I hope nobody assumed I think there is lots of work in the boardbuilding world in S. California or anywhere else(Asia maybe?). When you ‘step off that bus’ in California there won’t be a red carpets unfolded with arrows and signs saying, " this way to board building career." The guy will need to find work while his dreams are being pursued. There is lots of work in S. California compared to the rest of the state. And it aint cheap living here, either. A ding repair service on the side would be relatively cheap way to make a little money and get started. Run some flyers off. Deliver to the windshields of cars during an average surfing day at the overcrowded parking lot. Work hard, do good work, keep your promises, you’ve got a start. Shit, I have friends that started businesses by buying a cheap pick up truck, a mower and edger, a rake and were in the landscaping business down there. Bought a house, too, after about 10-15 years of hard work. That’s what it takes at minimum at anything you do. That’s competing with immigrants that are willing to do the same job for half the price. Many people are willing to pay more for good service. Probably true with the board business,too. Think about Manny Caro or the kid that goes by DK on the other board forum. Looks like there doing pretty good. Found a little niche for themselves making nice surfboards. Free advertising at places like this, too. Go for it SURF GURU and good luck. Mike
…hey Rooster in some parts like Huntington (but may be in all the cities) you need to registrate and pay a tax if you want to start whatever business
Is the same InsaneDiego?
I edited to clarify what Im trying to ask
in Hunt you should register to the local council if you want to sell something
if you walk the streets selling donuts, pancakes, etc you should be registeedr and pay a tax
If you can make it to the west coast by early October, you’ll hit the very best time of year for weather and waves. Blue skies, glass or light offshores, and the first longer interval swells from the west and NW will be lighting up the Cali coast from SoCal to the Oregon border.
So why not start in SoCal, and give yourself a month or two to surf up the coast as far as you want, and see what place calls to you. There are great campgrounds all along the coast, many right in front of primo waves.
Take your time, surf plenty of waves, check out the local scene, then move on to the next patch. Chances are that by the time you’ve experienced the state from south to north, one place will call to you a little stronger then the rest, and then you’ll know where to dig in and make your stand.
Best of luck - you can never, ever go wrong following your dreams…
…hey Rooster in some parts like Huntington (but may be in all the cities) you need to registrate and pay a tax if you want to start whatever business
Is the same InsaneDiego?
I edited to clarify what Im trying to ask
in Hunt you should register to the local council if you want to sell something
if you walk the streets selling donuts, pancakes, etc you should be registeedr and pay a tax
Man, you need a license or permit of some sort to pick your own nose just about everywhere. Just start doing it. Keep it under the radar to start. Who’s paying attention? When or if things start to grow, go get the licenses, permits and stuff and keep going. I have a friend with an 8th grade education. Started mowing lawns when he was 14. He worked hard. Took a long time. Finally, after about 6 attempts he got his contractors license. He’s got the home, wife, and kids. Season tickets for the Chargers. Point is it takes time, persistance, and hard work to do anything worthwhile. Surf Guru can do it. There’s enough slices of pie if you’re willing to bake it. Have a back-up plan, though. Mike
I’m loading up the truck and heading out west. I have lived on the gulf coast of Florida for the past seven years. I have only been to southern California a handful of times and I’m not sure where on the coast I want to live. The main two reasons I want to move to California are it does not go flat for months and I want to build surfboards for a living. I have worked at a surf shop for the past three years and have done ding repair for the past four years in a small town on the gulf coast of Florida. If anybody has any words of wisdom or any leads on a job or any advice at all I’m listening.
I moved to California from the same area back in the eighties and have been back numerous times. Lived in both southern and northern California. If you want to make a living selling surfboards, move the Huntington beach or that general area. More surfers, more money, more industry interest, and many shops to cultivate relationships. Do not bring with you our typical Gulf coast surf shop name brand mentality. We live in a area fed on magazines B.S. It’s not like that when you live there exept at trade show parties or among the very young. Folks make a living from surfing there and if your good there is an abundance of potential customers. It is however very cutthroat at times with many fragile egos. Just like home. If you try and break into the typical pointed nosed shortboard market…they are literally a dime a dozen in California. Best to carve out a niche.
Don’t get me wrong, there is some serious pretentious garbage around that area as well, but if you don’t buy into the too cool for school mentality and just let your work do the talking you will be fine. Respect the local line up for awhile and you will fit right in. The employers and folks that live there have seen hundreds of wanna be Californias move there and leave within a few short years or months, so don’t expect credibility for awhile. Very expensive. Much faster lifestyle. I hope you have a skill or some money. Jobs are not easy otherwise. Nor is finding an affordabe place to live.
Good luck.
Bring your new fin system.
If you are moving to cali I would start in Oceanside north county. My fav beach break and little to no localism. Don’t paddle out at newbreaks in SD. I personally got sick of all the bullshit and people and tons of pollution and moved to vancouver island canada and love heaving slabs. I still love oside I used to drive from PB al the time and its cheap and there is about a hundred board makers and glass shops. If you can’t get work up there try Joe Ropers Ding shop he is always tring to pay somone to work the front. BTW you will start sweeping we all did so don’t think you’ll start doing dings or glassing.