Rincon Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
W, WSW, and WNW with swell period less than 15 seconds
Wind
N, NE
Surf Height
head-high to double overhead
Tide
low
Rincon Surf Guide
Known as the "Queen of the Coast", Rincon is one of the best waves on the planet. A classic California pointbreak, Rincon is actually the product of a rivermouth that has groomed the point over millions of years. If you can luck into a set off the Indicator, race through the section that runs across the Rivermouth, 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. As its location is right off the highway, Rincon is notoriously crowded with more than 150 people out on nearly every good swell. Furthest out the point, the Indicator is where the marathon women and men pull out their longer boards, sit out at the top of the point and try to go the distance. The Rivermouth is an unpredictable, sometimes polluted, sometimes ultra-hollow section that links the Indicator to the Cove. The Cove is the last flawless section that starts halfway up the point and funnels onto the rocks lining Highway 101. The wave usually sections in various areas offering a number of takeoff spots depending on the swell. Many long-period WNW swells are sucked into Pt. Conception, and even though Ventura to the south may be pumping, Rincon will be smaller until the swell period drops below 16 seconds or the swell shifts more from the west-southwest.
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced
Intermediate to advanced
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Usually light, sometimes moderate.
Crowd Factor
Heavy
Heavy.
Spot Rating
Perfect
Arguably the best pointbreak in California.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
No shortage of work when it is on.
Water Quality
Fair
Pretty average most days but can be toxic if the Creek is running after a big rain.
Hazards
The crowd, parking lot rip-offs, drop-ins.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Funboard, Longboard, Bodyboard, Bodysurfing
Access
Easy, park in the north or south lots for free.
Bottom
Cobblestone
Best Season
October-February
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