Let's talk leashes

For those of you who’ve had a lesson with us here at Moi’s SUP School, you’ll already know the level of importance we place on giving you a full understanding of the different forms of leashes available, their uses and of course their benefits.

Whilst it’s not a legal requirement here in the UK to wear a buoyancy aid/PFD (although it’s strongly recommended), it’s essential for your own safety that you always wear a leash. Your paddle board, whether it’s an inflatable or composite hard board is essentially your primary buoyancy/floatation device – needless to say, come separated from your board, you’re separated from your lifeline. Even if you lose your paddle, you can prone paddle home and you’re more likely to be seen by rescue services if you are lying on your board on top of the water.

*If you’re thinking of hiring a board on your foreign holiday, the likelihood is that they will not be supplied with a leash! (I know this from my own experience!). If this is the case, please be mindful of your safety. In the first instance naturally ask for a leash-failing provision, keep your paddling close to shore & always be ever mindful of weather conditions, wind and tides.

So let’s talk leashes! Attached to the ‘D’ ring at the tail of your board, there are two different types of leashes:

Coiled Leashes:

Most appropriate for paddling in flat water/inland water locations. Being coiled, it keeps out of the water & reduces the risk of becoming caught on objects in the water. These are the ones we use in our lessons.

Straight Leashes:

Most appropriate when paddling in surf conditions to minimise recoil.

Where to Wear Your Leash….

There are two different types of leash attachment ‘cuffs’:

Ankle – this is the most common leash ‘cuff’ with most board packages coming complete with this style of attachment as standard. It’s most suitable for paddling in environments such as lakes, canals, sea / coastal bays, surf and slow moving deepwater. Place it around your dominant ankle to avoid any tripping when moving back down the board to do advanced manoeuvres such as pivot/step back turns. For safety, please ensure that the release ‘tab’ is available on the outside of your ankle so you can easily run your hand down your leg, find & release the leash with ease.

Below the Knee/Calf – for use in the same environments as an ankle leash, the calf leash is slightly longer than the ankle ‘cuff’ and is simply worn just below your knee, again on your dominant leg with the release ‘tab’ on the outside.

What About Waist Belts?

Typically waist belts are used in environments such as moving/flowing water including, rivers, tidal rivers and estuaries, tidal races and white water rivers. However, their usage has grown in popularity over recent years in line with the surge in popularity of the sport & an increased awareness of potential hazards and our safety. As we operate on the river, we use them as standard in all our lessons.

Sitting on the waist, the Quick Release belt allows the leash to be up & off the deck, both preventing dragging or snagging in water hazards and allowing us to freely move around the deck. The beauty of the waist belt is that it’s easily accessible - you can either pull the strap to release the buckle or simply pull down on the release ‘toggle’. Always make sure that the waist belt is cut to your size so there is no excess strapping to get caught. Your ankle or calf leash is simply attached to the back of the waist belt, either directly or through the use of clips or quick release carabiners.

Of course, ensuring we’re wearing a leash is only one element of keeping safe on the water and we hope that you’ll never find yourself in a situation where you need to release your leash or waist belt in an emergency. We have a SUP ‘Mantra’ – “If in doubt, don’t go out”. Even if you’ve planned your day, if the conditions aren’t favourable, be safe – there is always another day!

Our partners Red Paddle Co have produced this simple guide ‘4 Simple Rules of Water Safety’.

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