l live in chicago, and grew up in minnesota. l used to live to snowboard when l was a kid, l was wondering if moving away from the city l love (chicago) was a good idea just because l wanna learn how to surf! l do not have lots of money, so l was wondering if surfing is a good enough reason to move away to califronia? If surfing offers what snowboarding offers then yes l will move though!

Wow, packing up a moving west because u want to learn to surf is a huge commitment. Maybe u should go to Cali for vacation & go to a surf camp to see if u like it. Or better yet u can hook up with some of the Great Lakes surfing groups & give it a try. l always encourage people who r interested to try it but moving cross country is a big step. Also, if u do not have much money California is going to be a BIG problem, it is super expensive to live there. Florida has surf, warm water & a more reasonable cost of living.

Surfing is the hardest spot to get good at. If you do not have money, then CA and surfing will not be a good fit for you. new board - $700, wetsuits - $400, monthly rent - $800-$1200 to share a 2bd each.

wow. l live in los angeles. its NOT cheap. rent keeps getting higher and higher. love the determination you have. surfing is awesome and im so glad l got into it.

good luck.

Dont move to cali the waves suck in the summer and the water is always cold. Move to New Jersey preferably Long Branch you will feel more at home, there are waves year round water is very warm in the summer and New York is very close. As for the money go to a local surf shop by a used board and a used wet suit. It can save you hundreds. Or you can learn in the summer then you wont need a wet suit but in cali you always need a wet suit. Then when you get good you can upgrade.

If you moving to cali just for surfing, do not move. Snowboarding is the same fun.
When you have a vecation, then goto cali to check it out. If you love it, move.