I am looking at going on an overseas trip next year back to South Africa. Do you have to pay excess baggage to take your kite surfing gear along on a long haul flight? If yes, what sort of money are we looking at? I would take a board, harness, wetsuit and 2 kites. A friend of mine told me once that you don't get charged much extra for sporting gear. Not sure I can believe that.

Not sure, but I'm going on a trip ton NZ next month from the US... I purchased one of those "golf Bags" and it fits a all my gear, two kites bars, harness one board (132) minus the fins. With airlines they typically allow Golf clubs to travel as one piece of checked baggage... Golfers wouldn't fly their airlines if they couldn't take their clubs with them... BTW, I'm arriving in NZ on the 9th of January, and looking for a lift up north from Auckland... can help with gas.