okay well you should always start with a longboard. and i think a good place to buy a surf board is channel island. so just go and see if any surf shops carry channel island longboards. and you should start on knee high to head and a half wave size. ask around to see where there is a good class to learn how to surf. if you google channel island surfboards they have like all the things you need supply wise! okay hope i helped

You have some good questions, so I'll try to answer them as you listed them :)

As far as a wetsuit goes, it all depends on the water temperature where you'll be surfing. The time of the year matters quite a bit with this, as obviously its going to be alot colder during the winter than it will be in the summer. I usually wear a wetsuit when it gets colder than 65 F, but its really a matter of preference. There are a number of different wetsuit thicknesses/styles for different temperatures. A spring suit has short sleeves and legs and is good for when the water is just a little too chilly to go without a suit. A 3/2 (referring to thickness) is generally good for water temperatures ranging from 58-68 F, and 4/3 is more for 50-58, and anything thicker than that is for when it gets reeeeally cold.

You can surf year round, especially as a beginner, because you dont need perfect waves in order to learn to surf. The time of year is going to affect water temperature the most, and many times winter storms bring bigger waves, so those are things you can look out for, but not things that should stop you from surfing.

If you decide to buy a board, I would suggest getting a longboard. Longboards usually range from about 8-10ft. and are very stable and easy to paddle. The most important thing for you as you learn is going to be the ability to catch waves and feel something solid under your feet when you try to stand up, so going with a longboard is usually a good idea. As you get more comfortable and more experienced you can get smaller boards but for now a longboard is going to be your best bet. Shortboards have more maneuverability and quickness, but are also much less stable and much harder to paddle.

You can find some pretty nice longboards for a good price at http://www.degree33surfboards.com/surf-gear/surfboards-by-shape/longboard-surfboards/ultimate-mini.html And they also have any accessories that you'd need like wax, leash, wetsuit, etc.

When you first start surfing you should start with whitewater (a wave that has already broken and is crumbly/foamy) just to get a feel for the power of a wave and get comfortable with standing up. As you progress and continue surfing you can move to bigger waves and paddle out past the whitewater. Before you start surfing you need to be very comfortable in the ocean and a strong swimmer, just because the ocean is extremely variable and you need to able to handle yourself in it. Also its smart to look up a bit of surfing etiquette just so that you have an idea of what is expected of you from other surfers in the water.

I hope this information helps you get started!

You've probably tried surfing already and like it enough to take it to the next level. Mind you, there are several hundred levels before your cruising to probably where you want to be in surfing.
The first and foremost is the gear:
-Get a really comfortable wetsuit they'll keep you warm. So that you can still be surfing when everyone else says it's too cold. (all throughout the year) This will equate to more practice time, time in the water = advancing, progression and being comfortable in Neptune's ocean. (diverse conditions)
-Get a Longboard. I say get a good used soft-top board (top is like a boogie or body board)so that your not spending too much $$$. and it's easier to get hit my these than a full on fiberglass board. Longer length and wider width is more surface area on the water = more stability. easier to get up on. It will take some time perseverance before your cruising. Once you get good and comfortable with the water, the board, the weather, then you can slowly move down the size of the surfboard. If that's the direction you want to go.
-Practice paddling, practice paddling! This will make or break you. Not too far forward, not too far back. Practice in a lake or pool. You will be able to paddle into a wave, get away from a wave, get to where the waves are, and more than likely save yourself.
-Timing is everything. Imagine catching the wave at it's apex before it starts to break. Watch videos, the internet has great vids at a click away. Start smaller waves for sure. 1-2 foot waves.
-Don't be discouraged because there it's a long road til you get good. But the rewards are WAY more satisfying than the practice, the perseverance, heartache, sometimes physical hurt, ridicule whatever. Ain't no other feeling better than a well rode wave.

i would go with the vokeys, they feel pretty good and many people like them.

It's all up to you.

For every guy like me that has been using Cleveland wedges since they were introduced in the late 1980s, you'll find others that prefer every different brand out there - and that includes the pros.

Buying golf clubs is a bit like buying icecream, I mean you really don't consult others before taking a trip to BaskinRobbings do you? It still comes down to personal preference, and you don't want someone else's personal preference or favorite flavor of the month influencing a decision that you and you alone will have to live with long after plunking your hard-earned money on the counter.