What you need to know before flying with your skis or snowboard

Heading out to the mountains generally means flying somewhere. And flying somewhere means dealing with airlines and baggage. If you have your own skis or snowboard, bringing your own gear means you'll enjoy your trip more; it is dialed in for your riding style and you don't have to pay to rent. However, it does also mean you need to pack all that gear up and take it on the airplane with you. Thankfully nowadays, some airlines (check your airline for specific information) allow you to take a snowboard or ski bag as regular checked luggage. That means that the more you can get into your board or ski bag, the less gear you have to pack elsewhere. In fact, with careful packing, you may be able to get all your gear into a high-quality roller bag, and only deal with one checked bag for your trip. These tips work well for one or two people sharing a roller bag, but are also great if you’re hauling kids equipment along as well.