The Surf Window

Sands Beach

Santa Barbara, USA

Beach breakIntermediate

Fun beach break tucked below the UCSB campus bluffs. Picks up south and west swells with multiple shifting peaks across the sandbar. The walk down keeps the crowd lighter than you'd expect for a college town wave.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size-SW 3-6ft

Wind

NE

Offshore

Tide

Mid

LowMidHigh

Season

September-April

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Left and right peaks

Bottom

Sand

Shape

Fast walls with punchier inside sections

Length

50-100m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Intermediate
  • •Why: Shifting peaks, some current, moderate power

Hazards

  • •Rip currents on bigger days
  • •Bluff trail can be slippery
  • •Kelp tangles

Local Tips

  • •Walk down from campus or Coal Oil Point
  • •Best on rising mid tide
  • •Less crowd than Campus Point
  • •Watch for dolphins in the kelp beds

Location

Map showing the location of Sands Beach in Santa Barbara, USA

34.4090, -119.8808