February 2017
2-28-17 No Surfing: 2-3 ft
Tiny waves prevailed still though buoys indicated a slight jump in some minor wind swell and south swell. I was still feeling a bit under the weather though not as bad as yesterday. I figured it not a bad idea to stay down and give my body another days rest. Mentally I have been feeling a bit out of sorts losing my job and this illness has me worried a bit that I am beginning to succumb to the effects of depression causing me to feel more ill then I really am. There was so much surf in February that I lost touch with the reality of my situation. Now that things have begun to get back to normal I find myself in quite a struggle caught in the wonderment and possible despair of what might be next for Chris Lisanti.
2-27-17 No Surfing: 1-3 ft
More small waves and they couldn’t have come at a better time. I woke up this morning feeling a bit under the weather. It is rather understandable since everyone around me has had this cold. I suppose its my turn. Hopefully I shit today out and feel better tomorrow.
2-26-17 No Surfing: 2-3+ ft
Miles Driven: 64
I got word that Ventura Harbor was like waist to chest and clean. The sun was out and my girl and I headed down. Of course by the time I got there the wind shifted south. It was still ride-able, though far from appealing. The sky had gone cloudy and the wind was freezing. I was very unmotivated and the thought of my chick freezing on the beach while I froze in the water for some terrible waves was disconcerting. Instead since the tide was low we decided to take a walk from Mondos to the top of Pitas.
2-25-17 No Surfing: 2-3+ ft
Miles Driven:64
My girl and I cruised down to Ventura in search of some beach and surf time. Considering the swell and conditions the Harbor was my best bet. The tide was pretty high and the only peak worth anything had 25 guys on it and was lack luster at best. We had a loot at Emma hoping it would have something, but it was terrible. Instead we went for a walk and ran a few errands. I had a look at Rincon on the way home in the hopes of grabbing a grovel. That was rarher pathetic as well. I actually had a big birthday bash to put on over a my house for my boys Gabe and a very old friend of mine I had not seen in years, Brennan. Biz and I cooked up a superb meal of spaghetti vongole and red velvet cake for dessert. No birthday bash is finished with out bottle service at the Wild Cat. I do believe everyone involved had a spectacular night.
2-24-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Surfer’s Knoll
Time in Water: 1.5 hr
Waves Surfed: 12
Miles Driven: 64
The surf finally came down to where I suppose it should be on the norm for everyday California. This month has spoiled us in the 805 rotten. I can’t remember a month as dynamic as February has been in lots of years. The variety of spots and surf was refreshing, borderline exciting. That’s a lot coming from a somewhat jaded veteran like myself. All things must I suppose come to an end and just like that an amazing run of surf stopped. As per usual I found myself standing on the fateful dunes overlooking the magnanimous, yet torturous breaks of Ventura Harbor. One can never shake a stick at consistency despite its level of volitility. There were a few peaks breaking in some of the brownest water imaginable. The river bar was the best, but it wasn’t anything special to make me want to battle with twelve others already on it. There was a decent little peak just north of the Knoll that had no one on it. The wind was on the verge of coming up and tide dropping fast. I knew the window was going to be short. The water was bone chilling cold. I would say the most fridgid it had been yet this winter. There was a horrible reverse current making paddling out a chore, then once in the line up there was a relentless rip making keeping position difficult. When I did get a wave it was worth three good hit sections and a bank vault close out ramp at the end. As I had expected it wasn’t less then an hour before the wind and tide killed it. At least I got a few.
2-23-17 PM Session: 2-3+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 14
Miles Driven: 70
I struck out for El Cap this late morning hoping to sneak a few in before the crowds got on it. Instead I literally struck out cause the point was small, inconsistent and crowded with 25 guys already out and multiples checking it. I watched it for a while and just couldn’t get motivated for it. If I was going to sit in a crowd I might as well just go to Rincon where there would be more size, consistency and leverage for catching waves off the pack. There was about 40 guys on the whole point and it was a bit weak and windswelly looking. I was out of options and paddled. It was just as weak as it looked if not more so. The first half of my session I was in the zone with all of the set waves, which by the way were few and far between. Then as the tide bottomed out it got even more inconsistent and I couldn’t find a decent one to save my life. Over fighting the bull shit current I waited till I got one all the way through and then quit. A below average day at Rincon is still better then a good day most other places.
