Caption: What is a SUP leash for, and do you really need to wear it?!
The short answer: yes. You need to wear a leash when stand up paddle boarding.
The only exception would be SUP yoga, which is often done on calm, shallow waters. But for SUP activitieswhere you’ll be mostly sitting or standing, it’s best to put on your leash —
Wearing a SUP leash is not only for your safety but also for the safety of the people around you. If you’re planning to surf a big wave, you can easily lose your board in case you’re wiped out. Wearing a leash saves you from having to swim long distances just to retrieve your board.
You might be thinking, SUPing seems like a calm sport, though! Well, if you’re not convinced yet, let’s go into specifics as to why you need a SUP leash.
Reasons to wear a SUP leash
Keeps your board close by when you fall and keeps you safe
One of the most common misconceptions of new paddlers is that a SUP leash isn’t needed if you are stand up paddle boarding in flat or calm waters.
They try to justify it by saying ‘I am a good swimmer’ or ‘What can go wrong?’. Even a harmless fall in flat water can cause your SUP board to get lost 30 feet away from you and you’ll have to swim towards it just to get it.
What’s worse is you’re most likely left holding your paddle, so you’ll have to swim towards it one-handed. In case of emergencies, your SUP board can easily turn into your life-saving device, so keeping your board close by is always recommended.
If you’re stand up paddle boarding or surfing in stronger currents, a SUP leash isn’t just a recommendation at this point, but a complete necessity. Currents in surf zones are heavy and unpredictable, so you can’t just rely on your swimming skills and endurance to keep you safe.
You also need to consider not just your safety, but those around you as well. A paddle board propelled by a strong wave may seriously hurt somebody. So don’t be that person that surfs without a leash. It’s not a good habit and can definitely be extremely dangerous for everyone involved.
Helps save your energy
For beginners, it’s not uncommon to fall in the water several times before you get the hang of it, so wearing a SUP leash can help save your energy when you do fall in. You won’t have to swim all over the place just to get your board because the SUP leash will keep your board close to you. This way, you can use all your energy having fun and not worrying about having to retrieve your SUP.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wear a SUP leash?
This will highly depend on the environment you’re paddling in.
An ankle leash is the most common way to wear your leash and usually comes with your board as part of the kit. It’s super easy and simple to wear, but it may get in your way when you’re moving around on the board. A calfcalf leash is similar to an ankle leash, but the cuff is slightly longer, so you can attach the leash just below your knee. This gives you more freedom to move around on your board since the leash is higher up and doesn’t sit directly on the deck of the board.
These styles of leashes should not be worn in tidal large rivers. Make sure you put your leash on the same ankle or calf every time you go paddle boarding, so you know which ankle or calf to reach for in case you need to be released from your board. You should put your leash on your dominant ankle or calf as this will be the foot you’re most likely to use when doing a step back — which means it will not get in the way.
If you’re planning to paddle board on moving water like rivers, you may want to use a quick release waist belt that you can attach around your waist for easy access. You can secure your SUP leash to this belt, so you can easily detach yourself without needing to reach your ankle or calf. Plus, wearing this will give you a lot of freedom on your board as there is zero drag on the deck of the board. Don’t forget to practice releasing the belt whilst in the water in a safe environment and under the supervision of others!
Where should I wear my leash?
We suggest you wear your SUP leash when you’re paddling in any type of water. Regardless if you’re only planning to stand up paddle board in a calm lake, a SUP leash may come in handy if ever an accident happens. As I mentioned earlier, your paddle board can easily turn into your life-saving device, so keeping your board close by when you fall in the water is completely necessary.
Can I use the same SUP leash everywhere?
Short answer: if you only paddle one type of waterway, you can wear the same SUP leash. However, if you’re the type of paddler who surfs stronger currents as well, then no, you can’t. We recommend you use a different type of SUP leash for this specific activity.
There are two types of SUP leash you can choose from, depending on what type of paddle boarding activity you’re looking to do. When paddling on canals, lakes and calm seas, you can use a coiled SUP leash attached to the ankle or calf. This type of leash will remain on the back of the paddle board and will not trail in the water. It stays behind the paddle boarder to ensure it is less of a trip hazard.
Now, if you are venturing out into the surf zone, we highly recommend you use a long straight surf leash instead.
Most straight leashes are around ten feet long, which is long enough for the board to avoid recoiling back towards the paddle boarder when a wipeout happens. A SUP-specific leash is a lot better than a normal surf leash since paddle boards are bigger and heavier than surfboards so you’ll have to use a stronger leash for this. It’s very important that you pay close attention to the condition of your leash string to make sure it won’t snap while you’re surfing.
Lastly, if you are planning to get out on any flowing water like harbours and rivers, what we recommend is you invest in a quick-release (QR) waist belt.
These belts go around your waist and it’s where you can secure your coiled ankle strap via a quick-release attachment. There are QR waist belts that release automatically when placed under pressure. There are also QR belts that you can manually release if you need to be free from your board.
The reason QR waist belts are necessary for this specific type of activity is that flowing harbours and rivers could have numerous hazards that it’ll be almost impossible to reach down to release an ankle or calf leash. So it’s very important that you know how to operate your QR waist belt and you should always be prepared for the possible challenges that you may encounter while you’re on and in the water.
Conclusion
To summarise, a SUP leash is more than just an accessory. It’s by far one of the most important pieces of safety equipment that you need before you stand up paddle board. With a SUP leash, you’ll have peace of mind, so you can focus on having fun instead of worrying about what will happen if you fall into the water.
Our stand up paddle board kits at Kahuna come standard with a SUP leash, which you can also purchase separately if you already have your own board. So, what are you waiting for? Ensure your safety and purchase one today!
Suggested Read: SUP Safety Tips: What to Do Before & While SUPing
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