So l just got a summer job at a surfshop. l know all the surfing brands of clothing but am clueless about actual surfing. We have a section for surf and a section for skate. The other guy l work with is taking the skate section so l need to know as much about surfing as possible. l just need to know about it so that l can help customers. So l need to know about the differences between types of surfboards, difference in brands, differences in surf waxes and all that good stuff. So please help!

There r good things about both long & short boards. l ride both (one at a time , of course). In the mid sixties, like almost everybody else, l started on a longboard. l went shorter & shorter every summer, during the 'short board revolution.' l found some days that were just too small anything but a longboard. Just riding one size board is very limiting, conditions change daily in most places.

You need a board that will float u well enough for u to take off (paddle & catch a wave). Most people learn best on long boards, although l have seen lots of surfers start on a short board & master it. Long boards r ideal for learners. There r also good internediate length boards to learn on, funshapes, mini-mals & some hybrids.).

Learning to surf is more than just standing up on a surfboard. If u r going to surf, u should be a competent ocean swimmer. Not just good in a pool, but able to swim in the surf, & when the undertow & rips r strong. l have seen lots of good pool swimmers get rescued.

But, with all that said, l am no where near to answering ur question. You call the place u will be working a ''surf shop'' & l will tell u it is a bathing suit store that sells some surfboards. NO DECENT SURF SHOP has a guy (even a nice, well meaning guy like you) who knows nothing about surfing selling surfboards. That would be like somebody who has never driven a car selling automobiles.

l have been surfing for 42 years. It is BS stores like that who sell junk to kids who have no right being in the ocean in the first place. It is stores like that that spreads the success of cheap, sleazy popouts, that damage the industry
.http://mckevlins.com/nopopstory.htm
l am sorry for the tirade. l am sure u r a nice guy, & everybody deserves a job, but ur bosses have no regard for surfing or surfers if they have u selling surfboards. My E-mail is listed here. If u want, l will personally try to teach u stuff. But if u do not surf, it is like teaching a blind persons about a rainbow. Good luck.

Have to agree with John F!!!
Hit the nail right on the head. If l came in to your shop asking for wax, would you just give me any type of wax? Do not give me tropical wax if l am in winter water, I'd kick your butt.
Gotta do the time if ya wanna know this simple stuff.
Pretty good link below for surf knowledge.