Packing for a surf trip

I'm asking for YOUR OPINIONS of what to bring, use, and do. There's an avalanche of quality info spewing from the mouths of many who've been there when I haven't. So yeah Kock Barrells, I'm going to keep thanking those for it and keep welcoming more thoughts whether or not they're correct, useful, or things I'll go with. Most all are. Yes, I have an eff ton of leashes. They've been attached to most of the too many boards I've picked up and I've also got a few good FCS ones new over the months that, yes, were calculated purchases based on the length of board it was going on and the type of surf to ride with it in.

I could pull out the manufacturer's chart to answer the leash question but info is always helpful to be verified by trusted, experienced sources. Has every wetty that's ever been sold to you guys fit you exactly according to the XCEL/QS/BB/RC/BG/PG charts? Exactly. And we aren't talking about fashion here. It was a question pertaining to maximizing the safety, efficacy, and equipment used on a trip to a world-class spot that's both an investment of time and money as well as a big step up in setting for me.

We've got as much pissing and moaning about the supposed degeneration of this forum lately as there are morose posts about summer flatness. Yet you jump in with your GMOs to a thread that rocks and everyone's enjoying. Let the rest of us get back to the stoke of this thread while you go dine on your nightly phallic-shaped object. You can do all of us a favor and take the one that's shoved up your cavity and eat that one. Then maybe you won't troll a good thread you troll-calling slab of kook dung.

 

You guys are true coxmen. Such quality info here.

Three questions:
1) Staying in a surf camp. What technology am I safe to bring? They claim to have wifi there. I'm gonna be laying back and charging the whole week but checking in on biz and emails here and there is key. Should I go get a basic $199 laptop that I'm ok with having stolen if it happened or am I safe with bringing an older Mac that's worth more? I've traveled the world with that Mac and have been in rough spots with it but you guys would know better the safety of items in a surf camp when I'm on the water.
2) Cell phone. I have a few different iPhones (two in service, one not). Have heard that taking out the SIM card will keep me from roaming and I can use wifi for it and perhaps even Skype app for calls. Thoughts?
3) Food/water. I'm completely a "eat for content/survival" person rather than enjoyment. I want my hydration, cals, protein, and electrolytes. Aside from that, I could give two how it tastes or looks. My diet has basically been a math equation the last 15 years. For purposes of baggage weight I'm not able to haul down a week's worth of bottled water, so how accessible is it there? I'll likely bring a couple protein powder jugs and can mix that with juice since it's safer than water. Are fresh fruit and vegetables readily accessible and do these need to be washed with potentially dirty water? Fish, meat, grains? What's the deal with all the food? I've got no problem with charting out my caloric intake for the week, planning on that and not caring about conventional formal meals as long as my content is on point, and having plenty of Imodium so I'm not a reverse firehose. Function braddahs, function. I'm going there to surf, not to eat 7-course meals.

 

Waiting for my connection to ES right now. Never prepared so well for a trip in my life. Got all the essentials. Today hasn't been undefeated, however. The holdups:

- Believe it or not, I padded my two boards so damn well (with styrofoam from tv's and computer cases as well as bubble wrap and one of those UHaul blankets. The nose and tails were completely protected as were the full rails and deck. The skegs that were glassed in should be perfect upon arrival.

HOWEVER...after wrapping them all up tight with the syran wrap on the roll, I could barely fit ONE of the boards in a double FCS travel bag. Had to pull it tight to get it closed. Yes, had to check a second board and that was another hundo but hey, whatever, and I could sell it down there. Included in my trip insurance purchased when buying the ticket is full coverage for checked baggage including oversized. So...I may get a brand new 6-10 semi-gun or HPSB soon courtesy of the airline...

Only concern is how well they closed the bag back up after removal of those items and if other provisions in that bag are still in there. They are key items mentioned on prior lists in this thread. Have the TSA-friendly zipper locks on both bags so hopefully they sealed it back up proper but you never know.

- The counter agent actually came on the plane and showed me a photo on his phone of the items they confiscated from my CHECKED baggage due to Hazmat: small bottles of isopropyl and peroxide (per instructions of many here) as well as the bottles of liquid resin and hardening agent from my quality ding kit. Can't argue with them taking those, as they are a hazard big time. Note to all: put them in another unmarked small liquids container or throw them in a small shampoo bottle or such. I do have Suncure and Solarez for each of the PU-fiber and epoxy boards so not a lost cause. Have a little surgery to do on the semi-gun before I drop in on that baby.


Waves are looking fairly good there this week and next and while not mind-blowing in size, they'll be amazing nonetheless and a huge facilitator of getting the best rides of my life so far. Mitchell's post pumped me up. So stoked braddahs. So stoked.

 

Course braddah. It's entirely hazmat, and that's the easy way around it by putting it in differently marked bottles.

 

Thanks brads. I appreciate it. Very stoked. I will get pics. The best ones will be me going over the falls and eating schitt. There was some great dialogue on here yesterday about where to takeoff to land the barrell. I know that 9 out of 10 tubes I get in will be botched for the first day. Then I'll work my way up from there as I have with everything else. As much as I want the green room, I want to throw some buckets.

Been crafting the form and muscle memory on the Carver every day for hours last several weeks. I think a big key will be maintaining the trend I've had lately (when actually in good waves = seldom) of staying in the top half if not top third of the wave as I pump DTL for speed. Can't wait to bust out this HP that's been dying to emerge from the quiver. Love the semi-gun too. Haven't been on that rocket since the stormy 8-10' back in April.

Hope you guys are all having a great week and that Mom blesses you with some swell.