Not only the leg rope that snaps. I got sold a new webbing ring to replace the usual cord in the deck plug. This will never break I was told.
Broke first wave. Don't think they sell them anymore. No drama for the swim in except that some poor bugger got eaten a couple of weeks before at the same spot.

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broadman said..
Not only the leg rope that snaps. I got sold a new webbing ring to replace the usual cord in the deck plug. This will never break I was told.
Broke first wave. Don't think they sell them anymore. No drama for the swim in except that some poor bugger got eaten a couple of weeks before at the same spot.

after a couple of long swims i now run two cord loops, so if one snaps there's a back up.

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broadman said..
Not only the leg rope that snaps. I got sold a new webbing ring to replace the usual cord in the deck plug. This will never break I was told.

I now use 2 dyneema cords on the same plug, one 3mm, 1 ton resistance + a backup one a bit looser (so they don't wear at the same speed) of 2mm, 500kg resistance.
Dyneema is very tough, similar to kevlar but easier to work with, and slippery so it wears slower. Be careful to burn the ends after tying the knot to help secure it.

But of course a leash can always break. Nowadays I tend to get out after 2 or 3 waves if I don't feel I could make it to the beach if the leash breaks.

Can you send some pics colas?

I too do what Colas does, two loops of dyneema and also check the UJ attachment and Velcro every other surf.. and wash it all down with fresh clean water after each surf..

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benjl said..
Can you send some pics colas?

And while I am at it, here are all what I do when I receive a new SUP board: The above for the leash, and also:
Hexatraction in front


Fill in the long slots in the pad with bits of other pads where my rear foot stays when paddling. I found out that my rear foot is shuffling around all the time, and this surface movement ends up ungluing the thin straps of pad between these slots.


A bit of pad on the nose, to put the board upside down on the road with only padded surfaces touching hard surfaces


Keeping the tail kickpad under vices for the first night, in my experience it gives extra strength to the gluing of this part that get a lot of water pressure in the numerous washing machines I go through :-)



Weighting the board, so I have a reference point in the future to see if a ding has taken water.


And of course, the mandatory Quobba fins, and the luxury of the boxstix box fillers (but I guess it has only a placebo effect)

Referring back to the thread topic....i would suggest the main reason for you being in the surf zone without your board.....is you chose poor equipment. The Creatures 12 foot Outer Reef is my baby. Lots of stretch (don't forget that 24 foot "kill zone" for surfers that are inside you)

Referring back to the thread topic....i would suggest the main reason for you being in the surf zone without your board.....is you chose poor equipment. The Creatures 12 foot Outer Reef is my baby. Lots of stretch (don't forget that 24 foot "kill zone" for surfers that are inside you)

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GizzieNZ said..
Referring back to the thread topic....i would suggest the main reason for you being in the surf zone without your board.....is you chose poor equipment.

Well, good equipment reduce the risks, but it cannot prevent them totally.

With bad luck in wipeouts, any leash will be cut by the fins, even if you sand the trailing edges. Plus there are all the other risks (injuries,...). I found out that just getting some waves then going in offers a good compromise: it provides enough enjoyable memories of the rides, while minimizing a lot the risk exposure... we all experienced Murphy's law in getting into trouble when trying to get just-the-last-good-wave-and-then-I-get-out :-)

The double dyneema cords is a no brainer however. I had the built-in loop of a nearly new - otherwise quite strong - O&E One snap in powerful waves, and replacing the traditional cords is a solution with no drawbacks. Using a long and thick leash is not worth it for me (drag, time to recover the board) when I never broke an O&E One leash cord by mere traction anyways. But I guess we all have different ways to balance safety and practicality...

May all of you and your loved ones have fun and enjoy fully - and safely - this new year!

Stuck the blade down the front of my pants. Did my boardies up tight and layed on the shaft.

Corrr blimey Colas, thats a great way to set a board up!

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Midlife said..
Stuck the blade down the front of my pants. Did my boardies up tight and layed on the shaft.

Hope you're done having kids

I didn't read all the replies, so apologies if I'm just repeating what others have said... Being a long-time sea kayaker, I've always taken offshore paddle safety pretty seriously, and a lot of it applies to SUP. Many of the breaks I surf are over a km off shore, some up to two. To the actual question, never ditch your paddle unless it presents a safety hazard that outweighs it's benefit. The paddle is a float and a signaling device you can waive in the air. In the surf, you're going to want the paddle in your hands. Paddle swimming is a standard practice with sea kayaks (google it) and can be applied to a one-blade paddle. Practice it before you need it. After you're out of the surf zone, you can attach it to your waist, or to your leg using the leash ankle strap, or whatever to make it easier to swim if you want to, but I sure wouldn't want the thing strapped to my leg while getting pounded

Harden up everyone busted leggies are character building.
First started surfing there were no legropes.

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micksmith said..

Midlife said..
Stuck the blade down the front of my pants. Did my boardies up tight and layed on the shaft.

Hope you're done having kids

Here is a short but good vid from Dave Kalama

This last year, whilst playing with the grandkids, I've been using a hand plane. I haven't tried it yet, but see no reason why a paddle couldn't be used in a similar way.

Self rescue best practice for most water sports is to hold onto any equipment that floats. Don't ditch the paddle unless it's damaged and lost its flotation.

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Gboots said..

micksmith said..

Midlife said..
Stuck the blade down the front of my pants. Did my boardies up tight and layed on the shaft.

Hope you're done having kids

Here is a short but good vid from Dave Kalama

that vdrive paddle makes a lot of difference too

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Gboots said..

micksmith said..

Midlife said..
Stuck the blade down the front of my pants. Did my boardies up tight and layed on the shaft.

Hope you're done having kids

Here is a short but good vid from Dave Kalama

Dave is referring to surfacing not sticking the blade down his pants and swimming

Good thing to do is swim practice, best rescue technique swim fitness
If you cant swim out pass the break and swim back in.
Then maybe you should not go out.

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supsurfers said..
Good thing to do is swim practice, best rescue technique swim fitness
If you cant swim out pass the break and swim back in.
Then maybe you should not go out.

Top advice. I took up SUP a few years ago but payed no attention to my swimming ability or how well I could hold my breath under pressure.
After nearly drowning last september I have taken up swimming for some fitness outside of SUPing. Best decision I've made for a while.

No busted leggie, but snapped sup in big beachee, front 7 ft of board went to the beach quickly, I was left with paddle and the rear 3 feet, pretty funny paddle back in, glass fibres in arms was the worst of it
Best advice iv read here is if you could not swim out and back safely and alone , give it a miss.

My leg rope has snapped twice and I worked out that backstroke with the paddle tucked in your shoulder. Works well and you can see the waves coming