Do u surf with a leash!?

[bluesnowcone]

yh it is taking bloody ages to get that reef started, its suposed to be finished winter next year, but i dont see that happening

[kcskimkid]

i deff wear a leash. its basically the same thing as wearing your seatbelt which i always do.i remember i was surfing at waikiki beach out beyond the third bouuee and my leash actually came undone after a wipout and my board went alll the way to the beach. it was scary as sh*t. i swam to the nearest bouyee and held on to it until i could get another surfer to bring my board back to me. it was way too far to swim back to the beach.

[FormosanSurfer]

Why wouldn't you surf with a leash? I really don't see any benefits.

[Brent]

I do it sometimes & only when the conditions are dead-right, gentle peeling waves from an old & long period swell, 1-2 foot or so.
It does feel nice, not having drag on your ankle as you paddle & it's well, just different. Like going skin. Bareback.

The thing is it makes you think about your wave exit, what you're doing with the board as you bail...rather than just bailing, it makes you attempt at least to be more 'elegant' as you exit a wave.

Having said that if you've got rocks inshore, other people etc use a leash.

I noticed this summer here quite afew of the groms not using them, but I just think they've been watching too much Taj on DVD, they neglect to see the jetski flicking him & 70 boards sitting unused in his garage at home. Doing & not making airs like that...the alternative is a gaff hat to protect you from twanging legrope returning boards.

[bluesnowcone]

wel if your a short boarder theirs no benefits of surfing without a leash, but if your a longboarder, its much easyer to cross step without a rope around your foot

[dreamer]

surfing without a leash is dangerous & inconsiderate if you're somewhere where there is anymore than 4/5 people out -- just wait for the day that it cruises into someones head.

I'd never surf without a leash unless i was on a 10ft mal @ 4 in the morning with no one out -- just too dangerous.

Think about those times when you've nearly had your head wiped out by a board, but it missed by a couple of foot coz the leash bounced back -- remove the leash & say hello to the emergency ward.

[DayWalker*]

Judging from the responses it's clear that we're a responsible bunch.

As Drowning pointed out earlier, pros have all the necessary support to
ensure that when they bail, their boards don't become hazardous projectiles to others in the water. (Been there done that )

As Cheezy mentioned, a quick tug brings your board back when you're thoroughly rushed. I'm sure there's alot of people who've done that and then thanked the Almighty that you're still freakin' alive!

Granted, when it's quiet and there's no one around, surfing unleashed brings a bit of freedom. Nothing wrong with that .

It's a personal choice.....