moving to SoCal - general advices needed

Hey everyone,
I'm moving from Brazil to Venice Beach, in LA. I'm going this december, and will stay there for six months.
I surf every weekend here in Brazil, although I still kinda suck. I use a 6.3 squash tale... kinda wide, but not even close to a fish.
Can someone give me some very important advices?
1. I will probably buy a second surfboard while I'm there, but I'm on a budget. any stores or shaper recommendations? I have no idea which surfboards are good over there.
2. will definitely buy a wettie. do you think I can make it with a 3/2? or maybe a 4/3 is better? are booties and hood a must? notice that I'm used to very warm waters (17C when it's veeeeeery cold).
3. anyone knows if there are good waves between Venice and Santa Monica (I will work in Santa Monica, so my daily surf must be somewhere very close). any spots recommendations?
Thanks a lot in advance!
I'm moving from Brazil to Venice Beach, in LA. I'm going this december, and will stay there for six months.
I surf every weekend here in Brazil, although I still kinda suck. I use a 6.3 squash tale... kinda wide, but not even close to a fish.
Can someone give me some very important advices?
1. I will probably buy a second surfboard while I'm there, but I'm on a budget. any stores or shaper recommendations? I have no idea which surfboards are good over there.
2. will definitely buy a wettie. do you think I can make it with a 3/2? or maybe a 4/3 is better? are booties and hood a must? notice that I'm used to very warm waters (17C when it's veeeeeery cold).
3. anyone knows if there are good waves between Venice and Santa Monica (I will work in Santa Monica, so my daily surf must be somewhere very close). any spots recommendations?
Thanks a lot in advance!