2-22-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Pitas
Time in Water: 2.5
Waves Surfed: 23
Miles Driven: 44
Initially my plan was to surf El Cap on the dropping tide. Then a few too many friends hit me up about surfing it causing me to think the crowd would get obnoxious. That is exactly what I heard was the case. I thought that if I got to Pitas early enough I could beat the winds and just keep moving further inside the point as it blew harder. That was pretty much the strategy I went with. The crowd was perfect with no more then seven guys on it. With the current I just made sure to stay on a drift of my own each time I paddled. Basically I had the place to myself. Despite all the chop there were some sick double-ups that snuck through and just grinded down the point. On my last wave I got a below sea level tube for easily fifty yards I was stoked on. I left as the wind started really tearing up, though there were still some good ones on the inside of the point if one was willing. I will take it that’s for sure.
2-21-17 PM Session: 4-6+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 12
Miles Driven: 30
I was hurting pretty bad when I woke up this morning. Pretty sure I spent most of the night in bouts of fever burning off what ever bull shit bacteria I picked up from all the dirty water I have been surfing in. This time around it has been the burning in my eyes unlike last week where my ears where all inflamed and the week before when it was my throat. I am addicted, what can I say. New swell was suppose to fill in and peak in the afternoon and the tide was low at one. There was no reason to go rushing off to find surf. I figured depending on how much swell and what direction was coming in I would either go north to El Capitan or south to Rincon. Biz and I did a little cleaning around the apartment it needed it after the weekend of debauchery we had. Round one I checked the cams and buoys. There wasn’t enough for me to go to El Cap. I am sure there was a wave there, but I was not looking to grovel. Rincon was the call and upon walking down I was glad on my choice. There were some solid chest to head high plus sets coming in through the Cove with a light crowd. There was a slight side chop on it from the south wind though not enough to ruin it. I knew the light crowd wouldn’t hold up long before getting mobbed with both the after school and work crew. I got in and felt way weaker then I personally wanted to be. The waves seemed to be following suit with me. Maybe it was because of the wind, or the tide or the swell angle. The waves had no real bottom to them. Sets that should have been screamers through the Cove were lack luster crawlers. I did manage a few sick ones, then the crowd showed up and the place was clogged. I got a few more and quit while I was ahead. I wasn’t really in any shape to do battle with the crowd or the shitty current that was pulling down the point.
2-20-17 PM Session: 2-4+ ft, Hollywood by the Sea
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 21
Miles Driven: 78
The swell was a bit down for the points and the wind off shore down south, which incidentally also sucks for the points. I looked at Rincon first. It was small there and fish-able. I was not about to waist good beach break wind at Rincon on a fish. From there the car surf ensued. I looked at just about everywhere. When I got to strand I was basically out of options and by then the wind had went more south and the bars sucked. I was going to go back to either Harbor or Rincon when my buddy Phil mentioned there might be a wave at Little Sunset. Though not spectacular there was a nice little A-frame bar with a better right then left. There were about a handful of guys out and room for one more. It looked a little soft so I opted for my fish thinking I would spend my time picking off the inbetweeners. Turns out there were no inbetweeners making it quite a long wait for waves and leaving me wishing I had taken my short board. I did manage one barrel I was stoked on.
