Fairly new on the sup, but seem to be getting caught with the leash around both legs a bit in the white water.
Im 80kg and the boards 9 foot. What type of leash is most suitable ? Ta

Hey Wildrover,I use a 10' coiled calf leg rope.Look on eBay Blackhawk sell them for $25.I find it stays out of your way when paddling and the coiled hangs on the the back of the board and stays out of the way.

9ft

Waist belt with a half-coil leash solves that problem..

8' would be more than enough, unless you are hanging 10

Knee leg rope

Personally I prefer a 9' straight (not coiled) calf leggie. I find coiled leashes tangle on themselves - unless you are on a long board and do not often fall in.

When are you getting tangled; when you fall off or when you are off and trying to get through the whitewater?

Personally I don't get tangled as often that I used thanks to the technique I have spelled out below. But I find I am always conscious of where my legrope is - because it can really hurt in bigger waves when it tangles (as you have probably found).

For example, if I am in the water and a breaking wave is coming I do the following:

1. I turn my back to the wave with the board pointing to shore while holding the tail pad.
2. I make sure the leggie is hanging between me and the board.
3. Just before the wave arrives I push down hard on the tail pad (which lifts the nose of the board and lifts me out of the water a little) then I push it hard toward shore - in doing so I flop down into the water to go under the wave, and the legrope goes tight. If was tangled at all then under light tension you get untangled - before the wave hits the board. Also, I believe that if the leggie is already taught when the wave hits it is less likely to break - and it sure doesn't attempt to rip your ankle off if it does get tangled. The other point is that as I let go of the tail of the board I point my legs towards shore - so if there is a tangle it should slip over my legs/ankle/feet more easily.

(Of course, make sure there is no one behind you that will be hit with your board.)

If it is safe (the wave is smaller), you can simply hold the tail pad and let the wave wash over. Don't hold the leg rope as you can damage and even de-glove a finger. If the wave proves to be too big, push the board away from you towards shore but also point your legs toward shore. (But keep your legs/feet away from the fins.)

I hope that helps.

-1 for coiled leggie in surf.

As well as tangles, trying to get the board back to you after a wipeout takes longer because of the springy-ness in the legrope.

Straight leash, knee leash all the way for surfing

Select to expand quote

Chris_M said..
-1 for coiled leggie in surf.

As well as tangles, trying to get the board back to you after a wipeout takes longer because of the springy-ness in the legrope.

Straight leash, knee leash all the way for surfing

+1

There was a post on another board with pictures of a brass fitting on the end of a coiled leash that penetrated the fiberglass when the leash broke and it recoiled. Presumably it could break at the other end and embed in the surfer though it is far less likely as your leg will probably be under water. Still something to think about.

True. But I suspect leashes behave very differently in water as opposed to being stretched between two trees.

Half coil snapping in large waves I have experienced and other than a damn long swim no drama. And no eye patch!

I've just started using a waist leash for surfing, attached to a standard 9ft leggie. I've only been surfing relatively small stuff, but it is a total joy from a leash management point of view. Way less hassle and tangle than an ankle or calf.
And, as others have said, the waist leash actually pulls you out of the water when the board gets caught in a wave.

Give it a go!
HB

So been getting tangled only falling off the wave going toward shore. Been on the water a lot the past week. Was using an old 9ft that i got second hand with the board. Possible that this was in poor condition.
got a mates 10ft ankle leash the past two sessions which was itself a bit better.
think i'll grab a waist alright and give that a spin.

Select to expand quote

cbigsup said..
True. But I suspect leashes behave very differently in water as opposed to being stretched between two trees.

Half coil snapping in large waves I have experienced and other than a damn long swim no drama. And no eye patch!

I think it was an in water incident but with an airborne board. I agree if it snapped at the other end it probably would have just hit the water hard but not the person wearing it. probably...

Select to expand quote

wildrover said..
So been getting tangled only falling off the wave going toward shore. Been on the water a lot the past week. Was using an old 9ft that i got second hand with the board. Possible that this was in poor condition.
got a mates 10ft ankle leash the past two sessions which was itself a bit better.
think i'll grab a waist alright and give that a spin.

It all depends how you are getting tangled. Are you goofy or natural? Which ankle/leg are you attaching the leash to?

Board management is important when you are sup surfing, as I am surf you know. But you need to plan your exit if you can. It makes it harder if other swimmers/surfers are nearby, but if you can turn back into the wave (a big bottom turn and cut hard into the wave) and either stay on or jump away from the board you should stay clear of the leash.

Easier said than done, but my goal is to stay on the board: put weight on the tail to tell the small wave pass; do a bottom turn back over the wave; cut back out through the unbroken wave (if you have already had a good ride), etc.

Select to expand quote

RideTheGlide said..

cbigsup said..
True. But I suspect leashes behave very differently in water as opposed to being stretched between two trees.

Half coil snapping in large waves I have experienced and other than a damn long swim no drama. And no eye patch!

I think it was an in water incident but with an airborne board. I agree if it snapped at the other end it probably would have just hit the water hard but not the person wearing it. probably...

Very possible we are referring to two different posts.

A guy did a bunch of breaking coils on land with nasty results.

I only use half coils with the waist belt mostly because I always cleverly step on ankle or knee straight leashes!

As always YMMV!