any of you guys had a leash snap while in the break and watch your board go to shore?
Talk about an awkward movement trying to hold a paddle in one hand and trying to swim back to shore in the other!!

any techniques for this?

I haven't done this yet, but have given it some thought after a few long swims. I reckon if you kept a zip tie in your pocket, then if your leggie breaks you could zip tie around the shaft of the paddle under the handle and through the ankle strap of your leggie. Then you could just swim and drag it.

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benjl said..
any of you guys had a leash snap while in the break and watch your board go to shore?
Talk about an awkward movement trying to hold a paddle in one hand and trying to swim back to shore in the other!!

any techniques for this?

Yes . Happened to me 2 years ago. Tried to swim in whilst throwing paddle forward swimming throwing - repeat for 10 mins and was getting know where - tired and pretty far out
Got really tired . Eventually swallowed my pride and put hand up and lifeguard came to my aid .
I no longer SUP to total exhaustion .
if I was desperate I would have just let go of paddle and swum in

Ah interesting, yeah I got hammered by a few sets and wondered what would have happened if I was out in bigger stuff! That paddle to the leg ideA is not bad

Tie the remainder of legrope around the shaft of the paddle and swim in. Handle and blade will width will keep it attached.

Throw you're paddle 10 feet in front of you and swim towards it,repeat until you hit the sand.

Yep! Twice unfortunately and both times was a mission with the paddle. I had to throw the paddle infront of me and swim a few meters rinse and repeat.

Yep had a few swims in like this, I just swam freestyle, and would push the paddle ahead of me every stroke or 2.

Was kinda slow going, but works

Ive had it happen 4 times - despite using heavy duty 'bag wave' leashes ... and always on a bigger day .... ive always biffed my lovely carbon paddle and swam for the board f%^&^ quickly ..... then paddle prone back out into the waves and find the paddle .... Ive had a couple of long swims for sure when ive been surfing a reef a little way off the beach ... and the board gets washed a long way .... if its really gone a long way - best to preserve your energy and swim slow and steady ...

GET THE BEST LEASH POSSIBLE (Outer-reef / 12mm etc for bigger days) - AND REPLACE EVERY 6 MONTHS ... smaller days by all means use smaller / thinner leashes ...

I want to put in a +1 for the O&E leashes and a negative one million for the Da Kine leashes... those things just see a big wave coming and snap in half spontaneously

Used two methods , tie leg rope to paddle and swim in or use leg strap and strap it to your leg. Swim in. Bailing on the paddle at my breaks , you would never see it again

I agree with the tie to the paddle.
The paddle back in is hardwork and I didn't realise how big those sets were until your swimming without a board and alone without some sort of floating device, its cary.... phew.

A couple of techniques. If your in clean water slide the paddle on the outside of your leg under your shorts with the handle above waistline. If your in the zone getting pummeled use the blade to help the whitewater to push you on, and then use the blade in breaststroke mode. If you do it right Phelps wouldn't catch you.

I'm glad this has started such a useful thread!

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kato said..
Used two methods , tie leg rope to paddle and swim in or use leg strap and strap it to your leg. Swim in. Bailing on the paddle at my breaks , you would never see it again

I have trouble tieing good knots with the leg rope, but that is a great idea just putting the paddle inside your leg strap. Good thinking.

You can put the handle between you legs and tie it to the draw string of your boardies, the paddle then keeps you afloat as you swim with arms, no way I would let paddle go and swim in, paddle is a great flotation device....

I paddle myself in!

I discovered this technique one winter, while I was surfing alone in the fog... in full 5 mm wetsuit
5' waves at a reef break in New England.... 400 yards out, strong current.
My leash snapped
My new board was being driven towards a 10' granite block wall
I needed to get in fast, so came up with this plan:

I lay on my back
left hand grips the hosel, just above the blade
right hand grips mid shaft
result:
my blade side is SHORT
my handle side is LONG

Laying on my back, with my head pointing towards shore
I simply "kayak paddle" myself in!
Plus I kick my feet as I paddle

It is surprisingly efficient, and not tiring at all
Because I am doing a "modified backstroke" kick
I can watch behind me, to keep track of any surfers

the longer "handle side" balances the drive of the short "blades side"... and actually keeps you moving quite well.

Why drag the paddle when you can use it!!!!

Hasn't happened to me yet, but I think the tie the paddle shaft to the end of the leash is a good idea..
I have practiced the "chuck paddle in and swim to fetch it, towing the board" & "chuck paddle in and prone the board to pick up the paddle.

Good tips lads, good tips.

I had it happen once, so for next time, I sewed a "Paddle Loop" to my board shorts
(and later to my waist leash). It is a piece of elastic rope short the right
length to insert the paddle handle into and it will hold the paddle so
it will trail behind - it is a pretty small loop. It works really well.

