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Shelves 88.8

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

Works almost every day, clean mornings are the norm, no off season.

Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score88.8 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days56% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell57% period 11 s+
Typical size1.2 m 4.1 ft median
Water16°C a 4/3 with boots

Best time to surf Shelves

The best time to surf Shelves is January, October, November. The season runs Sep to Jul. In October the water sits around 17°C, so pack a 3/2 wetsuit, and the typical wave is 1.1 m. The nearest airport is SBA (4 km) and the nearest town is Santa Barbara (8 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan100%66%1.6 m15°C4/3
Feb100%61%1.3 m15°C4/3
Mar99%56%1.4 m15°C4/3
Apr100%49%1.5 m14°C4/3
May100%49%1.5 m13°C4/3
Jun100%53%1.2 m15°C4/3
Jul100%49%1.1 m17°C3/2
Aug100%39%1.1 m18°C3/2
Sep100%53%1.1 m18°C3/2
Oct99%71%1.1 m17°C3/2
Nov99%67%1.1 m16°C3/2
Dec97%60%1.4 m16°C4/3

Why 88.8

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%
11.4
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
3.1
Water comfort 10%
1.9
Access 10%
10.0

The detail

Faces 190° with 42% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 98% of days. Mean peak period 11.4 s. Days over 3 m: 0%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 46%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 34.418, -119.798 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

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