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I was in California on September 11. I walked out of my hotel to go to an expression session and there were a few people gathered around TVs, watching something. I wasn’t sure what was going on. then i got picked up and didn’t take too much notice.
When I got to the beach, everyone was freaking out, and I realized what had actually gone down. Five days later I’m at LA airport and the queue goes from inside to about a hundred yards down the footpath. I kiss my Qantas platinum frequent flyers’ card and go straight to the front to get out of there. A year later, the bombs in Bali bring this horror show way closer to home. But I’m not gonna analyze it because I’m sure you’ve heard enough about it already.
So we live in a different world. Am I gonna change? Nup. Should you? That’s your choice. But let me tell you this: as a surfer, you need to travel. You need to pull up and see that Off the Wall, Backdoor and Pipe are all
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perfect waves there are in the world.
In my early days of traveling I used to total lots of boards. Lately, though, they almost always arrive at the other end in perfect nick. I recently flew home from Brazil with one too many boards in my bag. It only just squeezed in. I knew it was a risk, but I went with it anyway. No protective fin blocks, no nuthin. The bag came through the oversized baggage door at Perth airport with a set of fins sitting perfectly through the boardbag. They’d driven through but other than that everything in the coffin was sweet.
You sign board-damage waivers for your boards when you travel so you’ve got to take good care of ’em. KEEPING YOUR BOYS SAFE…
The size of your board bag depends on the number of boards you’re taking. You’re investing money to score waves, so please take more than one board. It doesn’t matter how good or bad you surf, or how careful you are, you board can always be snapped or stolen.
A few rules when you’re packing a few boards: the board on the bottom should be laid deck down. And that’s the way it’s gotta stay for every board on top. Start mixing rockers on top of each other and you’ll be opening a very ugly boardbag when you arrive.
Some boardbags have plastic dividers to put between your boards; no big deal if they don’t but if they’re there, use ’em. If not, lay a wettie or towel between them, this’ll stop you getting wax on the bottom of your boards. The way to sort is nose to tail, the nose sitting between the fins of the board below. Be careful to always put padding under the nose (a towel or vest’ll do) or you’ll wind up with dents down there. If you stack them up all the same end, you’ll fit less in and have more chance of snapping out fins.
Packing boards is a piece of cake with detachable fins. But I have fixed fins ’cause I like my boards to feel tight, solid and drivey. So, when packing, I use fin guards. They’re the best thing ever invented. Check the first photo in the sequence. They protect the fins, you don’t get wax on the bottom of your board, and the whole tail is protected. They used to take up more room but I’ve recently customized them by cutting out the center (see photos). Otherwise, use towels or wetties. Gotta save those fins.
Some people pile their clothes in their boardbags but I reckon you should keep it light. You’re allowed two bags at check-in and if your board bag is reasonably light, it’s way easier not to get stung for excess baggage.
Travel costs. But good waves on a good board with you in good form is priceless. Enjoy your money, get
memories with it. Money is there to be spent. Only thing worth buying is fun, afterall.
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