Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Technique => Topic started by: Beasho on November 10, 2016, 02:55:51 PM
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I found a great description by Laird Hamilton on water safety and surviving big, brutal conditions.
I agree with everything he says BUT would include one more item which is to add a WAIST LEASH.
Laird recommends the following:
- Wear flotation that will bring you to the surface AUTOMATICALLY & DOES NOT NOT NEED TO BE ACTIVATED
- Let the board pull you out of the impact zone. Do not waste energy, do not fight it and burn oxygen. This will save your leash and save you. This is especially relevant with big boards.
- A Waist Leash will enhance the benefits of item #2 above. While it is pulling you out of harm's way you will be able to breath.
The specific part of the discussion on Safety, Question asked by Danielo Couto answered succinctly by Laird, here @ 37mm:40ss
https://youtu.be/RCunB1DG9as?t=2261
Full video here:
https://youtu.be/RCunB1DG9as
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Beasho, I thought one of the "advantages" of the waist-leash was a reduction in leash drag. It sounds like that totally changes with big waves?
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Laird is spot-on with regards to the strategies he claims. What I learned from Haley Fiske and Ian Wallace, both Mavericks SUP'ers, was that a Waist Leash allows you to breath WHILE the board is pulling you out of the impact zone. I made this drawing to depict what I am talking about.
I am surprised that they haven't figured it out, but will predict, that the big wave guys will eventually catch on.
PS: Drag on the leash skipping between the air and liquid interface is irrelevant compared to your fins plowing consistently through a medium that is 800X denser than air . . . but that's another topic. But yes there is probably less drag on a waist leash.
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Yes, I've seen that drawing before, good stuff Beasho!
There is no worse feeling for me than getting sucked back out and into the impact zone, even here on the east coast. It's not so much the size of the wave that get me it's the heaviness of the break, the number of waves in the set and frequency. Even a 15 sec hold down is brutal when its the 4th wave and you only got a partial breath on the last one.
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Beasho your spot on with all the comments on riding bigger surf! Love what insight you bring to the forum.
I surf a wave on the central coast that can quickly pull you into the rocks if you wipe out or get caught inside. The same spot has very large floating kelp balls in the line up. Being pulled inside on a large wave with my 12 foot PSH board from the impact zone and plowing into the rocks or getting tangled in the kelp are my two biggest fears.
I realize there is probably no good answer to these situational questions as anything can happen. I do practice unleashing my waist harness quickly while pretending I'm stuck underwater and tangled in kelp from time to time. I did pass in between two large rocks while being towed in 8 feet of foam on time. I luckily missed the rocks and the foam just pulled me into a small lagoon...(sort of like a very small scale Mavericks type lagoon.) My biggest fear is getting tangled in the rocks while underwater and not being able to unleash. Bad scenarios I know but something to think about in case it happens so you at least have a plan.
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All my waist leashes have a 'chicken loop' sewed on. This is to augment the little tab, which is impossible to find in a panic.
This large loop, PVC over 1/8" line, can be quickly grabbed to release the velcro strap.
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After the wipeout and in between sets I hold the paddle at the handle and keep it clear of me when the next sets roll in. Years ago, I was in deep water with my paddle floating at chest level in front of me. The incoming wave slammed the shaft across my forehead - glad I had my Gath helmet on. Now I keep the paddle at my side holding onto the handle and let it and my board pass me while duck diving (providing there's no one behind)
I do know a mav's sup'er who uses a waist leash. we use them for all other types of paddling as well, influenced by the benefits of it for rivers with a easier release vs reaching for the feet.
good ideas on the leash pull tab. back in the day in kayaking, we would use a whiffle ball, carabiner or duct tape to enlarge the pull tabs for spray skirts.
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I'm wedded to my waist leash and impact vest. I wear both for anything over three feet, and a waist leash always. I no longer see the point of calf or ankle leashes--to me they are for low volume surfboards, not SUPs. If you don't get pulled, then you don't need a waist leash, but if you do, then you do.
Beyond the huge benefit of getting pulled to the surface instead of being pulled under, and the reduced opportunity to get your knee or ankle screwed up, the entanglement danger is greatly reduced. I know firsthand how difficult it is to get a leash off your ankle or calf in current or waves.
Bottom line for me is that a tail handle, waist leash, and floatation makes it much more comfortable to be in the impact zone getting worked, or taking off on a big wave. My friends give me a little bit of grief about it, but if they actually experienced the difference instead of just following a pointless tradition that isn't relevant to the boards we use, I doubt they'd continue using what I now consider to be improper equipment.
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Evolution is necessary. A lot of what we have is just surf gear blown up bigger because that was the first idea someone had. Looking at how paddle in big wave gear is evolving I'm sure we're due for a few innovations as well.
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The only thing bad I can see about waist leashes is that they put much greater strain on the leash. It doesn't seem possible to streamline yourself as you can with an ankle leash or to a lesser degree, with a calf leash and reduce the strain on the leash components. For that reason, I'm using 9mm cord, a longer leash than otherwise necessary, and increasing the strength of every part.
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So has anyone that has used a waist leash had it wrap around their leg? It just seems to me that the extreme ends of your body would be the best choice and since the neck is out, ankle seems best. That said I've had my ankle leash wrap around my leg and even arm. Still have a bruise on the forearm from this last flurry of surf.
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Yeah, it gets wrapped sometimes, but not as easily as calf leashes. I think the much thicker cord helps with that, not so likely to get loops.
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9mm cord?
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After the wipeout and in between sets I hold the paddle at the handle and keep it clear of me when the next sets roll in. Years ago, I was in deep water with my paddle floating at chest level in front of me. The incoming wave slammed the shaft across my forehead - glad I had my Gath helmet on. Now I keep the paddle at my side holding onto the handle and let it and my board pass me while duck diving (providing there's no one behind)
I do know a mav's sup'er who uses a waist leash. we use them for all other types of paddling as well, influenced by the benefits of it for rivers with a easier release vs reaching for the feet.
good ideas on the leash pull tab. back in the day in kayaking, we would use a whiffle ball, carabiner or duct tape to enlarge the pull tabs for spray skirts.
Which waist leash are you guys using? Ta
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Based on reports from some of the folks here I picked up a waist leash last year. I love it and will never go back. I now look at ankle leashes and think, "WTF were we thinking?" To me there is no comparison, the waist leash wins every point of consideration. I am using "Leashlock Hawaii" I have purchased several for "reluctant" friends. They are now sold as well.
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9mm cord?
Yup.
I'm making my own waist leash now. I've changed out how the release works and how the cord attaches. I've also added float to the waist band. I have about three pounds of float in the waist leash I just built, and some decent spine and kidney protection. Comfy, not too bulky and it doubles as a third party gopro mount. If you break your leash you can slide the belt up to your chest as a swim aid.
I'll add some pictures after I put it together again. I ripped out all the seams tonight to make changes.
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Here is one of my 9.5 mm UNBREAKABLE leashes. Only the 2nd failure in 4 years. However this one might have been more than 2 1/2 years old definitely a bit rusty. Should have swapped out sooner. Good news was it broke in the middle not around my homemade terminal tackle.
I am leaning now towards double leashes in bigger conditions. Go with 7 mm but double down on the leash. It takes a bit of artistry to get them to work doubled up e.g. make them equal lengths, reconnect at the swivel, disregard the swivel and attach one to each of two leash plugs . . .
I find that the failure in the middle tends to be pretty random. If you double down you diversify the random factor. Still probably best to swap them out regularly.
I am still loving the thimbles (white hoops). All the terminal tackle is reusable so when a leash does break or needs to be replaced I just rebuild. No need to spend $40 every time.