Serious question for the respected Swaylocks elders

I am a relative youngin in life and in surfing. I will be graduating from college next December, and for awhile now the wanderer in me has been day dreaming of surf travel. Though I have a little travel experince, I am now starting to look into various options and ways I can surf-travel on a $2500 or so budget, seeing as much as I can for as long as I can. I am hoping that those with experience traveling, especially with surfboards, can offer some advice. Maybe things like a good how-to travel book to recommend, where to go for good waves and cheap living, best way of transportation, or how to travel with a small quiver of boards. Anything that is relative and helpful would be great. I understand that ultimately I will be the one making all the decisions, but some advice from surfers I respect would be much appreciated. Thank you- ole

I am a relative youngin in life and in surfing. I will be graduating from > college next December, and for awhile now the wanderer in me has been day > dreaming of surf travel. Though I have a little travel experince, I am now > starting to look into various options and ways I can surf-travel on a > $2500 or so budget, seeing as much as I can for as long as I can.>>> I am hoping that those with experience traveling, especially with > surfboards, can offer some advice. Maybe things like a good how-to travel > book to recommend, where to go for good waves and cheap living, best way > of transportation, or how to travel with a small quiver of boards. > Anything that is relative and helpful would be great.>>> I understand that ultimately I will be the one making all the decisions, > but some advice from surfers I respect would be much appreciated. Thank > you- ole I haven’t travelled all that much, Ole, but the one thing that stands out with me is that air travel has a number of down sides. It’s expensive, it gets you where you are going without any cultural experiences along the way (unless you pick up a stewardess en-route), it’s hard on boards, and it leaves you without any form of transportation when you get there. I’ve had so much more fun beating down dirt roads in Baja than wing-ing it to flashy surf destinations. That said, I think ANYTHING you do will be a postive experience,if you choose your traveling companions carefully.

…travel light, travel fast… …stay hungry, stay foolish… http://www.hollowsurfboards.com/

http://surfnwsc.com

What happen??? Hell man if i had $2500 to travel on i would be in Costa Rica living the good life for about two months… Find a nice place and hang… Rent a house for about 400 a month and surf your months away… You can eat good for about 10 to 15 a day North coast…>>> I am a relative youngin in life and in surfing. I will be graduating from > college next December, and for awhile now the wanderer in me has been day > dreaming of surf travel. Though I have a little travel experince, I am now > starting to look into various options and ways I can surf-travel on a > $2500 or so budget, seeing as much as I can for as long as I can.>>> I am hoping that those with experience traveling, especially with > surfboards, can offer some advice. Maybe things like a good how-to travel > book to recommend, where to go for good waves and cheap living, best way > of transportation, or how to travel with a small quiver of boards. > Anything that is relative and helpful would be great.>>> I understand that ultimately I will be the one making all the decisions, > but some advice from surfers I respect would be much appreciated. Thank > you- ole http://surfnwsc.com

I have a friend from NZ who has spent the last sixteen years travelling the world surfing. With a few exceptions, he has financed his travels by glassing, sanding, and polishing. He claims you can always find work in surf factories. The problem, of course, is your travels are limited by the amount of dust you can stand. At last word, he was planning on giving up on the factories in favor of a position with cleaner air and a more permanent residence. He had a great run - every major and many minor surf destinations. Take care and have fun. Patrick Shannon