2-19-17 PM Session: 3-4+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 18
Miles Driven: 30
Since Gabe and his friend were here we decided to all go downtown for our usual Saturday tuxedo night. All of the excitement led to a night in Fancytown for all meaning it was a later then usual start as everyone was a bit torn up. I myself was hurting more from the surfing of yesterday rather then the drinking. Ryan called me from Rincon and said that the point was rather uncrowded for a Sunday and a holiday weekend at that, only fifty strong. Stoked I cruised down there to see what was coming in. Sure enough the Cove look fun with only about twenty guys or so out. I paddled and sure enough it was a ball out there. I did four drifts from the River to the highway getting really good ones every time. We lucked out that the majority of the crowd was from out of town and didn’t really know where to sit to get the good ones. I only wish I wasn’t so tired from the day before.
2-18-17 PM Session: 6-10+ ft, Lead Better
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 8
Miles Driven: 0
I was definitely not satisfied after the bullshit heroic surf I had at El Cap. There was lots of SE wind swell in the water from yesterday’s storm making all of the points a little shitty with all the 9 ft of short period south crossing everything up. The last time we had a swell like this was six years ago and the beach break at Lead Better was really fun. I had a look after breakfast and it was firing. It was easily over head and with the north winds off shore. There were literally spitting heaving barrels up and down the beach. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I called Gabe who had come down to surf El Cap only to meet the same disappointment I had earlier. He met me here with his bud Dustin and we paddled. It was way bigger and heavier then I had thought My first two waves were deep throaty barrels both of which I didn’t make. My third was was deep shacker close to the beach that I got spit out of. Stoked I ran back up the beach since the current pushing south was so strong. My drift was rather successful as well. On my third go of things the wind turned a bit more onshore and the tide got a bit higher. The sets began stacking larger and more closed out. The crowd tripled till there had to be easily fifty guys out. Between those elements I got a few average ones and then went easily thirty minutes with out getting a wave. Finally I got a left tube and bailed. I must say it was about as good as I have ever seen that beach and I have lived on it for over ten years.
2-18-17 AM Session: 8-12+ ft, El Capitan
Time in Water: 1 hr
Waves Surfed: 2
Miles Driven: 42
My girl was going down to SD of the weekend for her sister’s birthday and as a result got up super early. I noticed that the wind was light and the swell was up. I had my sights on El Cap and with the weather and water quality I hoped to beat the crowd. The exit was closed due to a flash flood worry. I was about to bag the session when I remembered that there was a back country access road I could catch near Refugio and back track. There were about a dozen cars parked evidence enough for me to suit up and paddle. I got down there and it was solid over head with some bomb sets. Though a little disorganized from all the contrasting swells there were some really good ones if you were in the right spot. I jumped in and the current was super strong pushing down the point. It was tough to hold position I lucked into an over head one. Overall most of the waves were breaking too wide from the point making it a bit mushy. Then the swell began to spike and double overhead to even triple overhead clean up sets began closing out the entire point. The inbetweeners were still good but it was impossible to get them cause of the steadily increasing frequency and intensity of the sets. I fought the good fight for an hour. Finally I had look back toward the point and realized that i was paddling as hard as I could and going backwards. I looked back out to sea and couldn’t see anything but white water. At that point I was over it and turned and took the white water of a bomb that steadily reformed into a sick screamer on the inside. It even got really hallow at the bottom of the point. I got out and walked back to my car with my tail between my legs beaten by El Capitan. It was humbling since I actually cant remember the last time a wave has beaten me. No photo cause it was pouring rain.
2-17-17 No Surfing: 5-8+ ft
The perfect month is over just like that. This time it was not of my own volition. Had there been actually waves to safely surf I would have paddled. The storm that we are currently caught in the rapture of is just too close over head at the moment making it just victory at sea conditions and the quality of the water is toxic. I am not about to get sick or killed by random floating debris as a result of a wash out for absolute crap conditions. Looks like I will have to try again for my perfect month in March.
