Jordy Smith: Travel Hacks With The South African OG
Hacks for lapping the planet
At the age of 37, and the oldest surfer on CT, Jordy Smith is having one of the best years of his career. At the time of writing, with one event left at Teahupo’o before the 2025 WSL Finals at Cloudbreak, the South African is ranked as the World No.2. In an incredible 17-year career, he has finished in the top 10 more than a dozen times. The veteran now has his best chance of claiming the World Title he has been chasing since 2009. No surfer deserves it more.
In that time, Jordy has lapped the planet like few others. In the last few years, he has done his annual circumnavigation with small children in tow. Not only has he racked up millions of prizemoney and billions of air miles, but he has accrued a megaton of knowledge when it comes to the art of travel. We caught up with Jordy, so he could give us his travel tips from a life on the road.
List Tick and Pack Quick
“I can be ready to roll on even a long trip from scratch in five to ten minutes. No shit, bru. I don’t have to write down my packing list anymore as it’s so ingrained. However, I'd advise that you do. My list goes, in order, passports, computers and chargers, fin system, then boards and wetsuits. Toiletries and clothes take a few minutes at the end. Stick to that routine and you should never leave anything behind. My wife does the kids’ list, which is way beyond my pay grade.”
Don’t Overpack
“I think most people make the mistake of overpacking, especially with clothes. As an example, on the Australian leg this year, I was away for more than two months. I packed four T-shirts, two pairs of shorts and pants, and a nice jacket. As it gets cold in Bells, I’ll pack a warmer shell coat in with my surfboard boards. You can usually access a washer and dryer so that will get you through. How many times have you unpacked clothes you’ve never worn? It’s a waste of valuable space.”
Less Is More
“Even though I travel with bigger ticket items, having fewer of them makes them way easier to manoeuvre. I’ve been using Db luggage for almost a decade, and that has really helped. I carry two Surf Pro Coffin boardbags and two Hugger Roller Bags, plus a Ramverk Pro backpack. But most normal humans can halve that.With the Hook-Up system, you can attach the big bags to the boardbag, and it's all on wheels. That’s been a game changer. I’m able to carry all that with minimal effort. Having a smaller number of items also means there is less potential to lose bags, and it keeps your hands free for passports and coffees.”
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Front Of The Queue
“This might sound bad, but when dropping bags and surfboards off at the check-in, I always go straight to the front of the queue, no matter whether I’m travelling economy or first class. And 99 percent of the time, no one says anything. With the kids, that has helped with the sympathy vote. But carrying two massive board bags and two luggage bags, I’m usually sweating. People understand that traveling with all that gear must be a friggin’ nightmare. Both the staff and the customers are usually pretty keen to get me out of the way. And there’s nothing to lose if it doesn’t work out.”
Don't Blow Up
“But when you are at the mercy of the airlines and weather patterns, there's usually nothing you can do about delays or changes. Blowing up or being angry just doesn’t work. Being nice often will result in a better outcome. Travelling comes with its ups and downs, and that is all part of the deal. The better you roll with both, the better experience you will have."
Travel As Life Lessons
“Even after I stop competing on the CT, I know travel will remain a big part of my life. I think that love and thirst for travel are one of the best things I can pass on to my children. I didn’t do a whole lot of school, but there are so many life lessons that you can only learn by being on the road. It's shaped who I am.”
