what size leash? 7'10

[newton333]

7'10 airborne leash keeps  going around  paddle. driving me nuts.

[jondrums]

I never had this problem before.  maybe you're pulling the paddle back a little too far - it shouldn't go past your feet if your stroke is working right.

I put on my shortest leash (6ft I think) whenever it looks like its going to be crowded in the line-up so I can control the board a little better if I fall.  Otherwise, its a 9 footer for surfing.

[kayadogg]

On my 8'2 I use a 9ft leash. I used to use a 6' leash until I got 10 stitches to the forehead from my board being within range during a spill. I know the same thing can happen with a 9' leash but it makes me feel a little bit better knowing I have a little more room for error.

[14 West]

Your leash is too long.

Go to a 7' and you should find it happens less often to never. I've forgotten my leash once or twice and had to go to the backup 9' and it is tres horrible!

Shorter boards turn more radically and make use of the paddle more for the pivot, so it's only natural that if you have any extra leash in the mix it runs the chances of getting wrapped up.

[jarvissup]

Length of leash is supposed to be as long as the board you are riding. 7'10" board= 8' leash.  Going with a shorter leash risks either you hitting the board, or the board hitting you. 

[14 West]

Length of leash is supposed to be as long as the board you are riding. 7'10" board= 8' leash.  Going with a shorter leash risks either you hitting the board, or the board hitting you.

Think about the physics involved in the statement you just made. The majority of time when you bail you are getting an ankle ride, so even a 4' leash would feel roughly similar. If you fall directly downward onto your board a 8' leash is no different than a 4' leash. The only time your statement holds true is if you magically did an endo off the front of your board and it didn't pivot and stayed pointing forward, then yes, a 8' leash wouldn't begin to pull a 7'10" board until you had cleared the nose. The reality is the board would have started to pivot out of the way long before that is likely to happen. Suggested leash lengths are more of a guideline based on the size of the board and the practical distance your foot has to be from the back of the board where the leash attaches, and the fact a shorter leash stretches less and thus is more likely to break with a larger board. The fact is if you are catching your leash on your paddle it's too long. Most folks around here on sub 8' boards use 7' leashes including on the exact board you are asking about.

[JohnnyMaya]

I use 6-7 ft leashes whith my boards (8 and 8'5ft boards).
The 6ft one is definitely on the shorter side and while i'd only use it in smaller surf (up to 3 ft waves), the 7ft one fits all the rest pretty good.

[Bean]

I use a short leash, 6' on my 7'10".  6' leash + railsaver is knocking on 7'.
To me, Leash = board length, is really only important for getting up on the nose.