2-16-17 AM Session: 3-5+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 19
Miles Driven: 30
For extensive purposes Rincon was the best of the worst. Yet as I watched a few sets roll in to both the Cove and the River Mouth it looked so pretty. I guess I should have gotten there an hour earlier. The crowd was somewhat manageable for what was coming in. I paddled up top and I don’t know if it was the tide coming up or what but with in the first ten minutes of paddling out it got super inconsistent and all of the sets were very weak. It was big enough for my short board but with the mush factor I could have easily killed it on the fish. Then the crowd just kept on coming till it was a solid 100 pack. Normally in crowded Rincon I just keep moving up and down the point where ever I can find some space. It got to the point where I was fighting with the pack for scraps. The scraps at Rincon are still better then most waves. I got few fun ones none the less. I was feeling a bit run down the entire surf, been fighting off a cold my girl brought home last week. Looks like a solid storm is coming, which will probably bring some shit south winds up the points. With any luck though there will be a few windows of opportunity. This should be the first time that making this a perfect month may be tough.
2-15-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1 hr 45 mins
Waves Surfed: 23
Miles Driven: 64
Back to the River Bar for me today. Rincon was definitely surf-able, but there was some south wind apparent on the look back thus I continued on. Mouth had some fun looking clean peaks coming in with about six guys on it. Though smaller the shape was better. Four other guys paddled at the same time as me, but like I said the peak is more shifty and spread out this time around so it can handle a few more guys. Unlike yesterday I was in the grove today. I don’t know if it is the fact that I was more used to the wave and my board or just motivated. Whatever the case I had a ball out there and surfed pretty well too. I was stoked that although my leg hurt from yesterday it didn’t hinder my performance at all. After I surfed I was in the lot changing when some dude yelled out “Did you get any perfectly good close out barrels out there”. I almost died. He was quoting a blog I wrote years and years ago. It really stoked me out. Lately I have been getting lots of call to write again. I’m getting motivated to start writing and bring SurfingRuinedMyLife.net back to its former glory. If you want to read the “I Heart Perfectly Good Closed Out Barrels” blog click this link.
2-14-17 AM Session: 3-4+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 25
Miles Driven: 64
I actually had a real look at Rincon this morning. There was a fat little wave in the Cove I could have slaughtered on my fish. Of course there was also about twenty long boarders some ripping most kooking it to contend with . The top was all broken up and shit. The wind was very light WSW and I thought why not make the gamble for The Harbor. I got there and yesterday’s sand bar was still working with around eight guys out. Unlike the last bar this though not nearly as good did have a few different peaks allowing for more waves to be had, even if of a lesser quality. I suited up and as I was about to paddle out half the crowd bailed. Stoked I nabbed a few fun ones right off the bat. Then, I was sitting a little deep and a set came right to me. I took off late and proceeded to hit the oncoming close out section top to bottom. When I landed the back wash stopped my board and I was thrown off balance. I thought my board had gotten sucked behind me so I feel forward only to find my board right there waiting for me. My left calf took the brunt of the hit. Luckily I didn’t get cut and my board somehow was fine, but the pain in my leg put a solid damper on the rest of the surf. After the drive home it stiffened up and made walking annoying. This was very much to my dismay considering I am going for a perfect month. It was Valentines Day or as I like to call it a “male significant other get raped in the pocket day”. I spent my share including a gold diamond bracelet, a dozen violet roses sent to her work place and cooked us up a nice meal of Italian gravy soaked lobster tails for the first course, sweet potato gnocchi with spinach in a sage brown butter sauce and chocolate croissants for dessert. She was stoked and to put up with my crazy ass certainly deserved all of it.
2-13-17 PM Session: 2-3+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 34
Miles Driven: 64
The swell was down and although I had seen a few waves at Rincon on the look back of death I decided to continue on to The Harbor mainly so that I could see what the sand bars looked like there after all the rain and swell the past weekend. I got down there and through not what they were a few weeks ago there were still a few bars to be contended with. The crowd was pretty solid for what was coming in and with the on shores on the rise I just couldn’t get motivated to paddle. I had some errands to run in the VTA anyway so I decided to wait for the back end of the tide and go back to Rincon. I made a good call cause when I got back to Rincon it was very rip-able waist to chest plus and lots of peaks coming in all over the point. The surf was a bit on the weak side and considering the amount of guys out I took my fish. On my short board I would have been limited to just the sets and I wanted to froth, plus my fish is fun as all fuck. I hit up Gabe who was back at my place getting some school work done that he might want to make the trek. I had blast up top destroying any wave big all small that came my way. Stuck a few airs one bs full rotation air reverse at the top of the Cove that really pumped me up. Good on the Queen.
