The leash is your safety line when surfing. It connects you to the surfboard and is an indispensable part of your surfing equipment. The structure is relatively simple: a stretchable polyurethane cord with a Velcro loop for the foot and a small Velcro fastener for attachment to the board.

Functions of a leash: In the event of a fall, you don't have to swim far to the board because it is in close proximity thanks to the leash. It is even enough to pull on the leash and the board comes to you. You avoid damage to the board, especially at surf spots around rocks, because it does not drive uncontrolled into the rocks. If there are many people in the water, your board will not (constantly) become a danger to other surfers when it is out of control.

Leash length: The leash should be at least as long as the board itself. If the leash is too short, this will lead to unpleasant collisions with you and your board. As a beginner, you choose the leash about a foot longer than the board. If you have your board under control most of the time, you can only add about 10cm over the board length. If you aim for big waves, you choose a longer and thicker leash.

parts of a leash

Cord: composed of polyurethane. The thicker the leash, the stronger it is. The catch is that when surfing you drag the leash behind you in the water and a thicker leash does not absorb the forces as well as a stretchier one. The thicker the leash, the less chance it will break.

Swivel: The connecting piece between the rope and the straps. Many leashes have at least one freely rotating joint to prevent the leash from twisting and wrapping itself around the surfer's leg. It is actually mandatory, especially with longer leashes.

Cuff: The part of the leash that you tie around your ankle (ankle strap). The loop is closed with a Velcro fastener. It is important that you can also open this loop blindly under water. In the worst case, the leash can get tangled under water and you have to detach yourself to get back to the water surface. There are also larger straps for longboarders so that the leash can also be attached under the knee. The reason for this is that the forces increase with larger boards.

Railsaver: Often several nested Velcro straps to attach the leash to the board. This piece is extra long and wide so it doesn't indent the tail of the board. When attaching, make sure that the swivel does not press on the rear edge if there is a pull on the leash.