Rincon (The Cove)

Rincon is a legendary right-hand point break that can produce rides extending for 500 yards across three distinct sections—the Indicator, Creek, and Cove. The Cove section, where gentler knee-to-waist-high waves form on average swells, serves as a traditional longboard zone. The break works best on west and northwest swell with periods between 12 and 15 seconds, performs optimally when northeast wind blows offshore, and improves as the tide drops—with tube sections often forming at low tide. Winter provides the most consistent conditions, though the spot can fall flat for extended periods.

Rincon was first surfed in the late 1930s by a local lifeguard named Gates Foss and initially went by "Three Mile" after its distance below Carpinteria. The wave gained traction following World War II and became culturally significant in the 1960s through the innovations of shapers and riders like Renolds Yater, who helped define the Santa Barbara point-surf aesthetic during the transition from longboard to shortboard design. The Rincon Classic began in winter 1979 as the area's first major organized surf competition, created by local entrepreneurs, and though it paused from 1996 to 2001, it has run continuously since its revival and remains a showcase for top regional talent.

Access is via the Bates Road exit off Highway 101, roughly three miles south of Carpinteria, where parking sits on the bluff above the beach with both stairs and a ramp for descent. Two parking areas serve the break—Rincon Point Beach and Rincon Park County Beach, each with basic facilities. The spot sits at the Ventura-Santa Barbara County line.