Windsurfing Jet setters (this term got some attention I bet)
Havent had to do this before, but need to fly with a mast and a sail ex Sydney- Melbourne-Perth.
Whats the norm with this gear, does it go normal baggage or do you take it and put it on as cargo, before you get to boarding counter?

Mineral

I used to fly once or twice a year with a full kit with QANTAS. I carefully refined my technique down to a fine art and generally found this worked alright.

Step One: Make sure all of yer gear is packaged up neatly and easy to handle. Preferably sail and board bags etc.
Step Two: Get to the airport nice and early and preferably while the sheep runs are pretty empty.
Step Three: Find an attractive checkout girl or if no luck there, someone who looks friendly.
Step Four: If attractive girl - flirt. Otherwise guage the response and take one of two actions 1. Be super friendly and happy or 2. Play the niave traveller who is unsure of the flying requirements.
Step Five: Offer to carry your gear to the loading door. Minimises extra handling and helps keep everyone happy. Also gives more time to chat up attractive girl.

I also found that being a frequent flyer helped the situation as well as I believe you get increased weight allowances.
This has all been done with formula gear and wave gear, and I have never had to pay excess.

Lastly: Check that body board bag doesnt have an extra 5kg of weight in it!

Good luck

unavaodable, unvoidble, nu, then its gotta be Unavoidable then, ye dasit I am shorrrre!!

Maybe next time I use the word spell checker, A!! (bloody dip stick)