If you are new to surfing and you live in Los Angeles then this is the place for you! LA is an amazing city with plenty to do and a lot of great places to surf, but if your new to surfing where do you start? There is nothing worse than seeing someone paddle out on a brand new surfboard in a lineup of good surfers and make a fool of himself. Surfing is a respect and be respected sport and by going out in the water without the proper knowledge you can find yourself in trouble really fast. On the bright side, there are some great places to learn how to surf, rent surfboards, buy new surfboards, buy wetsuits, rent wetsuits, etc. In this article I will let you in on all the best places in Los Angeles to get quality surf gear for low prices and proper surf lessons to get you out in the water and shredding the gnar!

In the LA area there are hundreds of great surf shops to choose from, I'm going to list all the shops that I personally have used in the past and have given great service and quality gear.

 Malibu Surf Shack is the best surf shop/rental store in Los Angeles. This core oriented shop is located on PCH in Malibu right across the street from the Malibu peir. Owned by Leslie and Sean, your treated like family in this place. They have everything you need to get started and it couldn't be easier with the world famous Malibu literally across the street. Simply roll up to the store and all your surfing needs will be met. They offer great surf lessons for anyone and I mean anyone! Soft top board rentals are available along with wetsuit rentals, so there is no excuse for not getting in the water at this shop. I highly recommend Malibu Surf Shack to any visitors to Los Angeles or beginning surfers looking to improve their skills with quality instructors and an amazing break right across the street. Oh, tell them Coop sent you and you'll get discounts on everything!

Santa Monica Surf Shop is located in downtown Santa Monica and is the first surf shop I ever represented. Owned by Jon Monroy a great guy and awesome surfer, this shop has new and used surfboards for sale along with wetsuits,board-shorts and anything else you'll need to hit the waves. If you live in LA or in Santa Monica, visiting Santa Monica Surf Shop should be on the top of your to-do list as there is nothing better then promoting your local shop.

 Aqua Surf School isn't a surf shop but it is the next best way to learn how to surf here in Los Angeles. A great school originally ran by Allen King on Santa Monica beach has now branched out to Malibu, Hawaii, Florida and beyond. This great surf school is where I started my surfing life about 12 years ago and is why I can speak so highly about their lessons and surf knowledge. They really know what their doing in the water and teach thousands of people how to surf year round. Their prices are competitive and their services are 5 star so if you want to learn how to surf the right way, I suggest hitting these guys up and heading down the beach for some lessons.

So in conclusion, there is no better option then the three shops/schools I've suggested above for getting great surfing lessons in Los Angeles. Those shops are; Malibu Surf Shack, Santa Monica Surf Shop, Aqua Surf School.  Remember there is nothing worse then paddling out for a surf with a brand new board and not knowing how to surf! It can really set you out on the wrong foot with your surfing future and it's much easier and comfortable to take lessons and start small. I advise anyone that has read this and wants to learn how to surf the right way to check out one of the three options I listed above. They are all shops that I know personally and can vouch for their quality service and assure you that doing business with them will guarantee you a positive surfing future.