I am a relative youngin in life and in surfing. I will be graduating from > college next December, and for awhile now the wanderer in me has been day > dreaming of surf travel. Though I have a little travel experince, I am now > starting to look into various options and ways I can surf-travel on a > $2500 or so budget, seeing as much as I can for as long as I can.>>> I am hoping that those with experience traveling, especially with > surfboards, can offer some advice. Maybe things like a good how-to travel > book to recommend, where to go for good waves and cheap living, best way > of transportation, or how to travel with a small quiver of boards. > Anything that is relative and helpful would be great. $2500? What is that, a week on a luxury yacht in Indonesia? (Don’t waste your money that way…) Before the nuts and bolts: If for surf travel figure out places you would like to surf and look into them in the surf media (including the net). Find out their problems and pleasures and peak and down seasons. Every place has them! Think about your dreams - the places that intrigue you and haunt you and entertain you when you are stuck doing things you don’t want to. Not just surf spots - many other things are near surf spots. To spend 2 months in France and not go to Paris is almost a total waste of the trip, although you’ll enjoy Paris much more offseason. The nuts and bolts: Got to any good bookstore with a well stocked travel section, one which lets you sit and read. Check Lonely Planet and other “shoestring” (i.e. dirt cheap) travel books. The key is to remember that travel is travel. All the same advice holds for any young/budget/adventure traveler, except traveling with a surfboard is the worst pain in the ass you can imagine. Golf clubs and dive gear might weigh more, but they aren’t as bulky. The surfboard increases your plane expense and determines all your down-the-road travel vehicle options, plus you have to babysit the board to protect from thieves. It is fashionable to travel and act like a total prick these days, at least among many younger surfers. This is stupid and should be avoided. Living close to the standard of the local people will make your money last longer, not to mention open up unexpected opportunities. My own father told me many years ago to stay as long as I can and do everything I can, because you never know how long it will be until you go back. To this I would add “If ever”, as you never know. I went other places when your age, saving Africa for later. Then AIDS and Islamic fundementalism ravaged that continent and my interest has diminished. Last words: Check out the video “The Far Shore” for a blast of surf travel stoke. The places have changed, but the experience remains…

Many thanks to all of you guys. For much of my travel time I will probably be alone. After a month of budget backpacking through 10 European countries last summer, I realize that traveling light and for as little as possible allows you to see more over a longer period. Though settling into a comfy pad in one place would be cool, I want to get out and experience different cultures (and waves). I am confident in most aspects of doing this, but the one hangup is (like Paul and Nels mentioned) bringing the boards. No doubt my mat and fins will be in the pack, but what about a log and a shortboard? How can it be done? Again, thanks for the help- ole

Though settling into a comfy pad in one place would be cool, I want to get > out and experience different cultures (and waves). I am confident in most > aspects of doing this, but the one hangup is (like Paul and Nels > mentioned) bringing the boards. No doubt my mat and fins will be in the > pack, but what about a log and a shortboard? How can it be done?>>> Again, thanks for the help- ole Mat and fins? That seems to be where I’m at now, 33 years after first standing on a board. Hopefully others will chime in here, but it seems to me shortboards are available in most established surf locales all over the world, either for rent or for sale used. New boards from overseas can be a good link with different thoughts, although usually a bit expensive (that’s a huge chunk out of your $2500 for instance if budgeted that way). But then maybe favorable exchange rates offset that? I’d forget the log. I can think of places where I wish I’d had one, but the hassle is beyond my appreciation. Maybe for a return visit when settling into a longboard-favorable locale…

Ole: I’m in late on this one but you have been given some of the best advice you could hope for. I’ve spent the last 5 months flying for business, from Canada to Mexico, 3-4 flights a week. Airline travel is not what it used to be. I wouldn’t even consider flying with more than a single board again (if at all!). The mat and fins would be my first pick for a travel quiver. The days of the “Far Shore” are worth looking into for destination possibilities, haven’t seen Version #2 but I witnessed #1. ($58.00 by bus from the Mex. border to a mainland city hub and you can be on your way to lots of warm water and uncrowded surf TODAY!) Travel light, pack what you think you need and cut it in half. If you are heading to a surf destination these days no doubt you can pick up a board to ride that works for the conditions at hand once you get there. Pack a $39.00 CD player or an expired cell phone and marvel at what that will get you in trade down South. As has bee mentioned there is a lot to be said for living like the locals and respecting their culture. This will open more doors in your travels than all the money you could have possibly taken along. Travelling with a Bisect longboard is a possibility but your budget is out the window unless you can borrow one. Good Luck Amigo…I wish I was going with you. Tom S. > Many thanks to all of you guys. For much of my travel time I will > probably be alone. After a month of budget backpacking through 10 European > countries last summer, I realize that traveling light and for as little as > possible allows you to see more over a longer period.>>> Though settling into a comfy pad in one place would be cool, I want to get > out and experience different cultures (and waves). I am confident in most > aspects of doing this, but the one hangup is (like Paul and Nels > mentioned) bringing the boards. No doubt my mat and fins will be in the > pack, but what about a log and a shortboard? How can it be done?>>> Again, thanks for the help- ole http://www.thirdcoastsurf.com

