Surf Points 47

Regional Surf.

Isla Vista, and the greater Santa Barbara region can be a tricky place to predict Surf because of the unique south facing position along the California Coast. Point conception lies to the west and acts as a shield blocking much of the NW energy (especially steep NW, greater than 300'), which typically pounds central and northern California all winter long. Isla Vista would be a premier location for south swells except that some magnificent barriers, called the Channel Islands, are positioned 20 miles south of us. This is a curse in terms of surf because these islands block nearly all south swell. Because of these two factors we are left with a window (about 26 miles wide) between San Miguel Island (the most westerly of the Channel Islands) and point conception for swell to enter and make it to our shores. For this reason IV depend on bigger NW swells (which diffract around point conception) or any West swells to get our breaks working to their potential. We are somewhat lucky because the landmass we live on (named Isla Vista) sticks out into the ocean more than the surrounding area, and just enough to get a decent amount of swell. Therefore we are somewhat of a swell magnet (relatively speaking) and get a decent amount of swell, at least more often than Santa Barbara proper and breaks to West (Haskells, Naples, El Capitan, Refugio)

As most locals know Isla Vista Beaches pull in its biggest waves when the swell direction is straight West (270'), which is fairly rare. However, we do have surf for about half the year. Our swell season generally starts in November and sometimes as early as October when the North Pacific wakes up and begins producing large storms at sea, which translate to swell and then waves on our coast. The swell season typically ends in late April, but we often see some wind swells through May and early June that keep some of our breaks fun. The best time for surf in IV is commonly during December, January.

Isla Vista has several diverse breaks, all within biking distance, stretching from the river mouth at sands to poles (just past campus point). Sands is by far the most consistent break because it faces west and poles is the least consistent because it is most sheltered from swell. The beach breaks tend to work better on smaller ground swells and wind swells, while the points take a solid ground swell to reach their potential. As a general rule of thumb, sands will usually be twice as big as campus point. See the above map for a description of each break and the conditions when it is best.

If you're looking to surf a more consistent break this winter, the closest is the renowned Queen of the coast, Rincon. Or if you really wanna surf some bigger waves this winter head North to Jalama. If you're in IV during the summer and got the summer time surf blues, head south toward Ventura/Oxnard or north toward Jalama, which are all good summer time spots.