The Best Of The Worst Winter In Southern California’s Memory

California is a great state.

From the mountains to the desert, valleys, coast, and the ever-so temperate climate; to Big Sur and San Fransisco, the Channel Islands and Catalina, to the sorbet sunsets and evening light that Ansel Adams would admire; a great truth is perpetuated.

It is, indeed, a wonderful place to live.

For years, however, surf media has peddled a great lie. Offshore winds, beach break teepees and the cords of Rincon, Lowers and Malibu have been photographed during the golden hour – a certain freedom obtained by a lens and sold to the masses.

This lie that Southern California not only has good waves but consistent ones.

The 2017/2018 winter is being called the worst in history by those residing beneath Point Conception. After watching this clip, we felt a little silly about that notion. It makes the surrounding region to our Los Angeles HQ appear very attractive.

“This was all filmed over the last five months around Ventura County,” filmmaker Taylor Curren tells Stab. “Just a few good offshore days and one good Rincon day made up the only decent swell this winter. Actually, it’s probably the hardest winter I’ve ever witnessed for trying to stack clips. Jake definitely makes California seem like this winter had a lot of fun waves… which we all know was not the case whatsoever.”