Tom and Nels, thanks for the great advice. I will definitely check out the “Far shore.” Yes, the mat is a special thing and ideal for traveling. Like you said, carrying that and then finding boards in places I visit sounds like a good choice. Take it easy- ole

Mat and fins? That seems to be where I’m at now, 33 years after first > standing on a board.>>> Hopefully others will chime in here, but it seems to me shortboards are > available in most established surf locales all over the world, either for > rent or for sale used. New boards from overseas can be a good link with > different thoughts, although usually a bit expensive (that’s a huge chunk > out of your $2500 for instance if budgeted that way). But then maybe > favorable exchange rates offset that?>>> I’d forget the log. I can think of places where I wish I’d had one, but > the hassle is beyond my appreciation. Maybe for a return visit when > settling into a longboard-favorable locale… A buddy of mine told me his rule of thumb for travel: “Take half as much stuff and twice as much money as you think you need.” It’s a good thing to remember. PS I agree, forget travel with a longboard. Unless that’s all you ride, it’s not worth the hassle.

Tom and Nels, thanks for the great advice. I will definitely check out > the “Far shore.” Yes, the mat is a special thing and ideal for > traveling. Like you said, carrying that and then finding boards in places > I visit sounds like a good choice. Take it easy- ole Also go rent “THE BEACH” starring DiCaprio at Blockbuster if you want to sh@t yourself, a good paradise turns ugly film which puts a twist on modern day budget traveling!! I am a mid 70’s mainland Mexico surf travelor, would’nt catch me in a third world country for anything now…

I’m not a master builder like a lot of these guys, but I have traveled a lot. The Lonely Planet book series is a good starting place on how to travel on a budget. They also have a series on scuba diving - where there’s diving, there’s probably surf if you think about it. I traveled literally around the world in the early '90s for about $5k including Hong Kong, Maylaysia, Indo (nice then, but screwed up now politically), India (crap hole), Spain and Portugal (definately surf) Europe. As far a budget places go, parts of Mexico (not the resort towns) are still cheap, and Central America. Get your car and go there. In Europe (and probably New Zealand and Australia) you can work under the table in restaurants/hotels and extend your stay. There’s lots of Australian living on the cheap running stuff in way out places doing just that. Just some ideas. Whatever you do just go. You won’t ever have as good a chance to travel in your life as you do now.

Tom and Nels, thanks for the great advice. I will definitely check out > the “Far shore.” Yes, the mat is a special thing and ideal for > traveling. Like you said, carrying that and then finding boards in places > I visit sounds like a good choice. Take it easy- ole – “Mats are the most challenging things Ive ever surfed on. I love the way they feel to ride, and they work in any kind of wave. Also theyre very easy to transport. You can roll up two mats, a pair of fins and a wetsuit and put it into a handbag and carry it onto a plane. If I had to ride one thing out of all the surfing vehicles I have- a mat would be my choice.” George Greenough

–>>> “Mats are the most challenging things Ive ever surfed on. I love the > way they feel to ride, and they work in any kind of wave. Also theyre > very easy to transport. You can roll up two mats, a pair of fins and a > wetsuit and put it into a handbag and carry it onto a plane. If I had to > ride one thing out of all the surfing vehicles I have- a mat would be my > choice.”>>> George Greenough Reminding me of the easiest surf travel experience I had with a board. Luggage got ripped off either in Sydney or upon arrival in Fiji, never to be seen again. Remainder of trip spent with one surfboard and a carryon bag half the size of a daypack. Fortunately in the carryon I had put the camera, film, trunks, removable fin for the board, parriffin wax, soft racks (new at the time), and South Pacific Guidebook. I probably had less than 20 pounds total to lug around. It was a huge bummer to lose the rest of the gear, but life was effortless. I’ve often thought about just packing that much stuff when I start out. Of course this works mostly with warm water/weather travel. Anybody remember Colorflo fiberglass, with the color I guess impregnated into the glass itself? Strength like cast iron. The board I took on that trip was just in a canvas bag with some foam taped to the nose and pintail, and it looked almost as good when it got home after 6 weeks, 2 camper trips, and 6 flights as it did when it left.