Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: Dwight (DW) on December 29, 2015, 04:09:44 PM
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This is what it feels like with a waist leash. My wife with her waist leash. It may look funny today, but soon it may look normal, as more discover how nice they are.
(http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5264117ce4b077de040303d1/t/56831d47a128e6493c2f7b00/1451433292027/?format=2500w)
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I'll be honest, that looks fantastic, nothing tripping you up, all back and out of the way. What model is she using?
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Leashlok Hawaii waist belt on our 10 ft leash.
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looks cool to me
JimK
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I'm constantly getting anti waist leash attitude in the UK! Folk are dead against it for some reason. They are using ankle leashes for just about every type of paddling. :(
I have been using my own homemade QR waist leash for about 4 years now.
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Two of the three amigos gave me a bunch of grief about it, and most people kind of sneer at it. I think it's like tail handles. "Purists" don't like the whole idea, even though they've never tried either. People are remarkably silly. But then I knew that. We've been killing each other for thousands of years over invisible men. I guess waist leashes are small spuds.
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Shops could do customers a huge favor, replacing those coil SUP leashes with waist leashes. If I was still doing downwinders, I'd do it with a waist leash.
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It looks like you have something sticking out… ?
(just kidding: go with it!)
In fact, why not simplify it and got with a scuba diving weight belt (huh… without the weights).
It offers super fast and simple release.
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i will never use an ankle leash again
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Even thou I'm a small wave SUP-er I'm definitely gonna convert for 2016. Love the idea of not stepping on my leash, getting pulled form ankle, tangling, etc.....not too mention easier shaking off the RI red tide salad without bending done. I'm in!
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It looks like you have something sticking out… ?
This is what bothers them. They're already not pleased with us standing around all the time and now we've got this thing hanging out our ass.
I can't see it so it doesn't matter, and they'll get over it.
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Bad enough we tower over them, now we have tail erections.
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New Coast Guard regulations:
cr-2013: mandatory PFD
cr-2014: whistle
cr-2015: waist leash, with visible TAIL
cr-2016: flag for all SUP - must be flown day or night from the stern (to ensure surfer mental preparation)
Man… don't quote me on this…
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Yeah but what happens in 2x OH waves? I often end up somersaulting around in the white water when caught inside and more than once my ankle leash has gotten wrapped around my leg (or both legs) and then yanked tight. A tail leash looks a little too close to my neck for my comfort level, at least for use in large waves.
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the waist leashes were first used by big wave suppers--see all that beasho's written re those who sup maverick's--note the pic he provided of 3 sup surfers on a big day at maverick's--3 for 3 using waist leashes--see the beasho waist leash drawing--it depicts reality--when the board drags you by a waist leash, it pulls you to the surface--i have had zero issue with tangling--certainly no more than with ankle leashes--and i have never had to release a leash in dnager, but, at the waist, it would be much easier than getting to and releasing from an ankle
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Any leash can fail. The pictured leash was a big wave leash maybe 2 months old. Took this waist leash out this morning in powerful Calif surf. An hour into my surf session I got caught inside and "Booyyying" broken leash. The waist leashes are great! It was the leash rope that broke. I only use the waist leashes on my sups now. After over 4 years of using the waist leashes I'll never go back to ankle or calf leashes.
A fellow surfer on the beach rescued my board as I was surfing a very rocky spot. I only had small scratches on the Foote and it could have been horrible. I thanked him profusely for rescuing my board. He said "No problem…it's the fellow surfers code of ethics." I'm glad this didn't happen at Launada Bay ;)
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Yeah but what happens in 2x OH waves? I often end up somersaulting around in the white water when caught inside and more than once my ankle leash has gotten wrapped around my leg (or both legs) and then yanked tight. A tail leash looks a little too close to my neck for my comfort level, at least for use in large waves.
Quick release systems and rescue knives are the way forward.
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It looks like you have something sticking out… ?
(just kidding: go with it!)
In fact, why not simplify it and got with a scuba diving weight belt (huh… without the weights).
It offers super fast and simple release.
That's what I do and it works great . I use to only use it when the kelp was a problem , but now I'm using it more often . Proners think I look kooky anyway so I don't think a waste leash is any worst .
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Yeah but what happens in 2x OH waves? I often end up somersaulting around in the white water when caught inside and more than once my ankle leash has gotten wrapped around my leg (or both legs) and then yanked tight. A tail leash looks a little too close to my neck for my comfort level, at least for use in large waves.
I hear the same thing about tail handles. The fins are going to stab you, blah, blah. The first time you try either a waist leash or a tail handle--and I mean the very fu&^king FIRST time. you say "Oh, that is so much better." The bigger the wave, the more true that is.
I have a 9mm 10' leash on my waist leash and today getting worked in what had to be 15' Kanaha my board looked like it was at least 50 feet away. I mean it was a fricken' dot on the horizon. My leash was a tight as a guitar string. And I was up top, breathing air, wondering why my board was so far away.
