Control. I think this is a big part of the problem between stand up and prone. Most prone surfers can control there boards as there is a lot less volume to hang onto. with short boards especially, its a simple duck dive and your out the other side and paddling again.
As a stand up surfer we all know that most times when hit with a good sized wall of white water its game over. The result is aprox 10ft of board and 10 ft of leg rope wollering around in a 20ft radius ready to clean up anyone around.
Here is my simple cost effective 95% solution.
I have always found that after getting trashed by either the wave you were on or the following set, a minute or two can be spent getting hammered, so I grab the leg rope near the board so its close to me.
Trouble was, it some times gets ripped out of your hand.
When your in the zone the white water goes over you 1st then over your board and you instantly come up to the surface ready for the next one. when the set has gone, back on the board and paddle again.
This handle works great in surf up to about 4 to 5 ft as that's my personal limit. bigger than that I don't know.
It cost a hundy to put in. the handle is just the same as the end of a leg rope.
Of course this may be one solution to the issue as we all know that there are a few.
Over xmas on the whangamata bar there were 60 sups on the water. Any other surfer didn't have a chance.
To me that's says theres 60 sups on one bar, that obviously don't give a dame about anyone else.

There are not many people anywhere that give a damn about anyone else Broadman.??

ET.

I reckon it is a great idea - for a few reasons:

1. As you say, it allows you to control the board. And having it there would remind all SUPers that it is their obligation to control their board
2. Making it easy to hold the board at the back gives you extra buoyancy - so when you get pounded you are back to the surface more quickly.
3. Holding the board so close means you can get back on the board more quickly. Otherwise you have to reel it in, flip it (why do they always flip?) and then climb up - before the next wave comes.
4. Potentially when you are falling off the board you could grab it on the way down - for example when you see a surfer on your inside but you can't turn off the wave.

I personally use a legrope that has an extra long tether so I can hold it close to the back of the board, but I would buy this in an instant - as long as the board does not flip and jam your fingers (but I suppose you just have to roll your wrist).

(And I think people do give a damn - they just don't have the control.)

I give a damn. That's why I paddle out where there is no one else, and make sure there's no one around me (especially behind) if I have no option but to bail.
I also go to extraordinary lengths to head out on an angle so as to not cross anyone's line. That's what the paddle's for.
I'm finding it easier to get through a wave with my bigger boards (when I've been walloped by the previous wave/set), if I leave it upturned and drag the tail down as I go through a wave. A last resort.
60 SUPs in one place? Really? I'd be heading somewhere else.....

Dumb question but I have no clue - would it be possible to install a set-up like this on a Naish Mana GS? (from the point of view of putting holes in the 'glass' - there's certainly space for it behind the kick pad). Any ideas on who to approach to install the leash plugs somewhere around Brissy?

another GREAT simple idea
well done

I try and stay out of ways of the prone surfers, trouble is they seem to follow me when they see me picking up plenty of waves when the surf is small and slow....when it gets big i pull out the shortboard. Different boards are needed for different conditions, problems arise when you are trying to use the wrong board for the conditions....

Select to expand quote

petedorries said..
another GREAT simple idea
well done

Ditto

Select to expand quote

Baysup said...

petedorries said..
another GREAT simple idea
well done

Ditto

And again

I have been using something similar for the last 2 years and Im surprised I haven't seen anyone else using some form of handle. I don't go out in big surf but have still managed to crunch my knuckles a few times so need to make sure grip is not too short. Overall it helps make things a little safer

Your fingers will get trapped, maybe lose one?
Better off with a very prominent tail/kick pad, you do not want your fingers trapped.

Great post, it is the problem. You're right though, over a certain size wave or to close to impact zone, don't grab that.
Just get clear of traffic and take your beating alone.

Personally I have the most fun as the only sup in a crowd. If more sups arrive, depending on the spot, I'm moving on.

That is the big problem when Sups get caught in the line up with long leggies that stretch out to 20 feet and tomb stone , that keeps you trapped in the impact zone. The tomb stone is when you board stands up on it's tail (like a tomb stone) and swings around taking out surfers as they duck dive past you. What I use is a short really thick leggie like the Balin Storm only 7 to 8 feet long that only stretches a little and it won't tomb stone it pulls the board down. This keeps the board close to you and with one kick off your leg the board is back within an arms length , can't do that with a long leggie you have to pull it back with your hands and if it's tomb stoning it's like trying to pull up and anchor.

If you are paddling out and you are going to be smashed look around you to see where the surfers are and shoot the board over the foam ball away from them , just don't dive off. All this keeps the board closer to you and makes it easier to get out of the impact zone.

The handle has it merits and helps a lot to keep the board close but it also keeps you too close , so you need to know when not to use it. Getting sucked back over the falls only an arms length from your board is not where you want to be.

Many postings on the stand up zone regarding rear handles going back to 2009. This is one of the recent topics......10 pages of different ideas
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,25430.0.html

good to see that all the people reading this do give a damn.But then again it seems like most people reading this are surfers from way back, so there aware.
Problem is how to educate the others that need it. youll never teach an old bugger new tricks but if we drill it into the younger ones perhaps the next generation will get it. perhaps.

