Surfing Waves

Hey everyone,

My longboard leash is often wrapping around my feet, I would like to get a calf leash, and have a question regarding its length. My board is 9'1 (link below), my current leash is 10' (measured leash only without the rail guard).

- I am looking at the FCS or Dakine calf leash but not sure whether 9' or 10' would be better? I know it's not that much of a difference, but wanted to check anyways. I am a beginner that can stand up most of the time and ride the waves going left or right.

Thanks!

Board:
https://surfboardagency.com/aloha-fun-÷-longboard/

Stupid question; why can't one just put their ankle leash on their calf? What is the difference?

When you say ‘wrapping around your feet’ is that during the pop up, or after you have stood up (or when you are sitting on the board)?

SnakePlissken wrote:Stupid question; why can't one just put their ankle leash on their calf? What is the difference?

I got tooth picks for legs, and the standard ankle strap can wrap above my calf. But for normally built legs, a standard ankle straps' velcro won't make it around ( or only a tiny portion will be hanging on ).

armantas wrote:- I am looking at the FCS or Dakine calf leash but not sure whether 9' or 10' would be better? I know it's not that much of a difference, but wanted to check anyways.

It IS a big difference. Go with the 9 foot leash. ( I use a 8 foot leash on my 9'0" longboard )

Also to prevent leash wrapping around you feet.
1) have the mount face outwards of your knee , not back.
2) pre-stretch out your leash after you get back from the surf shop ( or good shops will do it for you )
3) do not wrap your leash around the tail and fins.

dtc wrote:When you say ‘wrapping around your feet’ is that during the pop up, or after you have stood up (or when you are sitting on the board)?

I think most of the time for me it happens when I change position from sitting on the board to laying down and paddling or vice versa. While sitting and waiting for the next set, I usually adjust the leash to make sure it's not wrapped around my leg or similar. However, when I start paddling and eventually pop up, I sometimes find it wrapped around in an awkward spot around one the feet, just above the ankle. Basically, it happens when I go from a seated position to paddling.

waikikikichan wrote:Also to prevent leash wrapping around you feet.
1) have the mount face outwards of your knee , not back.

I usually have the mount point in the opposite direction compared to my foot, i.e. pointing away from the back of my knee. I suppose it's in the completely opposite/wrong direction compared to what you suggest, which is mounting in the same direction as the foot?

waikikikichan wrote:3) do not wrap your leash around the tail and fins.

Thanks, I will try this as well. Do you simply leave it loose when transporting the board, e.g. in a board bag?

I suspect moving the leash from pointing backward to sideways will help a lot - give that a go before springing for a calf leash. A calf leash may not help anyway, as it seems like you are tangling up in the bit of the leash that is danging in the water, and a calf leash still has a lot of leash dangling in the water (and also has more of the leash laying along the board ie the bit from the calf to the ankle)

Have a look at your pop up - make sure you arent throwing your leash leg wide ie the foot goes out and then around the leash before dragging it back in. And how you are sitting - are you sitting in a slight current or drift with the leash being pushed into your leg? Can you angle the board slightly differently (when sitting) to have the leash move away?

Landing on your leash happens now and then to most surfers I imagine (well it happens to me so I'll claim I'm normal...).

Thanks guys, I have now 1) moved the leash pointing backward with respect to the knee and 2) not wrapping the leash around fins after done surfing, I leave it loose and as straight as possible. Both of these have helped considerably! I think I can make this work and won't be buying a new leash. Thanks!