2-12-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Emma Wood
Time in Water: 2 hrs 15 mins
Miles Driven: 56
Waves Surfed: 22
The swell was on the way down and all evidence showed that by the negative low tide this afternoon little if any surf would be left. I set out around ten hoping that with the steadily receding tide I could get a few left overs at Emma Wood. On the way down I had a look at both Rincon and Mussel Shoals. Upon arriving at Emma there was a solid left coming in just south of the life guard tower with only three guys on it. Though nothing special I was in the mood for a left and paddled. I guess there were about three other crews who thought the same and the pack went from four to six to fifteen in a matter of ten minutes. There was really only one peak available and no one was in the mood to take turns. It became really frustrating really fast. I was hoping the window of opportunity would last for two hours, but after about 45 minutes the tide had drained too fast and the waves deteriorated to nearly impossible to surf. I paddled to the Toll Booth peak and found a few weak rights before ultimately calling it a day.
2-11-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 19
Miles Driven: 44
Another weekend and the hoopla that goes with it. I need to find a job where I can work twenty hours on Saturday and Sunday allowing me to make my needed living allowance and giving me Monday thru Friday to surf. If anyone knows of such a position/occupation exists please clue me into. I don’t care what it is I actually do, just as long as I have this schedule. I had a rough night sleeping. With all the rain the oils from all the poison oak had washed out into the line ups of Gaviota. Unwilling by surfing out in front of not one, but four combined streams I became their victim. End result I spent the night suffering cold sweats and intensely fighting off the urge to scratch. The key to beating Poison oak is not to scratch. I heard El Cap had waves early though crowded. I rolled back over and slept till ten then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with my chick. Around two I set out south to see what I could find. The wind was wailing out of the WNW tearing up everything but Rincon. When Rincon gets a bit messy and the current is tough it sort of evens out the crowd and gives locals the advantage. With this in mind I paddled to battle the fifty plus pack. I used my now over twelve years of experience at Rincon to my full advantage and managed a few really good ones from high Cove all the way to the freeway and even double call boxed my best one. Pat and a friend of his visiting from NJ were out as well and both of them got their share as well. Its been a good run as I am now on day 11 in the pursuit of the perfect month.
2-10-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Naples
Time in Water: 4 hrs
Waves Surfed: 40
Miles Driven: 34
I found myself on the hill above El Capitan looking at about thirty guys vying for chest to head high waves. After yesterday’s Rincon frustration I was a little crowd weary. There was plenty of swell in the water and the winds were light. In my mind there was no reason not to make an assault on Naples. There was one car in the lot when I pulled up and it was raining pretty good. The trail has been a straight up bog there the past two weeks so rather then trash my clothes I suited up and made the trek. Half way there I ran into the two guys who’s car was in the lot leaving. They said it was fun and no one was out. I got there and the sets were solid with not a person in sight. I saw a few sick drainers at Seals and paddled there. Unfortunately I think there were a few too many short period west swells in the water making the majority of the waves a bit too fast or closed out even for the reefs to handle. If you waited for the occasional good ones they ran down the reef and then ended in a spitting barrel on all the new sand that has been washed into the channel. I had some drainers, some beatings too. Shit on my third wave I hit the reef so hard I thought I broke my foot. I am always complaining about it being crowded, but for two hours I was all alone out there and would have been stoked to share it with someone. Finally two guys paddled and we traded off racy right handers till dark. I saw my boy get the wave of the day over by Dead Mans as I was leaving that had me wondering why we had not sat there. The wave must have peeled for an easy 200 yards. It certainly wasn’t the best Naples I have ever surfed, but I will take it. No photo cause it was pouring rain.