Have to be careful with a handle as you can tear your bicep tendon if you get hit by a good one whilst hanging onto your board.Pressure/stress on your arm and elbow joint is huge.

I also use the Balin short thick storm cord on my 7'10 and it does keep your board close [6 foot]. Only downside is that it just about dislocates my knee/ankle in the bigger stuff. Hasn't stretched at all after a recent return trip from Bali in surf up to 6 foot.

Key is to keep your leg slightly bent when bailing out and get your board back under you asap and be aware of your ability level and others around you.

Long leggies and big SUPs and a crowded peak is a lethal combo.

Stay safe

Great to see Suppers making an effort. Sure, this could lead to self injury but save the noggin of an innocent punter especially with bigger boards. I wonder if on the nose better then you can roll, pull the nose under bit like eskimo roll with a bonus your hopefully facing the right way when you come up. Possibly develop a roll back on technique?
I also like the short super thick chords but pulled a couple of leash plugs out and need the longer one for the noserider. Watched a mate come so close to losing his head yesterday when a suppers leash snapped. Had everyone who saw it a bit Sup spooked

If your choosing to buy a custom you can ask for two leash plugs. With a loop through each and a 9 or 10mm cord there's certainly less chance of losing the board in the surf.
i hang onto the rail saver to keep the board close but i think the risk of crushing fingers is there if the board isn't pointing in the direction of the beach.
have you noticed any drag from the handle when surfing

No drag .I made sure the handle is short enough to just sit on the board. Up until now I have always flipped the board right side up so its ready to go soon as you're finished with your hammering, but yes there is the potential for a finger squash. Since the board mostly seems to end up upside down most of the time I might try leaving it that way then your just hanging underneath it, less of a chance for didget dislocation.

Good concept but I think that it has the potential to be very problematic. It is an accepted fact that at some point in a session you will find yourself getting cleaned up on a wave and then find yourself
tumbling in the washing machine. The last thing that I would want to be holding onto is a board which potentially could come into contact with any part of your person during this phase.

Select to expand quote

Desflurane said..
Your fingers will get trapped, maybe lose one?
Better off with a very prominent tail/kick pad, you do not want your fingers trapped.

thats rubbish….all life savers have straps on their prone boards..never seen a clubie or nipper losing a finger…they do have firmer straps.

also i believe that strap should be up near the nose of the board….keeping away from the fins.

Select to expand quote

E T said..
There are not many people anywhere that give a damn about anyone else Broadman.??
ET.

yeah that's right brother - and you see it more & more each week now , this last year has been particularly bad here

Where I was (prone) surfing today there was an idiot (seemed like a beginner, couldn't take off on a wave standing up, board flying in all directions) on a SUP with no leash on at all.
Not helping the tensions in any way.
Luckily it was a Monday morning not Sunday morning. He did get 'invited' to leave the water in the end.

I for one often grab my shortboard's leggy at the end near the leash plug (the part between the little rope and the rubber part) when needed in the soup. Wave size dependent, it's an ideal way of keeping your board near you and getting back on it quick smart in the impact zone.

You'd think this should be practiced to some degree by all leash oriented surfcraft users, SUP surfers too.

Great idea here.

yeh i just grab the webbing of the leggie and let it point to shore and hold it.
i still dont know why the shortest SUP leash you can buy is 10 foot.
stupid considering boards are varying now.
have tried std surfboard leashes to and snap snap snap.
7-8 footers please creatures, or anyone?

The Balin Storm are the go, they'll rip your leg off before they break... sizes start from 6ft up and they are about 1/2" thick.

I bought a Balin a while ago and first time out with it you notice straight they don't stretch much and I think it gives you more control of your board particularly when you get caught inside. I'd be concerned with a handle on maybe popping a shoulder or hand in the wrong circumstances.
Just my thought.
Cheers Mark

I've found that Balin leggies ding the rail a fair bit on the back section of my board. The grub screw in the swivel sits proud of the plastic. I've tried taping it but then it interferes with the swivel. Not the best design IMO, the grub screw should be countersunk more into the plastic swivel...

I'm new to Sup but have already realised what a beast these boards are on the end of a leggy, particularly with a dodgy knee. I've also got a scar on either ankle from fin cuts when being tumbled on long boards. It seems a lot of surfers, prone and sup, rely on their leg rope completely and bail with no thought as to where their board is headed or who is in it's path, when they could hold on, kick out, prone out, grab the webbing of the leggie as CAUTION advises or otherwise control the board. Maybe Funnsurfn is on to it with the idea of the strap on the nose. After all the old time surfers used to get their big old logs through the surf by using the Eskimo roll and hanging onto the nose which is way safer than hanging onto the tail with those sharp fins.

I guess there an element of risk in whatever you do or don't do
I've been hit with my board and fin in numerous different ways, but not ( yet ) by this method of using this handle. If I cop one one day, and save others from getting wacked by my board, it's a fair trade off. I'd rather hurt myself that hurt someone else.

Select to expand quote

Loz79 said..
I've found that Balin leggies ding the rail a fair bit on the back section of my board. The grub screw in the swivel sits proud of the plastic. I've tried taping it but then it interferes with the swivel. Not the best design IMO, the grub screw should be countersunk more into the plastic swivel...

send him an email, he will fix it .