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Yeah but what happens in 2x OH waves? I often end up somersaulting around in the white water when caught inside and more than once my ankle leash has gotten wrapped around my leg (or both legs) and then yanked tight. A tail leash looks a little too close to my neck for my comfort level, at least for use in large waves.
I hear the same thing about tail handles. the first time you try either a waist leash or a tail handle--and I mean the very fu&^king FIRST time. you say "Oh, that is so much better." The bigger the wave, the more true that is.
I have a 9mm 10' leash on my waist leash and today getting worked in what had to be 15' Kanaha my board looked like it was at least 50 feet away. I mean it was a fricken' dot on the horizon. My leash was a tight as a guitar string. And I was up top, breathing air, wondering why my board was so far away.
Can't wait to get set up with a waist leash. Makes sense based on what I've read and heard from guys far better than me, who surf in waves bigger than I surf.
My view is that if the experienced, smart guys in Hawaii like PB recommend something, it's probably worth the money and time to do it. I fully bought into the tail handle thing too and that has gotten me lots of extra waves (by being able to maintain board control when caught inside, then get back out quickly) while the "purists" burn excessive time scrambling to recover their boards in the impact zone.
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This thread has a misleading subject - leash-less surfing is not being tethered to your board in any way. It is pure freedom but you need time away from crowds to get it dialed. It will make you a better wave-rider and swimmer too! Leashes ruined surfing.
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Yes, that's true Chris, except when you're surfing on a reef a half mile from the beach. then the swim in takes all morning and by the time you get back to the lineup the wind is up.
Seriously though, if you're gonna have a leash, this is the way to go. try it, you'll wonder why we ever did it any other way.
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Is it really necessary to have a purposely designed waist leash?
Are there any drawbacks to attaching my ankle leash to a dive belt or something similar as long as it holds?
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The only thing I can see as a con on using a dive belt is the quick release. If that accidentally gets hit/pulled/yanked, the whole things goes bye bye if it is under pressure at that instant. With the two waist leashes that I have, all the velcro over a longer distance holds very very good. I can remove it if needed when needed.
So far I have not needed it yet.
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and the ankle piece absorbs water and weighs, bobs around above your ass like a heavy geisha bow--purpose built is much better.
funny, pb, i have gone the other way with the tail handle. i find if i cant pop the board over the white water, as i duck it, i prefer to let go of the board and dive deep. i use an 8 foot leash so retrieval is quick. when i engage the handle (even if i push down as i get hit) i find that the board and I end up way closer to shore, than had i let go of the board and ducked. if my board risks hitting someone if let go ( avery rare situation easily avoided in advance) i will use the handle in that case.
with the waist leash, also, i find i dont get dragged as far by the board after letting go--vs the drag-in of an ankle leash
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and the ankle piece absorbs water and weighs, bobs around above your ass like a heavy geisha bow--purpose built is much better.
I use a velcro belt with a metal loop (SuPosition Ralph's) for a regular leash. I wear mine in front and prefer to think of it as a codpiece. I would rather be dragged forward than backward.
It also gives two release options: the belt and the standard leash itself in easy reach. Double leashing is an option.
I suppose you could just use a standard waist belt and attach the regular leash to that, too.
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My first waist belt was modified from a workout belt--no idea what exercise it was supposed to enable but it had velcro closure and a loop in back for attaching to a universal gym. I took the ankle cuff off a leash and replaced it with another railsaver, so there were railsavers on both ends. Works fine.
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PB the rail saver is a good idea
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My first waist belt was modified from a workout belt--no idea what exercise it was supposed to enable but it had velcro closure and a loop in back for attaching to a universal gym. I took the ankle cuff off a leash and replaced it with another railsaver, so there were railsavers on both ends. Works fine.
I don't know but it kind of looked like the belt from one of those vibrating machines that is supposed to jiggle fat off your middle. But, I can't really tell.
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and the ankle piece absorbs water and weighs, bobs around above your ass like a heavy geisha bow--purpose built is much better.
never heard of that. Mine does not feel like that at all
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I use a velcro belt with a metal loop (SuPosition Ralph's) for a regular leash. I wear mine in front and prefer to think of it as a codpiece. I would rather be dragged forward than backward.
Can't explain why but I have yet to be pulled backwards yet. It's a mystery, I've got it hanging behind me and I get pulled from the front. I don't synch it tight, just like an ankle leash, a little loose.
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I'm going to modify my Gooru vest so it has a waist leash attachment. I'm thinking a sewn-on belt and buckle. Kind of needs one anyway to keep it down. I need to find out what Lock Eggers is using for his impact vest, it looks better than the gooru and he says it doesn't chafe his arms. If I cut my arm holes any bigger they'll intersect the neck hole, and then it will be an impact skirt.