2-9-17 PM Session: 2-3+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 20
Miles Driven: 30
The buoys dropped a bit and there was a gnarly fog bank hanging over us. I figured I would just do Rincon on low tide again. I guess one shouldn’t push his luck for a three peat. I got to the lot and it was loaded up with out of town cars and camper vans. Sure enough upon checking it the place was a fucking zoo with kooks and smaller then yesterday. I had look at Little Rincon and Pitas, both of which were terrible and had their share of heads on it too. I desperation paddled Rincon. I took my shortboard since two friends of mine were raving about it. Considering the size and stupidity of the Cove I started up to at Indicator. Surprisingly there were only a handful of guys up there. As it turned out it was so God awful no one wanted to sit there. On my third wave I dinged my board on a rock. The only good sections were right up on the rocks and as I was bottom turning one of the larger River Mouth boulders was sticking up a little high and I caught my outside rail on it. From there I caught a string of either mush burgers or close outs or a combination of the two. Finally I painstakingly worked my way to the Cove. There were actually some sick ones coming through. Too bad the place was clogged with kooks, barneys and idiots. I got burned three times blatantly before finally lucking into a set wave that peeled all the way to the bottom. At least I got one.
2-8-17 PM Session: 2-3+ ft, El Capitan
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 12
Miles Driven: 55
After I got out of the water at Rincon I knew that some place had to be going off as well. I was thinking either Silver Strand or El Capitan. Ryan confirmed that he heard Strand was head high and peaky. I checked the buoys and the west swell had jumped up a foot. With that in mind I decided to roll the dice and go for El Cap. It was sort of on my way home yet out of the way. Worse case scenario going north is always a nice drive. For every ten times I get skunked on a gamble there is that one where I hit and tonight was that time. It was solid waist to chest with the occasional plus set and only about twenty five guys in the water. It was already four and unlikely too many others were going to make it out. I paddled and despite certain eggy guys who always attempt to ruin my surf out there I still managed to score a few sick ones. I got one barrel up top that was so deep I couldn’t even see out of it. My best tube ran easily 100 yards from the top to the mid section and then the wave opened up for turns all the way to the bottom. It was a sick session to say the least. Man was my body sore after two really good point sessions. For all the smack I talk about living in the 805, the crowds, cost of living, etc its days like these that remind me to keep up the good fight.
2-8-17 AM Session: 3-4+ ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 28
Miles Driven: 15
Truth be told I was expecting similar conditions to yesterday, maybe a hair bigger and was planning on getting out there around the same time. Then Ryan called me around ten and said the Cove was solid and empty. This got my ass in gear much quicker. Sure enough upon getting there I saw solid chest to head plus waves peeling all the way through the Cove and glassy. Stoked I suited up. I ran into Jersey legend and my personal surf mentor from my early days Tony G. He rents a house right on the point for a week or two every year around this time. The guy is 62, still ripping a short board and perpetually stoked on surfing. So far I think I am holding true to his tutelage. I paddled out and who is sitting in the line up then New Jersey pro Randy Townsend, a guy I used to mix it up with back in my competition days to little avail. It was like a Jersey reunion at The ‘Con. What ensued was a super session for me. I was really feeling my new board out there for the first time and was stoked. I found a sick little tube through the inside Cove and 80 percent of my waves went from the top of the Cove all the way to the Freeway. On my last wave my legs were so tired my knees ceased up for the final 50 yards, of course that was after I had already done around 15 turns. What a session. I get down on the Queen sometimes cause of the crowds, but if one is diligent there are still a few sneaker days to be contended with.
