Travel smarter, not harder — 5 tips from the pros
The internet caught fire when John John Florence posted a photo of an airline-mangled boardbag. The outcry was vocal and immediate. And while problems like this are sometimes unavoidable when traveling, there are things one can do to minimize hiccups and make the journey a little smoother. We polled some of the world’s most seasoned surf travelers to find out their secrets. Here’s what we learned.
1. Stick to one group of airlines
Stick to one group of airlines — One World, Star Alliance, etc. If you can accumulate enough miles to earna status with one, you get better and much more consistence service as far as board fees go. Travel with some medicines and wound care stuff. If you’re in a remote place and you get sick or steph or a bad cut, you want to be somewhat prepared to keep yourself in one piece until you get home. — Conner Coffin
2. Travel by yourself
Locals might show you a secret spot and take you in if your’re alone and acting respectful. Also, remember the phrase “guilty by association.” Don’t travel with people who can’t control their emotions in the lineup or at a bar. And always arrive early to the airport with surfboards. I’ve had surfboard bags rejected by airlines a lot due to the length of the surfboards or the weight of the bag.- Derek Dunfee
3. Outsmart airport agents
I don’t typically bring my boardbags right to the counter, I actually leave them at the beginning of the line, so it makes it more inconvenient for the agent to weigh or see how big they actually are. Depending on how many boardbags I have, I’ll always use one with wheels so that I can stack the others on top and wheel all my bags at once. It helps when I can’t get a cart. Then I can roll four boardbags and have my suitcase on top- Kai Lenny
4. Roll your clothes
Less wrinkles and you can fit more. Always take bug repellent, the world has scary creatures everywhere. Use your own pillow to pad your boardbags, you deserve to travel in comfort. Also, tickets change, get canceled, etc. So go old school and always print out your itinerary. And carry an extra copy of your passport in case you get into a pickle. That’s your lifeline home- Sage Erickson
5. There’s no such thing as too many pouches
I like to have everything in its own little case, because you may have to drop some weight quick for a hike looking for waves or if you’re leaving where you’re staying and need to do a very quick repack and get back on the road looking for surf. So wax in a little pack, fins in their little pack, sunscreen can go in either of these, food, headphones, the list goes on.
— Jake Howard
Check out the full Travel Smarter Not Harder article by Jake Howard on Surfline.com
Here are some more Surfline Study Hall articles to help you navigate the life of a student surfer:
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