Executive Travel

* Name: John Kaufman

* Position: Commercial-industrial real estate consultant and broker

* Company: Kaufman Group, West Los Angeles

Three years ago, I added a new dimension to my business travel: I took up surfing. I had to find a way to both accommodate a fragile surfboard and fit my avocation into the corporate culture.

This creates some interesting situations for a middle-aged (47) executive, most notably networking in swim trunks and being conspicuous getting from the airport to the hotel.

Surfing is not like golf--no quiet country clubs with comfortable, elitist attitudes. It’s not like tennis either--no sticking your surfboard into your suitcase. Most people consider surfing bizarre. Instead of a nod of the head, most often I encounter a clipped laugh and a sad shake of the head. However, among the select few who have mastered the sport, there is a special bond forged by shared terror and accomplishment. There is also a lot of sitting-around time in the water, time I have often spent selling my services.

Surfing during business trips also requires a bit of planning. My recipe for successful travel is careful packing. Because surfboards are coated with glass, they are very fragile. Rough airport handling, which is the norm, can ruin a board.

Surfboards are almost always considered excess baggage because, in theory, they get special handling. Unfortunately, few airlines actually provide that. Most simply see a profit opportunity in charging extra for something they do anyway. The worst are airlines that have the nerve to charge for a board, then throw it on the conveyor with all the other luggage. Among the best is United, which treats all sports equipment equally and actually loads the boards separately into the cargo bay by hand.

Getting from airport to hotel used to be a problem. Now I carry along soft roof racks that quickly and easily fit onto the roof of a rental car or taxi.

I also carry a couple of bungee cords in case I find a local taxi with a roof rack.

This has the added advantage of allowing me to carry oversized cases in addition to any surfing gear.

I’ve also stored boards in locations where I knew I would be returning repeatedly.

Naturally, I now prefer travel to balmy destinations. Honolulu over New York, Santiago over London, Sidney over Seoul.

So what to do to relax on a trip where I can’t surf? That’s easy. I think about surfing.

Do you have advice for fellow business travelers or a travel-related experience you would like to share? Please mail your typewritten contribution to Executive Travel, Los Angeles Times--Business News, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles CA 90053. Or fax it to (213) 237-7837. Or send it electronically to 3666973@mcimail.com on the Internet. Please be as detailed as possible and include your name, title, company and a daytime phone.