The Trials Of Flight - Travelling With Your Kayak - With Mike McKay

The Trials Of Flight

 Flying to places on the West Coast is great when flying with Westjet.  Mike McKay on the Upper Middle Consumnes, California with his Jackson Super Hero.  Photo:  Steve Arns

Sooner or later as a whitewater paddler you are going to want to travel to an international destination to experience what the world of rivers has to offer.  At the point when you decide to do so the natural question will arise:  do I travel with my boat? 

A major advantage and disadvantage exists with travelling with your kayak, which is:  travelling with your kayak.  While it is great to have your own boat in a remote location that may not have access to your usual craft, travelling with a kayak is getting harder and harder these days (not to mention inconvenient).

Over the past few years I can say that I have had some good and bad results doing so.  Here is a list of things I would recommend exploring before you make a decision on travelling with your kayak:

1.  Is it important for you to have your trusty kayak?  My thoughts go like this:  Yes it is since I am likely travelling to a fantastic destination that I may not get to again.  This isn't your local backyard run and if you are going to great lengths to travel to a location to paddle it is best to paddle your best.  Therefore, you do want to have your comfort and familiar feeling.

2.  Is there an option of getting your familiar kayak where you are going?  This is sometimes easy to check out in advance.  For instance, where there is whitewater kayaking there is usually whitewater rafting.  That means there may be the option of finding your boat as a rental.  Take the time to research and find out what options exist.

Contact your company website to see if dealers exist in the area you are going.  They may have rentals or demos that you can get your hands on. 

See if you can contact local paddlers and get some beta on some locals maybe looking to make a buck off your rental.  This works well in South America.

Lalo Ruiz picking up a long AWOL kayak in the Veracruz airport after a weeklong tour around many airports in the US.

3.  Remember, if you are going to more remote locations that it is always harder for these countries to import good whitewater gear if at all.  Many locals depend on travellers to sell gear and boats.  This means that the kayaks that you find in different areas might be more banged up than you are used to or they may even be broken. 

Don't hesitate to fly with extra outfitting.  For instance, I know exactly what I like with my Jackson Villain S.  I will fly with a spare set of hip pads and a Sweet Cheeks seat so that I know exactly how I will feel in the boat once I get there.

4.  If you do decide to fly with your kayak it might cost you some good money.  For instance, it is up to $400 one way to go to Europe. 

It might not be a bad idea to sell your kayak at the end of your trip to recoup costs.  Many places will pay good money for a kayak since it isn't as easy for them to get whitewater kayaks as it is in North America (unless boats are manufactured where you are going).

5.  Another factor to consider when flying with a kayak (and gear) is that airlines will not load a kayak if the luggage is full on a flight and they will put it on the next flight to your location with more room.  This has happened to me more than once. 

If you plan to travel more from your flight destination this can add a major inconvenience to wait for your gear.  If this does happen, see if your airline will deliver your gear to your final destination.  Most of the time they will do so (or compensate you otherwise).  Some airlines (UNITED) just put you out altogether for this and will not do either.

6.  Consider a high quality breakdown paddle.  For example, I always travel with a 4 piece Werner Powerhouse.  This can be easily broken down to fit in regular sized luggage and is super reliable for on the river.  It is the exact replica of the one piece paddle I use on regular days.  I have never had any flaws or felt any compromise with travelling with this paddle.  In fact, I find I have used it more the past year than my regular paddle.

Costa Rica was an easy destination to find a Villain S through Esprit International.  Here is a shot of some great boogie on the Upper Toro.  Photo by: Lalo Ruiz

An advantage to this is not having to travel with a paddle bag as the airlines will qualify this as oversized and potentially charge you more.  You also run the risk of breaking paddles when they are shipped as is.

7.  Research your airlines in great detail prior to departing.  For example, Continental says on their website that they will take kayaks.  However, what they don't say is that this doesn't apply to their 'express' flights.  Usually these are the flights that you will take to the major hubs before your final destination.  I was actually pulled out of customs in Toronto with my kayak in hand once due to this.  It was a major inconvenience to say the least.

I have actually called airlines prior to the flight (up to 2 hours on the phone before) to confirm what is listed on the web in correspondance with my actual flight.  If you do get a confirmation in this case, make sure that they will put a note on your reservation so that when you do checkin there is not a "change in policy".  When someone sees a note on your reservation they turn from questioning you to extremely helpful.  Make sure you get the note!!

8.  SMILE and be friendly.  Airport people can be generally unpleasant and usually a smile and a friendly attitude can go a long way.  Do this despite how bad your travel day is and it will go so far. Most people are bitter travelling and if you can stand out, you will get stand out service.  Say Cheese!!

OPS Team members Philip Kompass and Mike McKay very happy to get our boats in tact home from San Francisco.

9.  Conceal your goods.  Most airlines don't really know or understand what a whitewater kayak is.  If you have your kayak stowed in a good bag you can use terms like a 'wave surfer' to break down the definitions of what they will fly with.  It is surprising that this works, but it does.

Another thing to consider with this option is that you can usually put more gear in the boat when it is concealed.  Usually a decent airline counter person will charge you for oversize or overweight.....not both.  They will only do that to you if they are in a really foul mood (yes I am talking about you, rotten mood lady in LAX!!)

  A neatly packed up boat in one of the older Level Six boat bags.  This is a good way to conceal a kayak and get away with packing more and blurring sports equipment definitions.

10.  Finally, be prepared to get turned away.  After all the prep that you will take sometimes you will just get turned away.  Make sure you have a back up plan with your ride to the airport to quickly ditch your gear if you can't take it. 

Make sure you have a back up plan in your final destination if you can't bring your gear. 

All in all, travelling with a kayak can be a different call with every trip that you do.  Make sure to do your research and be patient.

NOTE:  Westjet is awesome to travel with if travelling in North America.  I have been able to take kayaks before for as low as $22 to California.  That is better than Delta will charge for an extra suitcase.

NOTE 2:  UNITED is the worst airline for travelling with a kayak.  They lost mine for a week.  Not 'we sent it to a wrong location' lost.  LOST lost.  A Villain S.  Gone.  We ended up finding out a week later it was in Washington (when I was in Mexico).

  My new Villain S and Rockstar from OPS.  Thanks Ottawa Paddle Shack for supporting all my adventures!!