New to surfing - tips on gear?

[Poppy]

Hi!

I'm just about to start surfing - after 8 YEARS of wanting to go. I'm finally making the trek off to the coast to do so (unfortunately where I live there are no waves :( so I gotta travel south or west). I am also considering moving to the west coast of Vancouver Island, so I have some questions.

Before I purchase any gear, what should I look for? It's gonna be very cold where I'll be going, so all I know is I'll need a full wetsuit (maybe even a drysuit for winter?) and booties. I'll also be using a longboard.

Does anyone have any tips on what I should look for in a good suit? When I look at stuff online, all the specifications confuse me :)

Thanks!


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~O. P.~

[Big Kahuna]

Dry suits? I checked the buoy @ Cape Elizabeth 60 degrees that's warmer than Santa Cruz...you should be trunkin' it dude.

Get a squid lid, any top of the line suit (spend your money here rather than on a killer board)ear plugs so you don't get surfer ear like me..huh what can't hear get beer in my ear(Sorry old Primo beer add), booties, gloves and go charge!

Good luck

BK