Surfing Waves

Don't know what I'm doing wrong, but find my legs constantly getting tangled in the leash. When paddling out it always starts wrapping around the leg its attatched to, stop , untangle, paddle on. But my favourite part is when I pop up and go to trim the board to find I cant move front foot as its nicely hog tied. Board is a 9'8 with a 9' leash. Is it just me?

well, generally, the leash should be at least as long as the board...
with a 9' leash its even mathematically impossible to get around on the whole of your board... so you should get a leash yet another foot longer...

than you should check the swifels on your leash.. you should have one on each of the ending and they should run free... the main problem with entangelment is usually that the swifel is not turning out the corkings out of the leash.. so instead of straighetning out because of the tension, the leash, due to its stiff polyurethan, is forced into a spiral which then hovers just below the board.. and getting a foot in there and have it entangled isnt that hard anymore...

Even'n, APH, has your leash got a swivel? the end nearest that poor tangled foot should be where the swivel is.Possibly two one at each end, check they are swivelling smoothly WD40 into the seam.
Next question how do you store your leash/leggie when you are not using it? if it is curly from storage it will be the proverbial sea snake to entangle you.
Next pop up try the great trick of having it between your toes
Now I hope you have it on your backfoot and what I do is point the swivel part out to the outside of my back foot, straight behind seems to invite more tangles
Don't worry the leash monster still sneaks up on old hands ( perhaps I should say feet too)
Probably tomorrow for me after advising you

jaffa1949 wrote:Even'n, APH, has your leash got a swivel? the end nearest that poor tangled foot should be where the swivel is.Possibly two one at each end, check they are swivelling smoothly WD40 into the seam.
Next question how do you store your leash/leggie when you are not using it? if it is curly from storage it will be the proverbial sea snake to entangle you.
Next pop up try the great trick of having it between your toes
Now I hope you have it on your backfoot and what I do is point the swivel part out to the outside of my back foot, straight behind seems to invite more tangles
Don't worry the leash monster still sneaks up on old hands ( perhaps I should say feet too)
Probably tomorrow for me after advising you

Wow, tell me more!

I sometimes get mine wrapping around my front foot once, roping me into a stupid trim position with an impending drop to navigate

Might want to post this in the longboard forum.

For me, I put the leash really snug, but not so much to cut off circulation. Then, while sitting in the lineup, I make sure the darn thing is sticking out and the leash is to the side, but I don't longboard much so my 6ft leashes aren't the same as your 9ft leashes. It's something you have to work out.

Lastly, for longboarders, some like the leashes that sit up on the calf better, never tried one but maybe someone can chime in on the longboard forum

Hi all
RE the length of the leash, know technically its deemed short but I never get anything more than the front foot within spitting distance of the nose so havent bothered about getting a longer one. And yes Jaffa its on my back leg, and it is a below the knee kind so was wondering if that could be a problem? I keep it wrapped around the tail when storing the board so will pull it out and hang it out to straighten it.I have noticed it kinking up in the water. Will also double check the swivel, maybe stiff. Do tell more about the between the toes technique.
Thanks all for the input

So you think Uncle Jaffa has a plan afoot unfortunately NO!, I was being ironic about the leash between to toes it rolls and strangles and can even dislocate to big toe EEEK, please take some of Uncle Jaffa's advice with a grain of salt, especially if you think he is being moronic ( i mean ironic)

jaffa1949 wrote:So you think Uncle Jaffa has a plan afoot unfortunately NO!, I was being ironic about the leash between to toes it rolls and strangles and can even dislocate to big toe EEEK, please take some of Uncle Jaffa's advice with a grain of salt, especially if you think he is being moronic ( i mean ironic)

Lucky I had forgotten about it by today's surf. To be honest, my surf fitness was so bad today (mince pies + no surfing) that the leash was the least of my worries!

I surf on a shortboard but my back leg usually getting tangled as well. Perhaps because I use a really thick one (the seller told me it was for big waves), or perhaps it got curled/wrapped long long time in the shop before I bought it. I'm trying to solve this problem by not wrapping it around the tail of my board anymore. When I get home I take it off from the board, hang it straight down somewhere on the ceiling.

Hang it straight when storing it. If your leash keeps causing you trouble, get into the habit of sliding the leash out through your fingers, from your ankle all the way back to straighten it out when you first sit up in the lineup. Paddle around, sit up, straighten leash - repeat...