Surfing Waves

Hi

I am flying to sao paulo and am planning to spend a month in brazil
the plan is to surf as much as possible as there is one 1 swell per decade in Belgium
i was planning to stay a couple of days in sao paulo, then head for the coast and make my way up to rio

could any of you tell me the places i should not miss and where i can find some cheap shortboards?
i have browsed millions of forums but can't really find these things out without some local knowledge

i will be very grateful

thanks

bye

jesse