Leadbetter Beach

One of the more consistent breaks in Santa Barbara is Leadbetter Beach just below the cliffs of Shoreline park. The beach is steeper in the spring and summer time. The best time to catch a good shorebreak is when high tide is approaching. It is a very popular beach for long boarders and sun bathers but there is not much competition for the skim. Every rider I ever ran into out there has been extremely friendly so I wouldn't worry about any aggro locals losing their cool cause you happen to want to skim on their beach.

Everybody in Santa Barbara knows where Leadbetter beach is, so if my directions suck feel free to pull over and ask anyone. Take the Castillo St. Exit and head for the beach.  In S.B. everything is either towards the Mountains or the beach. Stay on Castillo until it dead-ends (You will pass a gas station, a 7-eleven and a park). Hang a right turn when you run into Cabrillo. You will pass the City College on your right and Cabrillo suddenly becomes Shoreline. As you pass the City College, Leadbetter will be on your left. You will drive through a couple of Green lights and when you come to the first Stop Sign find a place to park (there is plenty available). At that intersection is where Shoreline Park begins, there is a dirt path that takes you right to the spot at the base of those cliffs.

Submitted By:  peter118@gateway.net

Refugio

I think this spot is fantastic- at least if you catch it right. Like most spots on the central coast it is best as the swell is rising after a long flat spell. If you make it there on a high tide in these conditions, you may be surprised that you're in SB county. I've found the evening highs to be best, as any breeze tends to be heading offshore. The break is usually best towards the point, where you'll find a steep beach and a pounding shore break with some glassy 1-3 foot barrels within skim range. You really need to go on the right conditions to make this spot worthwhile. The beach is always crowded with kids and drunken fishermen at mid-day on summer weekends, so don't go expecting the place to yourself.

North on 101 from Santa Barbara, exit for Refugio State Beach

Submitted By: ipok@optician.com

More on Refugio

Refugio (Locals call it Re-fu-fi-o) is one of the few spots in the SB area that can actually be good from late spring to mid fall. Like all places around here, rocks are a problem during most of the other months. The north end of the beach can have some fun shore break, and the south can have a little whitewash push. It is a local campground area, so the only traffic you might run into would be little kids that think they can watch from right where the best waves are breaking. The only other problem with Refugio is that sometimes the sand flattens out and causes the break to be unreachable. If you go there, count on a good time, but bring both boards!

To get to Refugio, just take the Refugio exit off highway 101, and park under the overpass before you get to the entrance to the campground. That way, parking is free, and the walk is just a short one following the creek that leads to the beach.

Submitted By:  unielr00@umail.ucsb.edu

Sandspit  Recommended

Sandspit is another of the few good spots in SB.  It is unique in the sense that the skimming is best on a lower tide. It is well known as a place of incredible surfing once or twice a winter when the waves are actually big. Other than those couple times, there may be a few surfers hoping for a glimpse, and absolutely no skim traffic. If you ever do see any skimmers down there, it will almost surely be my room mate and I. Sandspit breaks around a point off the tip of the harbor jetty. In that sense, sometimes it is possible to catch a liner down the beach a little ways. Again, as is the problem with all SB spots, there are rocks at most times of the year. Usually they are interspersed and avoidable, but bring both boards just in case. If the waves are right, and you can pump out to them, the spit is one of the hollowest waves around!! Remember, low or near low tide, otherwise you will have nowhere to run from.

Exit Castillo St. from Hwy 101, head towards the water, turn right on Cabrillo and follow it around to until you come to the city college football stadium (on your right). From there, park anywhere if you want to pay, or in the city college parking lot if you want the chance to not have to pay (I am convinced that they never check for permits, but I make no guarantees). Then just walk on past all the boats in the harbor along the jetty pathway. When you come to the end, the Spit will be on your left.

Submitted By:  unielr00@umail.ucsb.edu

Campus Point

Aloha, my name is Rob Souza and I've been skimming for about 7 years now.  When I went away to school at UCSB, the first thing I did was look for spots to surf and skim.  One of the best skimming spots I've encountered in SB not mentioned yet  is Campus point at UCSB.  During the Summer months, plenty of sand gets pushed into the point, and in the Fall, on a moderate swell and medium tide, the place can hold 2-3ft waves that break and reel for quite a distance.  Very fun and ripable.  The only problem with this spot is it is very seasonal -- during the winter and spring months, the sand gets raked out by big swells and it is not remotely rideable due to the exposed rock reef.  But, an excellent place to visit during the late Summer-early Fall months right when school starts.  The only crowds you will encounter here are the beginner students on a woody.

From 101, take the 217 and head all the way to campus. Hang a left at the light after the toll booth and  head straight toward the Marine Science center at the point.  Park in the lot on the left -- there are metered spaces and permit parking as well.  Skim and have fun.

Submitted By: Kaihuna@aol.com

Santa Clause

Santa Clause a great place to skim no rocks so don't have to worry about dinging up your board. Sometimes lots of people there so your gonna wanna go at around 4:00 o'clock. The waves break a little farther back but great for just cruising if you get out there far enough then the waves are pretty damn big. 

Submitted By: landgraff2@dsl.net