Bill: “Hey Tom, look at that right! Can I borrow your fin key?” Tom: “Seriously?” Photo: Josh Jacoby.
Surf trips are a rite of passage. For me, at least, the idea of surf trips was a big part of what got me started surfing in the first place. I grew up on an island on Canada’s west coast, and until about a decade ago, surfing wasn’t a huge part of the culture. Now, of course, Vancouver Island’s lineups are just as crowded as anywhere else. But leaving in those cold, rainy winter months was always something I wanted, and surfing’s inherent beauty was, and still is, paired for me with palm trees, warm water, and white sand.
As surfing slowly began to wrap its soft tendrils around my daily life, I began going to surf trips to the places I saw in magazines: Indonesia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Hawaii. And without fail, I’d forget a handful of the exact same things–which, depending on where you’re traveling, can be a huge pain in the ass. Is there anything worse than hopping on a plane after months of anticipation, watching a swell build around whatever tropical place you’re going, then showing up to firing waves, pulling your board out of the bag, and realizing that you’ve forgotten a fin key or you have cold water wax on your board? Not much.
Bring more than you think. Photo: Surffinco.com
1. Fin key(s)/screws
Fins, unless you’re Brad Domke or Derek Hynd, are a necessary part of surfing. I can’t surf without them, and I’m pretty sure that most of the people reading this can’t either. Bring lots of fin keys and fin screws. Put them in every pocket of every bag you have. Put them in your shoes, hoop them; do whatever–just bring lots. Losing a fin screw in the sand is way too easy to do, especially if you’re in the process of losing your mind at the waves you’ll soon be surfing, if only you could get your fins in quicker. Righty tighty lefty loosey is hard to remember when you’re looking at overhead barrels and offshore winds. Fin keys are tiny, and if you’re like me, traveling is the best way to lose everything except your passport, your wallet, and the clothes on your back. Chances are good you’ll be able to buy them where you’re going, but that won’t help if you’ve just ridden a motorbike to some far-flung wave with a bag full of boards with all the fins in a different pouch and no way to put them in.
Don’t slip and forget this one.
2. Wax that works
Surf trips are for finding waves that you don’t surf at home. A lot of the time, that means warmer or colder water, and that cold/warm water wax you have on your board right now isn’t going to hack it when the temperature is 30 degrees colder/warmer. Paddling out into balmy Indonesian waters with wax made for Northern California melting all over your chest sucks, and so does paddling out in frigid waters with rapidly hardening wax made for Indonesia.
Wouldn’t you rather feel comfortable doing this? Insurance! Photo: Corinne Conklin
3. Travel Insurance
Right now, as I type this, I have two friends at my house. They’re from Canada, and they’re on their way to the southern tip of the Baja. They don’t have Mexican travel insurance, and now that they’ve started their trip, they can’t get any. Unless they get it from a shoddy insurance place at the border, they’re either stuck without it, stuck lying about when they left, or they’re stuck paying a fortune for mid-trip insurance. Before you leave, spend a few bucks and cover your ass. No one likes to think they’re going to mess themselves up in paradise, but you might… and getting stuck coughing up the dough you saved for beer and street meat on stitches and casts sucks.
Right board, right place, right time. Photo: Nico Palacios
4. The right board(s)
I’m broke a lot. Rubbing pennies together on a surf trip is part of the fun, but sky-high board fees or carting around an entire quiver on your back is not. If you’re going on a surf trip, you’re going for good waves, so bring appropriate equipment. If you’re strapped for cash, finding a decent all around board is a good call. Mine is a 6’1 Slipstream that works in everything from waist-high to well overhead. Of course, there are boards that would work better in each condition, but finding one that’s decent in nearly everything will make your trip a lot easier and a lot cheaper.
With the right blanket, you can go on a surf trip, eat banana splits, stay warm, AND not have to worry about spilling pineapple syrup on your gut!
5. A huge towel/blanket
This is one that will make your packing way easier. A giant piece of cloth is surprisingly versatile: use it as a blanket, a towel, a hammock, a napkin, or wrap it up on the end of a stick as a hobo suitcase… where ever you’re going, a towel big enough to cover three quarters of your body will be surprisingly handy. It’ll also replace a bunch of other shit you’d ordinarily bring, and traveling light is the best kind of traveling.
