Leash length?

[easy]

  I'm thinking about getting some XM Power Clip leashes. Straight ankle for surf and coiled ankle for downwind and general all round use. I have some belts sourced out to use these as waist leashes for surf and downwind.  Surf boards are Nalu 11' 4"s and Allwave 9'5".  Since i have no recent surf experience , what length straight leashes do i want?   All other boards are 14' and I've been using 10'  coiled ankle leashes. I have no waist leash experience but after following the threads in this forum it seems like the way to go. Any difference in length between ankle and waist length?   Thanks for any thoughts on this.

[PonoBill]

I'm using 10' straight for my surfboards and 8'coiled for my 17' Bullet with waist belts. I love the 8' on the Bullet--no worries about dragging. I can get to the far end of the pad without significant pull.

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

I like shorter leashes for surf > I hat any extra drag when paddling for a wave, On small days less  than 3 feet Iuse a full coil leash to  keep it out of the water when paddling . Over 3 feet I use a  big wave leash  8 foot  1/2 coil.  I worry that if  my board gets away from me  with along leash that it could hit some one behind me.. bad for the sport bad for the hittee bad fro me..

[tautologies]

I hate coiled leashes. I have not done a open water downwinder on the dw boards, but damn the coiled leashes are a PITA for everything else.

On leash length I tend to try to keep them about a foot longer than the board. Once you go over the falls and over the nose you'll understand why ;-)

[eastbound]

surf only, i like a short leash--for quicker board retrieval, less danger to others.

i find that, if i am going to get hit by my board, it is immediately after i fall, not after my board has moved maximally away from me in the washout.

got a waist belt from ralph, haven't been out in serious big surf since purchase, so have yet to test.

if i return the belt or "lose" it will there finally be decent waves around here again? like as in murphy's umbrella law--no umbrella==>rain......no waist leash==>big waves

[Badger]

I use the shortest leash possible that will allow me to go as far forward on the board as I intend to walk.

All my boards have 8 foot leashes.

[andygere]

For surf, I use a leash that is a foot shorter than my board.  This still allows plenty of length to get to the nose.  The purpose is to minimize drag and tangling in kelp, and to keep my board close for easy retrieval after wipeouts.  I always use a 5/16" cord.

[supsurf-tw]

8'

[Eagle]

8' coiled on our 14s.  Going waist really makes it hard for the leash to tangle DW when you need to scoot back.