We’ve already covered how to choose a location for your holiday and book everything you’ll need ahead of time. Now let’s talk about traveling with kitesurfing gear and getting ready for your dream kite trip! Traveling with sports equipment can be a little tricky, but if you follow these tips, the journey to your location will be a little easier and your arrival a lot more comfortable. 

Travel like a Golfer, Pack like a Kitesurfer

The rule of thumb for kiteboarding vacations: travel like a golfer. Over the years, the golfing industry has put pressure on the airlines to ease the charges on the equipment. Most of the time, golfers can check-in a golf-bag (that doesn’t weigh more than 50 pounds) on an airplane without having to pay extra fees.

The industry brands that make the bags even call them “golf-bags”, some even have the word “Golf” or golf symbols on the outside of the bag. If you think this might not be your last kitesurfing holiday, I recommend buying a “golf-bag” to help avoid the additional cost of traveling with your equipment.

That being said, you’re not a golfer, you’re a kitesurfer! So when packing your bag, make sure to bring the essential items for a kitesurfing holiday. You’re going to be in the sun, so remember to pack sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, rashguard, wetsuit and booties to protect you from the elements. 

If you’re bringing your own equipment on your holiday, carry a set of universal pigtails in case you need to rent a kite or bar that isn’t compatible with your own gear. And finally, don’t forget garbage bags, ziplock bags, your kite-repair kit and/or duct tape (the universal fix-all)!

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst!

Any time you check luggage, you run the risk of luggage mishaps, so prepare for lost luggage and make sure you have swimwear in your carry-on luggage. You can always rent any gear or equipment at your destination, but it’s better if you don’t have to spend extra money on things that you already own--like swimwear. You have better things to spend money on during your vacation! 

If you are traveling with your harness, consider packing it in your carry-on too. A harness is a very important, personal piece of equipment, and most kiters have a strong preference about which type of harness they use. If you do bring it in your carry-on, make sure you remove the line knife and leash. A knife isn’t going to make it through security, and we’ve seen leashes taken away from kiters by security screeners who worry the leash is a weapon.

To Rent or Not to Rent Kite Gear on Your Vacation. That Is the Question

Kiters are 50/50 on this one because there are advantages to both. To put it simply:

The advantages of leaving your gear at home and renting at destination include: 

• Easier to travel - You don’t have to drag a heavy golf bag (or two!) through the airport.
• Less risk - You can’t lose what you don’t check-in!
• Try new gear - It’s always good to try new gear, especially if the gear is better suited for the conditions at your destination.

Advantages of bringing your own gear: 

• Save money by not renting - A lot of IKO Centers offer a holiday package deal, but it’s still an extra expense for your holiday. If you pack carefully, and check the airlines to see which of them doesn’t charge too much “extras” for sports equipment, it might be cheaper to bring your own gear.
• Familiarity breeds happiness. Riding on familiar gear in an unfamiliar place is a good way to reduce the number of “new” elements in a situation. It can take a couple of sessions to adjust to new gear, and sometimes it’s just nice to be riding on gear that you know gear in a new place.
• Freedom. If you have your own gear, you can kite wherever you want and not worry about returning rental gear by a certain time.

The best option if you have your own gear is to bring what you can, without going over the airline enforced limit for carry-ons, and then rent any equipment you really need once you get to the destination. It’s the best of both worlds.

Get a Head Start on Progression Before Arriving at Your Destination!

Once you’re on the plane, you’ll have some time to kill. Why not start your progress on your way to your destination? You’re going on your first kitesurfing holiday, so you may want to watch some kiting videos and read progression resources as a way to get ready for your lessons. Don’t forget to check out the IKO App (Play Store or App Store) for free resources, and consider upgrading to Kiter Premium to speed up your learning and boost your progression.

Watching kitesurfing movies is a great way to get psyched about your trip, and keep you entertained when you’re exhausted after a great day on the water! Chapter One: the Kiteboard Legacy is an excellent film about the sport’s progression and Upwind - Launch of a Sport - History of Kitesurfing will make you thank your IKO instructor for making learning to kitesurf so much easier, and safer, than it used to be! Make sure to download the movies so they are ready to play if your plane doesn’t offer wifi.

All in all, traveling for a kitesurfing trip can be stressful. Anything you can do to make it easier is worth the time, including packing! Kiting is a great sport, but it can be an equipment heavy sport. Learning how to pack (and learning what to bring and what to leave) is paramount in making your journey blissful.

Look for our third and final post next week on how to make the most out your time when you finally arrive at destination!

Author: Kristin Vincenzo