2-7-17 PM Session: 2-3 ft, Rincon
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 18
Miles Driven: 30
I decided as I laid in bed this morning that I am going for a perfect month this February. Now I know that it’s a shorter month then the rest and it’s winter and I’m currently unemployed, but surfing every single day for 28 days straight is harder then one would believe especially as I get older. Take this morning for example. I woke up and it was raining and cold. The surf forecast was calling for very minor swell meaning the only place that I might have been able to score a decent size wave was dirty Ventura Harbor. After yesterday’s gross surf there I woke up with both my ears clogged, eyes burning and throat sore, not to mention a good old case of the dirty water shits. Throw in the daily dose of lower back and upper neck pain I have been plagued with since June and smart money was on rolling back over and sleeping the day away. There was a negative low tide early afternoon and a mid period albeit small WNW on the buoy adding up to a possible fun fish session at Rincon. Sure enough when I got there It was waist to chest and very nice lines in both the Cove and Top sections. There was only twenty guys on the whole point. I almost pulled my short board. Sets were a bit on the inconsistent sides and a bit weak. Rather then fight the long boarders for the few short board-able waves out there I opted for the fish. As per usual that little guy is a small wave point surf dynamo and today it did not disappoint. I know it is only seven days in the month, but I am going to declare that Chris Lisanti is going for a perfect month. The last time I surfed every single day in one month was May of 2014 Click this link for the proof. If you think this is an easy feat then I challenge each one of you to do the same.
2-6-17 AM Session: 2-3+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 20
Miles Driven: 78
We had quite the rain fall overnight and I knew the water quality was going to be piss poor literally. I stopped at The Harbor for a look. It was very wind swelly and all over the place out there, plus extremely brown. I cruised to Strand with the hopes of similar conditions to yesterday. It was surf-able, but even weaker then River Mouth. I went back and contemplated a paddle despite the terrible water. Three other guys showed up and suited. McGil did as well and we paddled. I started out more near the Knoll, but the sand bar was a bit deep making it very hard for the weak waves to have any real shape. I paddled to the Mouth with the rest of the guys and it was a bit more ride-able though still rather weak. All in all it was hardly worth the price of admission and definitely not worth getting sick for. My last wave ran down the sand bar and I managed a few fun turns. All we need is one right.
2-5-17 PM Session: 3-4+ ft, Silver Strand
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 29
Miles Driven: 78
Last night was Bizarro and my joint birthday at the Wild Cat, though we had been celebrating since Thursday and last week was my chicks birthday, Today is my mothers Birthday and I have a few other friends all born around this time. One could say at the moment the majority of the people in my life are Aquarian. Last night was fun and actually there was an occurrence of some notable worth. We decided rather then do our usual of just getting a table and buying bottles till everyone is can’t drink anymore to get two bottles of champagne and do a birthday toast with our friends. All was going to plan when some random chick sat down at our table and began holding our society. I figured she was trying to mooch a drink. There was plenty to go around and I poured her into the toast. When the bill came around I pulled out my card to pay. As I was about the hand it to the waitress the random grabbed it out of my hand and insisted on paying the tab. I am always the guy who fits the bill for the party thus I was quite touched by th sentiment. A complete stranger showed up at my table, drank a glass of champagne with us and then picked up the tab. It was most remarkable. This morning I was not about to run out first thing. Ryan was paddling River Mouth and his report was far from inviting. Gabe and I headed south midday. We took a look at River Mouth, but the bars there have become a lot less defined making it very shifty, feathered and weak. On a wing and a prayer we checked Strand. Sure enough South End had a solid chest to head plus wave and for all extensive purposes super rip-able. What ensued was a rip sess to say the least.