But, I gotta try Creek's technique as I've got some new board shorts
and a new waist leash and haven't gotten around to sewing in a Paddle
Loop. Still, I do use the paddle loop to wrap around the middle of the
leash and hold it out of the water for less drag when paddling and
catching a wave - another reason to have one.

Great tips fellas. Now are some boards more prone to break leggier than others or is it just bad luck? (l know a nick from rocks is the kiss of death) I've done several on the Hypernut but none on my style surfing same spots.

Sadly I've done it alot.I found that if you hold the shaft, were it meets the blade. With shaft pointing to the beach. you can use the paddle like a bodysurf hand plane.Catch a wave and you'll be on it to the beach.

You'll look like a unicorn swimming to the beach, but it eliminates the chance of losing your paddle when throwing it.

Hi

I had a long harrowing swim in about five years ago and did exactly what Creek said. Rolled on my back, choked up on the paddle shaft and paddled myself in to shore. I could see the sets coming and could prepare for the washing machine. I was perhaps close to a kilometre out and still vividly remember the experience and thinking "This is not the way I want to go out!" Close to shore I got caught in a lateral rip and just kept going. I crawled up the beach exhausted. I changed several things after that swim including beefing up my leashes, switched to a waist leash, wearing an impact vest and if I am out in conditions much beyond my abilities, I head in.
Bob

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Chris_M said..
I want to put in a +1 for the O&E leashes

+2

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chucktheskiffie said..

Chris_M said..
I want to put in a +1 for the O&E leashes

+2

I hear Smik leashes are the go ,built for/tested in the West Aussie juice!

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supthecreek said..
I paddle myself in!

I discovered this technique one winter, while I was surfing alone in the fog... in full 5 mm wetsuit
5' waves at a reef break in New England.... 400 yards out, strong current.
My leash snapped
My new board was being driven towards a 10' granite block wall
I needed to get in fast, so came up with this plan:

I lay on my back
left hand grips the hosel, just above the blade
right hand grips mid shaft
result:
my blade side is SHORT
my handle side is LONG

Laying on my back, with my head pointing towards shore
I simply "kayak paddle" myself in!
Plus I kick my feet as I paddle

It is surprisingly efficient, and not tiring at all
Because I am doing a "modified backstroke" kick
I can watch behind me, to keep track of any surfers

the longer "handle side" balances the drive of the short "blades side"... and actually keeps you moving quite well.

Why drag the paddle when you can use it!!!!

Hey I'm at work tomorrow morning STC, so I'll look forward to your vid of this technique in the morning!
39c here in Melbourne today, so you in a 5mm wettie in winter should look great!

But seriously, that sounds like a great innovation.
Thanks

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supthecreek said..
I paddle myself in!

I discovered this technique one winter, while I was surfing alone in the fog... in full 5 mm wetsuit
5' waves at a reef break in New England.... 400 yards out, strong current.
My leash snapped
My new board was being driven towards a 10' granite block wall
I needed to get in fast, so came up with this plan:

I lay on my back
left hand grips the hosel, just above the blade
right hand grips mid shaft
result:
my blade side is SHORT
my handle side is LONG

Laying on my back, with my head pointing towards shore
I simply "kayak paddle" myself in!
Plus I kick my feet as I paddle

It is surprisingly efficient, and not tiring at all
Because I am doing a "modified backstroke" kick
I can watch behind me, to keep track of any surfers

the longer "handle side" balances the drive of the short "blades side"... and actually keeps you moving quite well.

Why drag the paddle when you can use it!!!!

Great thread!!
I think I might have to give this a go as a practice run when no one is around. I have had the odd tiring experience using the throw and follow technique which now I realise is like driving your car by running beside it.

The other thing that I was told is that a wet suit provides buoyancy ? How much truth is there in this ?

Lots. I float really well in a 4/3 and swim like a fish. Without..... stone .
Does help that I'm in Victoria and it rarely gets too warm.

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Gboots said..
The other thing that I was told is that a wet suit provides buoyancy ? How much truth is there in this ?

My 5/4 is so buoyant that sometimes, when I fall in on my back, I have trouble pulling my feet back under me..... they just want to float.

I think the moral of the story is.........Be confident in your swimming ability if things get tough.
Be prepared to ditch your board and paddle to save yourself........Be safe folks.

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ghost4man said..
I think the moral of the story is.........Be confident in your swimming ability if things get tough.
Be prepared to ditch your board and paddle to save yourself........Be safe folks.

Ghost.Wise words when this happened to me,there was a strong sweep,so my board was disappearing,and I was doing throwing the paddle thing.One lady long boarder offered some assistance,but I said I'm ok, but I wasn't! Foolish/ego,I did manage to get in /recover board,paddle ect. Sitting on the beach exhausted I came to relive that was the first time in 50 years of surfing that I was in trouble,and had just had what I call a safe scare,I am a lot more cautious these days,check equipment ,surf conditions. The funny thing was sitting on the beach completely spent the same lady came up to me and said you have had the best workout of all of us ,we both had a good laugh ??