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Some spots serve as undeniable proof that our Creator was a surfer. Rincon, the famed half-moon pointbreak near Ventura's northern county line, is one of them. While its sister points in Santa Barbara are perennially shadowed by the Channel Islands and a stubborn leg of land known as Point Conception, Rincon sits just on the receiving end of the majority of winter swells. It only takes one complete wave to realize why the 'Con is considered California's best right pointbreak. If you can luck into a set off the Indicator, race through the section that runs across the mouth of Rincon Creek, connect it to the cove and carve to the freeway (a total distance of about 300 yards), you've completed the Iditarod of pointbreak surfing.
Rincon's location (halfway between Santa Barbara and Ventura) and accessibility (a short walk from an open parking lot, an easy spot to check while zipping by on the freeway), helps make it one of the most crowded winter spots in Southern California. It's not uncommon to see upwards of 150 maniacs from as far north as Lompoc and as far south as Valencia scrambling for everything that swells on a busy morning. Despite the glut, Rincon is a long, sometimes sectiony wave that tends to distribute the wealth. Unless Tom Curren's out (who still doesn't have to hassle for his pick of the litter), the 'Con is no oligarchy. When all sections are up and running -- any winter swell from 3 feet to triple overhead -- there are three main takeoff spots.
THE COVE
The queen of the coast's crown jewel. The more west the swell, the better. The more sand, the better. A flawless section that starts halfway up the point and funnels onto the rocks lining Highway 101. This is where Curren evolved from boy wonder to Superman over a few winters' time. Everybody wants a piece of the Cove, which, of course, makes it the most frustrating crowdwise. Unless you're out there in July, during a howling south wind or on the full moon patrol, you'll never get the cove to yourself.
THE INDICATOR
Where the big boys surf. The indicator is where the marathon men pull out their longer boards, sit out at the top of the point and try to go the distance. A popular overflow area when the Cove is clogged with longboarders. Although a high-quality wave, the Indicator is the slowest of the trio.
THE RIVERMOUTH
An unpredictable, sometimes polluted, sometimes ultra-hollow section that links the Indicator to the Cove. On a typical swell, a little more than half of the waves that barrel through the Rivermouth end up shutting down. But it's a great place to roll the dice when the other options are already taken by 200 of your closest friends. Rincon Creek has had chronic pollution problems over the years, but organizations such as Clean Up Rincon Effluent (CURE) have made progress in pinpointing the culprits -- the septic tanks connected to the 72 homes on the point -- and cleaning up the mess once and for all.
-- nave retals
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low
W, WSW, and WNW with swell period less than 15 seconds
head high to double overhead
NE
10
cobblestone
intermediate to advanced
shortboard, longboard, George Greenough spoon, surf mat
fall, winter
easy, park in the north or south lots for free
heavy
usually light, sometimes moderate
7
6 or worse if the Creek is running
The crowd, parking lot rip-offs, drop-ins, longboards
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There is a handful of Denny's-style diners in nearby Carpinteria, but locals recommend Esau's (805-684-1070) on 507 Linden Ave. in Carpinteria (there's also a Santa Barbara location as well). It's all the breakfast you could ask for.
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For a room with a view, we suggest the Cliff House Inn, located right on the beach at Mussel Shoals, two miles south of Rincon. Rates are $105 per night for a queen and $110 per night for a king. Call 805-684-0025 or log on to their website.
Or try
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If you're into that sort of thing, Bates Beach (the long beachbreak on the backside of Rincon) has a nudie section. Also, for the small price of $39.95, we'll give you a map of the stars who live on Rincon Point, including an exclusive photo of Kevin Costner dancing with wolves on his redwood deck.
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