So you’re planning a trip to a beautiful, oceanfront region, such as Costa Rica, Australia, or Hawaii. These areas, among others, are known for their incredible surf. You pack your wetsuit, your board wax, and your beach clothes with ease – but what about your surfboard? This page will teach you how to pack a surfboard for travel so you can get it there in one piece. There are few things to think about before you venture on your surf trip. Will you be traveling by air or ground? Can you afford the luggage fees that come with traveling with your surfboard on an airplane? But most importantly, have you come to terms that there is a big chance your surfboard may be damaged in the process? This happens frequently when airline baggage handlers get a hold of something as fragile as a surfboard. If you’re ready to risk it, then you’ll just need a few materials and courage.

Precautions to Take When Traveling by Air Airport security is at an all-time high. Airport baggage handlers are under a lot more stress and carrying a lot more pressure to get things handled quickly and efficiently – and that includes handling fragile luggage. Keeping your board safe will be the utmost priority. You don’t want to damage the board before you even get to where you need it. The most fragile area of the board is the fins. It’s the most common area that gets damaged during travel.http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/pack_surfboard.htm. You will want to focus on protecting this part of the board first.

Precautions to Take When Traveling by Car Whether it’s your car or your buddy’s ride, make sure that the surfboard rack is installed properly and secure. The last thing you’ll want to see on your drive is your surfboard flying behind you and crashing onto the road. That’s no way to start a vacation.

You will need the following materials to ensure your surfboard’s safety:http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/pack_surfboard.htm

• Bubble Wrap
• Commercial Fin Box of Polystyrene Blocks (Only Applicable for Boards with Non-Removable Fins)
• Fin Key for Removable Fins
• Quality Surfboard Bag

Removable Fins

If you have removable fins, then just take them off prior to packing your surfboard. Wrap the fins in a towel and place in the board bag. http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/pack_surfboard.htm Be sure not to forget your fin key. The last thing you’ll want is to finally get to your destination with your board in perfect shape and not have your key. The fin key is a tool you will use to attach your removable fins back onto your surfboard. They usually cost about 2 to 3 dollars, so buy extra and keep them everywhere because you’ll never know when you’ll need one.

Non-Removable Fins

If you have non-removable fins, then you need to ensure you do everything possible to take care of them. The easiest thing to do is purchase a commercial Fin Protector. A Fin Box is a protective cover that fits over the top of your fins. If you’re not looking to spend any money, then you can easily build them yourself. Use the polystyrene blocks to create the protectors. After you’ve molded them, place them on top of the fins and they’ll work just as well. http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/pack_surfboard.htm

To pack your surfboard, you will need the following materials to protect your board: http://surfing.about.com/od/timelytips/a/072204boardpack.htm

• Board Bag
• Bedding, Such as Blankets, Pillows, Sleeping Bag
• Duct Tape

The first thing you’ll want to do is duct tape towels, pillows, and blankets to the areas of the board that will most likely be dinged the most. Those areas include rails, tails, and nose. Aside from the fins, these should be your first areas of concern. A good tip for packing your board is to visit a local surfboard shaper. He or she may have scrap foam left from the blanks that have been carved out. Now you’ll have perfectly shaped padding for those trouble areas. http://surfing.about.com/od/timelytips/a/072204boardpack.htm

If you’re without a surfboard bag, then you’ll need to create one using blankets and pillows. Place the surfboard in the middle and wrap it with the bedding then duct tape it. Once you’ve gotten everything packed and secured, take a permanent pen and write all over the padded mess. Write big and bold enough that the handlers can see. Go for terms and instructions that include “FRAGILE”, “HANDLE WITH CARE”, “DON’T HURT”, “TOO BROKE TO REPLACE PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE”. Try to get their attention by writing anything that may get yours if you were a handler. Just keep it polite because you don’t want to anger the men and women who are handling your surfboard.

Nobody knows more tips and secrets to packing a surfboard than traveling surfers. Here are some tricks of the surfing trade provided by those who know best.

• Wax the board before you start packing it for travel. When you get to your destination, it will be one less thing to do that comes between you and the water. http://www.essentialsurf.com/ikorb.php?page=how_to_pack_srfbrds.shtml

• Tennis balls are a practical way to help you protect the fins of your board. Cut a slit in the tennis balls and place one over the top of each fin.http://www.instructables.com/id/Pack-a-Surfboard-On-The-Cheap-For-Dangerous-Airli/

• Use cardboard to create a mold of the surfboard that you can slip the board right into.http://donkeypatrol.com/2008/06/how-to-pack-surfboards-for-air-travel-advanced.html

Even if you’re traveling in a car, some of these tips and tricks will work for you as well. When you’re traveling via car, you never know what will happen. A car accident or a sudden brake could hurt your surfboard as well. Either way, getting to your destination with your board intact is important. It can ruin your vacation and quality time with your friends if you’re spending the time repairing the board. Taking the time to protect your investment will be well worth it in the end. There are a lot of exotic destinations that are waiting to be surfed don’t miss out on the adventure.