Wrapping your leash around your paddle with big wave impacts.

[photosettle]

would it make sense to install one of those loops at the front of the board so you are not as worried abou the fin and you could just jump off and grab it?

[linter]

i have a rope loop hanging off the back of my board, with a big knot on it for me to hold onto while getting thrashed.  so far i've broken 2 fingers with this contraption.  how'd that happen?  despite my best efforts, my fingers slipped inside the loop just as the board flipped over and we all went over the falls.  this was about 2 months ago.  one of those broken fingers is still giving me pain.
   memo to self: get rid of that rope before you break two more fingers, knucklehead!

[gatorboy]

I guess there's a reason why you're supposed to get a leash at least as long as your board.  I think I'll do what I've been doing and stay away from crowds, and not grab the leash at all.  After hearing your guys' horror stories of near decapitation and broken fingers.  I think I'll stick to using the leash as it was designed for.

[PonoBill]

Maybe I'm just wierd but anytime I grab the tail of the board it somehow makes the tail flip up and out of  my grip and I've been close to being decapitated by my fins... Scared the $%$% out of me a few times...

That's one reason to flip the board before the wave does,and a good reason to add some kind of handle you can hang on to. It works, I use mine a lot. Of course i weigh 240--that might have something to do with it.

[Russell]

A handle is a good thing if the surf is small but if you are being spun a lot it is not a good idea. If your hand gets stuck in the handle you can do serious damage to your arm or shoulder.

On my surf Kayak I have a 2 ft length of webbing tied in half on the handle to hold onto. But then again you don't use it much.

I am thinking of doing this on the front of my board as I too don't like holding to close to the tail as the fins are to close when being washed.

But mostly I don't surf big waves near other surfers as I would rather ditch and dive for the bottom holding the paddle with 2 hands. It's hard enough keeping control of the paddle let alone the board.

Russell.

[Sam Pa'e]

This is my board that had a handle install 4 years ago. It was installed with the intent to help hold on during a wipe out. After falling down I would flip it over, hold on to this handle, and it would drag me out of harms way. I still have it till this day



Although I never have had any broken finger.......I did have some close calls like "dislocating my shoulders". But I've learned that the best thing to do is, face the board directly to the shore and just before impact (while under water) I would pull down on the handle/tail of the board causing the white wash to roll over.

However, my percentage rate of success isn't as high I would like it to be, but it has worked depending upon were you are, at the time of the incident.

For example: If your right at the point of impact......for get it, dive, and let the board drag you.......or if the wave has already broken and the white water is not as high........then I'll pull on the tail just to get it under water letting the wash roll over the board.........

Just my 2 cents.

Aloha......Sam