How to pay zero dollars for shipping your board(s) on surf trips?

[solsurfr]

My last trip to Hawaii cost me $160 roundtrip. my solution: don't bring boards. Buy when you get there.

WTF?????? How the hell do u get a plane ticket ROUNDtrip foer 160 dollars?

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1) $160 was the price he paid JUST For the board roundtrip, the price of his ticket is another history

also why would u buy a board if your only gonna be somewhere for a week or 2? ud have to throw it away afterwards

2)if u buy a board somewhere else, then u avoid paying 2 times for an oversized luggage. the idea is that if ur going to a place where boards are much cheaper than the US, then it would be great to get a board half price.

exaple: if u went to brazil a used board would cost around $100 dolla, which is only $20 dolla more than what ud have paid for ur board one way.

Yep, $160 roundtrip for my boards. Never again. You run the risk of boards gettin' damaged and now, your boards can get screened and re-packed by non-surfers, if you know what I mean. Even if you buy new boards when you get there, you can always sell and get a couple hundred back as long as they are in normal wear and tear condition. Paying that over-sized fee just sucks and you aren't guaranteed they are injury-free when you arrive. My buddy brought his new 6'8" to El Salvador in August only to find the nose busted when he arrived. Not worth the price of admission, if you ask me. Now, if you are going to the Philippines, where board shops are no where to be found, then obviously you have no choice.

 

[diroberts]

Related to this topic, if you've never packed a surfboard coffin bag before you'll find this document I wrote helpful:
How to Pack a Surfboard Travel Bag

 

[NamaBeru]

All the tricks don't seem to work after 9/11 for sure. I got a 7'8" double hard case coffin. Made many trips from Cali to Japan using all the listed tricks, especially staying away from old dudes working the counter, and would generally get by with minimal charges. Know days I just expect to pay through the nose and bring a board back to sell to the locals for 3X my cost.