Weekend Swell Story

By Jon Shafer

Saturday’s sunset at Rincon. All photos J. Shafer / Santa Barbara Surfer

For at least a week surf forecasters and boardriders alike have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of a powerful Pacific swell, and late Friday, the first pulses began to unload on the South coast. The swell model jumped substantially overnight, and by Saturday’s dawn patrol session quality surf was found at virtually all local breaks.

Up in Central and Northern California the full frontal assault of this swell—20 feet at 20 seconds—translated into XXL conditions at places like Maverick’s. Pretty much all areas North of Point Conception were firing as the swell angle exceeded 310 degrees, more well-suited for those northern areas…

Below are select images captured on Saturday morning and evening.

Enjoy!

The patented Santa Barbara Head-Dip!

The next time that you see Dale Dellar at Kahuna Grill, tell him you saw his pic on Santa Barbara Surfer!

» TW wrote on 11.08.09 @ 08:15 PM

Nice shots from a golden weekend! Glad some of that swell snuck in here.

» Mcfly wrote on 11.08.09 @ 08:40 PM

nice.

» Kathy wrote on 11.08.09 @ 09:10 PM

haha just saw Dale last week. We were both hopeful about the weekend. By the look on his face it panned out.

» Smidge wrote on 11.09.09 @ 09:47 PM

Kahuna’s the bomb!

» annie wrote on 11.10.09 @ 08:02 AM

pic of Dale a keeper!!!!! And he serves up a yummy burger!

like the up close and personal shots from the water…looks like it was a stellar day for sure.

» observant wrote on 11.10.09 @ 08:42 AM

“quality surf was found at virtually all local breaks.”
NOT. While there was a swell and some fun waves here and there, the angle wasn’t good for SB and the shape left a lot to be desired. It wasn’t anywhere near how much it was hyped. The best waves were Monday after the crowd left at noon and this morning before the people who depend on the internet for forecasting arrived.

» CPL wrote on 11.10.09 @ 07:50 PM

Beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing!

» Lance wrote on 11.11.09 @ 02:57 PM

Man I am missing it.. Landlock with spine injury.. Enjoy All the surf we are getting and get a barrel for me

» Dale Dellar wrote on 11.11.09 @ 10:53 PM

Hey I made it! Finally surfin’ the web. This computer thing is fun I’ll try it again someday.