Should you use leashes on small rivers?

[TallDude]

Another leash caused drowning. An avid SUP paddler hit debris under the unusually high Truckee River water levels, and was held under by her leash. She was wearing a life-jacket. I'm sure cold water shock played a part as well.

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/local/lake-tahoe-kayaker-recounts-near-death-experience-in-upper-truckee-river/?utm_source=boomtrain&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=monday-morning-report

[deepmud]

I have plans for the Little Susitna river here in Alaska this summer - and I WAS going to leash - but I've decided no. I have decided any river or creek that could submerge a board will not have a leash. A paddle board broadside to a sweeper would get pulled under - and could jam under a "comb" of branches right to the bottom. No whitewater required just a strong smooth current.  And if it's so slow as to not pull the board under maybe it's not going to run away from me anyway.

[PonoBill]

Most serious whitewater paddlers either use a leash with a quick release--usually at the waist--or no leash. Wearing an ankle or calf leash in current is not a great idea.

[fredi]

What I think:
- ankle leash, with or without quick release is suicide: the stream can prevent you to bend in order to reach your ankle
- waist leash with quick release manual + automatic is the standard on white waters. The think to check is that the waist belt don't go under the life jacket because in this case it would be unreachable. To prevent this I sew two loops on my life jacket to put the belt on. Automatic release can be performed by adjusting Velcros.
- no leash at all is a good solution in a lot of cases, excepted on river with current all the way, the board usually don't go very far

[mr_proper]

I use a leash in WW, because I don't like to swim behind the board for a long time.  But my PFD has a quickrelease and the leash ist modified with two predetermined breaking points. One at the board side and one on the PFD side.

[Windwarrior]

I'm confused. If the leash has break away points how does it keep the board from floating away anyways??

[PonoBill]

Break points go at a pull greater than the typical strength required to retrieve the board. If the leash or board is snagged and you're being turned into a deep diving Rapala the pull is much greater and they pop so you don't kaack. Hopefully.