Surfing Waves

Hi,
Im coming to the US (from Israel) to meet with a friend that lives in L.A and I plan on
A - Buy a board, had my eye on the K-small (merrick)
B- fly to Mexico (Guadalajara) or Costa ricca for 8 days of surf...

I've been to LA a year and a hald ago and realized surfshops aren't so easy to find when you are not in OC or San Diego...and also they dont have much of a selection...so basically im looking for some advice...first - where can i find a decent surf shop in L.A, that has a good selection of new boards + decent prices?

second, how much would a flight to these destinations should cost (app) abd how much does airlines charge for boards?

Thnaks a lot!

You know, I never paid attention to that until you mentioned it. Have you tried Redondo beach? I don't think beaches there are much fun to surf at. But then again I like warmer water anyway

One more thing on the cheap flights, the sooner you book your flight, the cheaper you can get. There's not get away from carrying your board's fee though. I know American Airlines (one of the most expensive airlines in the US) charges $15 for the first luggage checked and $25 for the second one. If you can fit all your stuff in one bag, please do so. That way you can check your board and only pay $15. Make sure all liquids, gels, and aerosols are in the checked in luggage or carry small packages in a zip loc bag. Good luck! One more thing, If you can fly with Southwest Airlines, do so because they let you check in up to 2 luggages for free. Go to www.southwest.com and look for your flights there.