Black Gold

With brilliant winter light and cooperative winds, Blacks and other Southern Californian gems produced perfect surf for nearly two weeks. Well-groomed sandbars from the recent torrential downpours didn't hurt either. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

Black gold in January. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

After failed attempts to shoot the angle looking up the face of the wave, I succeeded in having the falling lip unzip my wetsuit. It immediately filled with 50-something-degree water, which hampered my ability to swim. The legs of my wetsuit filled up like water balloons and Velcro fin leashes kept the water from draining out of the bottom. I eventually staggered up on the beach much to the amusement of a handful on onlookers. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

Always a beautiful view in Southern California. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

Casey Landvogt. Full release at Uppers. Surf-Shot.com

Chances are, if you weren't getting barreled, you were watching someone get barreled. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

The afternoon water color looked a little foul due to the sunlight filtering through the sand and silt. I don't usually shoot during the afternoon, but I went to the marquee spots looking for the deep colors found in clear, kelpy water. Here's that deep, kelpy blue...and the most exhilarating part of a ride: the drop. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

"This board has been to Mexico, Hawaii, Micronesia and all over the California coast," Brad Golden told me. "My first session on it was at Horseshoes and my last was at Blacks." Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

Cameron Aldrich anticipates the payoff from a well-timed drop. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

The waves were fun, not as big as the surf at west and northwest exposed breaks, but with lots of zippy, shifting peaks scattered over a large area with lots of waves to ride for the hungry crowd. Shane Steelman snags a beauty in the evening light. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com

The good thing about winter in Southern California? There are always a few lumps on the horizon. Sunset at Uppers. Photo: Chuck Schmid/Surf-Shot.com