2-4-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Naples
Time in Water: 3 hrs
Waves Surfed: 48
Miles Driven: 34
I woke up around 8 am and had a look at the Sand Spit cam. It looked chest high and fun with only three guys on it. Stoked I got up and brushed my teeth. In the five minutes that took me the crowd was at a solid thirty. Over it I climbed back into bed for another hour or so only to be woken by my mom calling to wish me a Happy Birthday. Pat hit me up that he was at Naples and it was about head high on set, inconsistent but fun. I reached out to my beach break connections to see about Strand, but couldn’t get any confirmation. Naples it was. I got there and it wasn’t bad at all, not epic but there were sets coming into all the different sections. It was a tad more crowded then I would like to see there, though still plenty of space. Pat was at Seals and I saw enough there to paddle it first. I think all the rain may have put too much sand on the reef and most of the waves were really fast or closed out. Thanks to a slight south wind it wasn’t really hallow either. I surfed down there for a bit over an hour till Pat bailed then ran up top to the Crack Peak. It was a lot bigger and with the higher tide more lined up. The peak was still rather shifty and walls fast. There were about seven guys on it and sets were a tad inconsistent making it a bit of waiting game. I hate taking a number, but there were not many inbetweeners to be had. I got a few really sick ones there too. My last wave before surfing down to Seals and out ran easily 200 yards. The wind picked up just enough out of the south the basically trash the place. By then I was exhausted anyway. I would say it was a goo Birthday session. Tonight is my Birthday Party at the Wild Cat Lounge here in Santa Barbara. If you are in town feel free to stop by. I will be there around 11 and am getting a bottle if not two.
2-3-17 AM Session: 6-8+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2 hrs
Waves Surfed: 17
Miles Driven: 64
I really thought I would have been surfing one of the points today. I almost pulled the trigger on El Cap. Then Pat called and said that The Shores were off shore and fun looking. I am not about to miss beach break barrels for at best chest high weak El Capitan. I got there and Pat said on second look it was less then fun. We met at the Harbor. It was off shore and the left bar was still looking fun and surprisingly there was no on sitting on it. People were on peaks all over the place, but not on that one. Stoked we paddled only to find out that it was way bigger then we thought, the sets were really stretched and unruly, and the current going south was a fucking treadmill. I ended up getting two decent tubes on the inside and few bombs. Overall I spent most of my time paddle against the current and getting cleaned up inside. Pat and I spent the remainder of the afternoon checking every spot under the sun only to decide we were over it. Tonight is night one of my birthday celebration at the Wild Cat.
2-2-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 2.5 hrs
Waves Surfed: 22
Miles Driven: 64
This bank and I have had a love hate relationship since its inception. I have gotten some great waves out there and I also have been frustrated as hell. This morning the shape was the best I have seen and there were a few peaks working. The main left had easily forty guys on it. There had to be another fifteen or so suiting up. I decided to run the same program from the other day and wait out the crowd. I cruised around the VTA and came back an hour later. The crowd had dropped by half though still rather busy. The wind was off shore still and it looked way to pretty not to paddle. There were a few waves going by unridden. I got out there and lucked into a wide swinging set wave. After that I got stuck in the middle of the pack and missed two sets cause my number wasn’t up. Finally a wave came to me and I was in position when some kid decided to back paddle me. I burn him and we had some words. I was willing to take it to the beach, but he backed down. After that I got into a better rhythm. The kid came over and apologized and all was good.
2-1-17 PM Session: 3-5+ ft, Santa Clara River Mouth
Time in Water: 1.5 hrs
Miles Driven: 64
Waves Surfed: 21
The swell and conditions were more of the same from the previous two days. Smart money was to head south back to the Harbor and that is just what I did. Word had definitely gotten out and the crowd was easily twenty five guys strong with only one and a half peaks working. I had some errands to run in Ventura anyhow. I figured I might as well get them out of the way and hopefully by the time I was finished the crowd would do themselves in. I had another look about an hour later and the crowd was down to three as the wind had shifted to the SW. Though bumpy it was more side shore and the faces of the lefts were clean and peeling. I suited up and walked down to the bar. In this process the last few guys left leaving the line up all to me. I paddled and despite the chop I managed to get a few really good ones. This what beating the crowd has come to these days, surfing your favorite waves on high tide with onshore winds.