Although you can rent boards at a surf resort there's nothing quite like riding the waves with a personal board that's well-seasoned. Due to their large sizes, though, traveling with a surfboard can be challenging. Here are three things you should do to make the process easier and reduce the risk of damage to your board.

Pack Right

To protect your surfboard from scratches and nicks while traveling, it's important to properly pack it. A hard boardbag is one of the best things you can invest in, especially if you travel a lot. These bags are designed to absorb impacts and prevent the board from being bent in unnatural ways.

Hard boardbags tend to be more expensive than soft ones. So if you are working with a budget, an alternative is to wrap your surfboard in bubble wrap before placing it in a soft boardbag. If your board has fins, you should also invest in a fin protector box that fits over them to keep them safe from harm.

Lastly, mark your boardbag as fragile/top load to notify people handling it they need to take extra care.

Check for Airline Restrictions

Airline travel can be difficult enough, what with the long lines, TSA checkpoints, and fees. However, it can be even harder when trying to deal with all these things with an oversized piece of luggage like a surfboard. That's why it may be best to opt for ground transportation whenever possible. If you're traveling overseas or a long-distance, though, this may not be an option.

Before you book an airline ticket, however, it's important you call the airlines—or visit their websites—to see if they have any restrictions on surfboards. You may be surprised to learn that some airlines have blackout dates when they won't check your surfboard or let you take it on the plane as a carry-on. Typically, this occurs during peak travel times when space may be severely limited.

Another issue is the airline may restrict the size, weight, configuration, and number of boards you can have. For example, boards can be a maximum of 9 feet 7 inches on Alaska Airlines. On Southwest Airlines, the fins must be removed.

Be prepared to pay an additional fee for your board, and make sure you have a backup plan just in case your board doesn't land with you at your destination. It's not unusual for airlines to set these oversized pieces of luggage aside for placement on different planes if space becomes an issue. If you want to ensure you have your personal board with you at the resort, it may be best to ship your surfboard to your ultimate destination via UPS or FedEx

Pack Bungee Cords

Getting the surfboard on and off the plane is only half the battle. You still have to make it to your hotel. Unless you know for sure you're getting picked up in a van or SUV, you need to assume you'll be traveling in a regular car (or taxi).

As you probably already know, surfboards typically don't fit in the trunks of regular-sized vehicles and often need to be put on the roofs. Therefore, it's essential you pack some bungee cords or sturdy straps to help you secure the board to the vehicle. You should also pack a large beach towel to place under the board to prevent it from scratching the vehicle's paint.

Alternatively, there are portable roof racks available for purchase that can be easily installed and removed from vehicles. Be aware, though, you still need to pack it in your luggage or with your board, so take into account how heavy and easy to construct/dismantle the rack is when shopping for one.

For more tips on traveling with a surfboard or to avoid this hassle and rent one at your destination, contact your surf resort, some place like Octavius Prince, to see what tips they might have for you and to see if they rent surfing equipment.