During the winter months, the thermals of the High Sierra go to sleep for a few months, and pilots look elsewhere for their thermal ‘fix’. I too am one of these pilots, and for the winter of 2013/14, Tawny and I have moved down to Santa Barbara for a change of pace from the deep winter of the Sierra. The flying here in winter is actually quite good, and winter is considered the ‘in’ season for XC in the SB area.