WorldUnited States of America › California › Sands

Sands 89.0

#871 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇺🇸 United States of America · California · near Santa Barbara

Works almost every day, no off season.

Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score89.0 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days54% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell58% period 11 s+
Typical size1.3 m 4.2 ft median
Water16°C a 4/3 with boots

Best time to surf Sands

The best time to surf Sands is January, October, November. The season runs Sep to Jul. In January the water sits around 15°C, so pack a 4/3 with boots, and the typical wave is 1.7 m. The nearest airport is SBA (4 km) and the nearest town is Santa Barbara (15 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan100%68%1.7 m15°C4/3
Feb100%62%1.3 m15°C4/3
Mar99%57%1.4 m15°C4/3
Apr100%43%1.6 m14°C4/3
May100%41%1.5 m13°C4/3
Jun100%52%1.2 m15°C4/3
Jul100%45%1.2 m17°C3/2
Aug100%39%1.1 m18°C3/2
Sep100%54%1.1 m18°C3/2
Oct99%68%1.1 m17°C3/2
Nov99%68%1.1 m16°C3/2
Dec99%57%1.5 m16°C4/3

Why 89.0

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
24.0
Groundswell 12%
11.6
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
3.3
Water comfort 10%
1.9
Access 10%
9.8

The detail

Faces 200° with 53% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 94% of days. Mean peak period 11.4 s. Days over 3 m: 0%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 41%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 34.408, -119.881 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Devereux🇺🇸 United States of America · score 89.1Rockpile🇺🇸 United States of America · score 88.7Depressions🇺🇸 United States of America · score 89.1Campus Point🇺🇸 United States of America · score 89.1
Compare Sands with 5,700 other spots
Filters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.
Open the interactive profileMore spots good in January