moving to SoCal - general advices needed

[brukuns]

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!

[oldgrom]

Well for here in So Cal... No booties and a hood are not neccisary central and north Cal yes but here no. If you can tolerate some cold than a 3/2 full is ok but a golden fack is that I can make a warm suit cool and can't make a cool suit warm so a 4/3 is better in my opinion. As for finding a surfboard ha ha not to worry tons of surf shops and you can try craigslist.org too. If your a newbie or can't surf great than recomend you stay away from malibu and those areas around it (localisim).

When ya get here hit me up and I'll meet with ya to surf some local spots and tell ya where to go for some ripper surf (without any hastles) and help ya with a board too. outher than that good luck welcome here and have fun bro.

[the.ronin]

Can I move in to your place in Brazil?

There are a bunch of decent surf between Venice and Samo. Mostly all are beachbreaks though as far as I can think of. Where Sunset meets PCH is a nice, although usually very mushy, point break (behind Gladstones) and from there on north is are a bunch of nice point breaks. Aside from our craptastic economy, you should be diggin it.

[brukuns]

Thanks a lot you guys! that's definitely helpful

I'm not that newbie, but I do suck... all I can do is ride a wave... no cutbacks or any other tricks yet. it's a 6'3'' shortboard btw. But I guess I will try Malibu... those rights seem fantastic!! although the place seems to be ridiculously crowded and the locals aren't very friendly (at all?). I'll Keep the surf ethics as always and hope for the best

oldgrom, thanks a lot man, I'll keep using this forum, and I'll definitely hit you a message once I get there and start getting settled.

the.ronin, I bet you wouldn't want to live where I live... at least if you really like surfing. it's in São Paulo, huge city, and more than 1 hour away from the closest beach. being able to surf on weekends only definitely sucks.

I'll check the surfspots around there and try to set me up for a daily morning surfing, at sunrise. Man, I'm going to love living there.

See ya!

[scsurf]

I would say in Winter booties are a must (sorry O.G.). I only use O'niell there more costly but worth it. Hood is optional, cuts down on the "Ice Cream Headaches" when duck diving.

[the.ronin]

Uhm ... the 'bu may not be as great as you have pictured in your mind unless you have actually been there and still think it's sauce. Yeah it can get great waves. But the crowds are just insane man.

[pkbum]

I would say in Winter booties are a must (sorry O.G.). I only use O'niell there more costly but worth it. Hood is optional, cuts down on the "Ice Cream Headaches" when duck diving.

Yep, the winter is pretty chilly...

[jonathanderick]

Winter isn't all that bad. I'm riding at HB south wearing a 2mm shortie. But then again, I'm covered in body hair that would make Chewbacca question his masculinity.

[brukuns]

Winter isn't all that bad. I'm riding at HB south wearing a 2mm shortie. But then again, I'm covered in body hair that would make Chewbacca question his masculinity.

huahuahhuahauhua!!

I guess I'll start growing my hair until I become a fur ball. I guess I'll buy a 3/4... I was thinking about an E-bomb, from RipCurl. do you think I can buy a wettie of the same quality from another brand, for less?

I'll try the water with the wettie and then I'll decide if I'll buy boots. man, I just surfed saturday, and the water is so warm and cozy here.... damn pacific and it's chilly currents!

[scsurf]

it's not winter yet

[Choked out Surfer]

brukuns,are you a jiu jitsu guy ?

[brukuns]

brukuns,are you a jiu jitsu guy ?

No man, I really don't like that fighting style. too much grabbing and grubbing for me. If I would fight girls the idea would be much more interesting.

but it's definitely powerful! I don't wanna mess with someone who knows jiu jitsu... there are a lot of dudes here in Brazil that dig it... after all, it's called brazilian jiu jitsu.

Peace V