing
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SANDSPIT Extremely challenging the exact moment. TAR PITS At the south end of
right-hand barrel over a ridiculously HAMMONDS A rock bottom right Carpinteria State Beach, Tar Pits is
shallow sandbar. It only breaks dur- with a superlative end bowl section. a moderate beachbreak occupied by
ing macking winter swells and even It takes a large swell to squeak in here numerous reefs. A popular family
though it may look easy to ride, the but it can be worth it if you’re lucky spot, Tar Pits is a mellow alternative
reality is quite the opposite. If it to catch it breaking. Surfers beware, to the majority of the Santa Barbara
is breaking expect elbow to elbow Hammonds is heavily guarded by surfing scene.
crowds for Santa Barbara’s most fickle a core group of locals who habitu- CARPINTERIA STATE BEACH
oddity. Get in early and go fast. Best ally check it, but it still gets plenty Beachbreak is not much of a desti-
Season: Fall, Winter/Direction: W/ crowded. nation for surfers, even though the
Size: 3’-6’/Tide: Low/Wind: N/Bot- MIRAMAR Quick rights to chest parking, scenery and camping are all
tom: Sand/Rating: Expert. Note: high, might be best for bodyboard- superlative. If and when it ever does
The U.S. Coast Guard frowns on rid- ers. By beach hotel. get good, the locals try to guard it.
ing into the channel. SHARK’S COVE (FERNALD BACKSIDES Off the north parking
LEADBETTER Long board wave on POINT) Access is the problem for lot at Rincon, this is a shallow left on
outside, shortboards and bodyboards this screaming overhead right during Rincon’s outer point. South swells
on inside beach break. Super popu- a big W or NW swell. The long hike generate waves to head-high, but it is
lar and everyone is welcome. Sandy is via private land. way crowded with the Rincon crowd
bottom. SERENA POINT: A fickle point that spill-over.
CHINESE HARBOR It’s hard to get gets decent a few times each year.
to, there are no surfing reports, and
there sure aren’t any lifeguards, but
the rumor is that Chinese Harbor has
a great break on Winter’s NW swells,
if you are lucky enough to get there at
