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Monday
Nov222010

Santa Barbara Surfing ... You *Can* Go Back

Surfing in Santa Barbara means contending with consistently underwhelming waves. The upside? Plenty of time to hone kayak fishing techniques, spear fishing tactics and campfire tending skills.

That's exactly how it played out at Refugio state beach on Spat Out in Glory's latest barrel quest. One with local knowledge might question the choice of destinations: Refugio? AKA Refoofio? AKA the least barreling wave on California's central coast? (Video after the jump.)

Well ... It *could* happen. I mean, it didn't. But it was possible. As was a 40 pound white seabass, giant flatties, etc.

Refugio compensated for the lack of swell with November fantasy weather, mirror-flat afternoon glass offs a couple days and some willing rockfish in the kelp. And three nights of campfires. And a tri-tip. And some rib eyes. And Bill's fresh keg of Firestone.

Good Brian, Bad Brian, Dan and Greg stepped back in time to that place where the best memories of adolescent days in the water crowd out the numberless mediocre days. A return to days when you struggled fruitlessly to find an unpleasant alternative to the original plan ... No waves? OK - we'll catch some rockfish and fry them up. Worse the wear from the Firestone? What about a quick surf to clear the head?

Growing up in Santa Barbara tends to create unreasonable expectations as to how fine life is meant to be. But 30 years later she still can deliver. Hey ... maybe it always WAS breaking at Dev. Maybe we DID spear a halibut that time at Thousand Steps. Maybe June Gloom DIDN'T freeze us out each summer ...

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Reader Comments (7)

I've heard the camera adds ten pounds, in your case it appears to have added ten years.

Nov 22, 2010 at 7:16 PM | Unregistered Commenteryour biggest fan, Jeff

I think the draining of Bill's keg of Firestone added 10 years.

Nov 22, 2010 at 7:45 PM | Registered CommenterGreg

Wow just because ya have a gopro doesn't mean ya have to share your weak footage w/ the world. It seems to me a SUK (stand up kook) board might work better for you so you can come out at Dev and pollute the water with the other janitors. By the way did you renew your subscription to outdoor magazine?

Nov 23, 2010 at 12:06 PM | Unregistered Commenterrowjimmytour

Rowjimmy - I was born uncoordinated. You were born funny. What can really be done about any of it?

Nov 23, 2010 at 8:54 PM | Unregistered CommenterGreg

I'm gettin' a bit tired of these Spat teasers. When does the real full feature-length film hit my local theater?

-A

PS. When it hits, will you be able to send me some coupons or free passes?

Nov 24, 2010 at 8:07 AM | Unregistered CommenterArbitrage

Arbitrage ... look for the premiere at Cannes in 2022.

Nov 24, 2010 at 7:18 PM | Unregistered CommenterGreg

make no mistake, the Sony awards do not give any recognltion to quality; they have been created solely for
the purpose of Sony exposure - the awards tend to be given to those shows with most audience pull.-quality fake Maurice Lacroix

Jun 27, 2011 at 3:53 AM | Unregistered Commentercool Ferragamo Fabric Shoes

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