Surfboards

Fresh art at SFO and PDX airports

If you’re traveling through San Fransisco International Airport or Portland International Airport anytime soon, keep an eye out for new art.

Courtesy Sticky Co.

At Portland International Airport’s Concourse D, look up to see Portaurora, a new permanent art piece by Sticky Co., a Portland- and Amsterdam-based artist team.

This is an interactive installation: as travelers pass underneath they’ll see colors and hear sounds inspired by the Northern Lights.

“Although this is mostly a technology-driven project, we added a simple element – applying glitter to the ceiling – to enhance the aurora effect,” says Andrew Haddock, who leads the Sticky Co. team. “We wanted passengers to experience a bit of a surprise as they pass through the space.”

At SFO Airport, the SFO Museum’s newest exhibition is all about artisan-made surfboards.

Longyboard – Dudley “Hap” Jacobs. Courtesy SFO Museum.
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This exhibition features twenty-seven wooden surfboards made by surfboard artists – or “shapers” – that show the progression of surfboard design. Included are boards made from rare woods that represent surfing’s ancient history, boards that represent designs popular in the early 1960s and surfboard shapes best for paddling into large waves.

The SFO Museum’s new exhibition: “Reflections in Wood: Surfboards & Shapers” will be on display in the pre-security area of the International Terminal at SFO International Airport through August 4, 2019.


Hot Curl – by Donald Takayama. Courtesy SFO Museum

United Airlines drops fee for surfboards. In California.

Surfer dudes and dudettes take note: United Airlines has dropped the fees it charges to check your surfboard – if you’re flying direct to or from California.

Surf Sirens, by Ray Leighton. Courtesy Flickr Commons, courtesy National Library of Australia

(Photo: Surf Sirens, by Ray Leighton. Via Flickr Commons, courtesy National Library of Australia)

Noting that surfing was recently named California’s official state sport, United Airlines is no longer charging surfers traveling to or from California (only) a $150 or $200 special fee to check surfboards, wakeboards or paddleboards.

Instead, only the regular checked bag fees will apply.

United’s new policy only applies to direct flights into or out of the Golden State.

Flying with your surfboard on another airline? Here’s what it will cost:

Alaska Airlines: surfboards/paddleboards (and may other pieces of sports equipment) flies as regular checked baggage.

American Airlines:  $150 surfboards, kiteboards, waveboards, and wave skis.

Delta Air Lines: $150 USD/CAD for travel to all regions (excluding Europe and North Africa)

Hawaiian Airlines: $35 to neighbor island; $100 to other North American destinations.

JetBlue: $100.

Southwest: $75.

Have you traveled with a surfboard? Please share your tips for getting sports equipment on and off planes safely.