Tarpits

Tarpits is a mixed beach and reef break at the south end of Carpinteria State Beach that works best during winter months, particularly around January. The wave faces both directions depending on swell angle and performs better from low to mid tide, though mid-to-high tide conditions bring problematic backwash that closes out sections. Southwest swell combined with northeast offshore wind produces the cleanest shape; the break holds shape reasonably well but can become erratic and choppy with poor wind or on-shore conditions.

The spot developed as a social gathering point for local Carpinteria surfers rather than a destination break, and no significant regional competitions or historically notable sessions emerge in available records.

Access is straightforward from Carpinteria State Beach, but the namesake tar deposits on the beach are a genuine hazard—the asphalt will adhere to feet and skin, making an oil-based solvent (baby oil or olive oil) essential cleanup. The tar comes from a natural seep field that the Chumash used for waterproofing their ocean-going canoes (tomols) centuries before the area was named "Carpinteria" (Carpenter's Shop) by Spanish explorers in 1769.