how do u plan to "bill of laden?" your gear in order to get it all back into Canada and not snagged up at the border?

Claim it before you go over the border that way you don't have to pay duty on it. Any time we used to travel with a full sound system in a 16 foot trailer across the border, we had to claim every piece of equipment we had, down to each microphone cable and connector, serial numbers for each item, and approximate value. They should only have problems if you have undocumented materials coming into the country, because they have no way of telling if you purchased it in the other country, which would be applicable for their taxes/duty.

You can pick up the claim forms at any Border crossing station.

i remember (for work) we'd take all equipment to the customs office well before hand and fill out a green card with items listed. i've done this with camera/video gear as well for vacations but kites and buggy gear do not have serial #s and i'm not keen about writing on kites since even washing a stain from a kite is frowned upon. i guess bring photocopy of receipts to prove each item's origin of purchase?
Paul

when you fly they only check your luggage but never ask for reciepts. I would hate to carry my golf club (buggy) receipts everytime i need to travelled.

We also have 2 drivers taking gear of the BC Crew. assuming MacBoy is driving your gear down and back again. each bag must contain a list of goodies inside, and the driver should also have copies of the list as well to present to the Border Guard should they ask "why he/she has so much gear".

The body of the letter should start with:
I, _______ is attending an event in Las Vegas, called NABX. I'm allowing "Driver name" to take my gear for me. All items that belong to me are listed below. " List Below "
Should you have any questions " Telephone Number / Mailing Address "

kites and buggies are normally dirty after they come back from NABX (unless your Dino who walks around in a pink skirt than riding his buggy). so they just claim is used gear, if they check they look for NEW stuff in boxes. Like that new camera you bough at BestBuy USA or Fry's

I was advised by my insurance co. to take pics of everything I was packing both for customs purposes as well as should anything happen to the gear. I think I'll give Canada Customs a shout tomorrow and see if there's an easy, prescribed way about it given that most of my gear doesn't have much of a receipt except maybe a PayPal transaction record but I try not to group all of those kinda things together lest I make the fatal mistake of grabbing a calculator and adding it all up.

Or worse.....the wife does

I'm also hoping to leave stuff behind as well as bring some stuff home so the big hope would be that we slip through customs on the way down and I can revamp the manifest for the return trip ; )

(In a deep menasing voice)
This is the boarder patrol. We have been watching your thread and now know what you are doing. Now pay the duty on every thing you own!

Sorry guys I couldn't resist. Do you have a Canadian version of Big Brother from 1984? Or is it universal?
I hope you all enjoy your time on the playa and wish we could get out there. To far and to close to our big trip.
Lots of video of the pink skirts. I think Sandy may lend me hers!