Leashless?

I shortboard, I only go leashless when its calm, small, no people around... Most shortboarders (at beachbreaks) don't use leashes when it's heavy, of course.

This is a good tread, probably gonna be surprised at what people say.

 

i never surf a long board with a leash. crowds aren't really an issue for me.
i wear a leash on my shortboards in heavy dumping waves. when im going to be swimming alot if i don't. and always when im in winter. but if it isn't that i usally don't wear one.

 

Good idea out on the left coast where I got a huge ball of kelp on my leash. Never had that problem in NE.

 

The last time I surfed without a leash was when my leash broke. Swimming for it is slow and boring, bad enough when sponging because you've got your fins to help, but when my longboard leash broke one day, it seemed to take forever to swim back in while the board flopped around in the shorebreak like a beached whale.

Plus, you know, surfboards hurt when they hit you.

 

Never tried it, I guess I 'm not good enough yet or I don't like the idea of swimming to shore.. One day though, one day.

 

Longboard most of the time no.
Fish if waves are small and fun then no.
Bigger surf, cold surf, large crowds then yes.

 

Leashes are NOT a life line! If you use a leash because you arent confident in your ability to swim back to shore in bigger stuff, you shouldn't be out there!

I use mine most of the time. If i surf a reef with a channel less than likely to use it. Sunset cliffs, forget about it. You get the stink eye for wearing one.

 

Fun in the summer. No fun at all in the winter.

My leash rope thing keeps snapping. So annoying.

They say surfing leashless is like doing it without a condom it just feels better but idk. My stamina is low these days so lately I prefer the leash.

I have surf a lot with and without a leash. I depends how dialed in you are.

 

Grew up in the 60's surfing without leashes. I do not use a leash during low tides, even if waves are larger. But, that includes considering rocky/sandy beach, freezing weather/ warm weather, etc.
As for others being in the surf with me, not a consideration; not out of meanness, simply that I started surfing when nobody had leashes.
If anybody complains, I give them the single finger salute.

 

only knee to waist high days on my old mans really old longboard that doesn't even have a plug. the little break I ride it is a rock formation which acts like a point, so if I somehow flub it, its about a 35 -40 yard swim to the beach. But its not like I'm taking em on the head.

Otherwise, always leash up. I ride a dakine 6 foot leash on anything less than head high, and if it pumps, go for the 8 footer. A pal of mine rides a short SUP coiled leash as his shortboard leash and swears by it. never tried it.

 

Usually when it is waist high or above will i wear a leash--regardless of the season. However, when surfing in front of jetties or other board destroying areas...in front of crowds, etc. I'll wear it.

Always love a waist high low/negative tide summer or winter session without a leash...fun stuff.

 

If it was 10 foot and barreling and I had the choice of swimming back to shore with no board or with a board, I would probably choose with no board. This is because swimming around in huge waves is sooooo much fun. The adrenaline that goes through you is a crazy feeling.

 

Nobody owes you anything....one of the greatest S.I. threads ever

 

grew up kneeboarding around the La Jolla reefs and Sunset Cliffs as a young grom...leashes were a BIG no-no. Didn't start wearing them until the mid-to-late 1980's, and only then at the spots where they were accepted. I've never personally understood the "drag" issues, just never really affected my surfing much at all.

That being said, I go leashless from time to time...usually when it's small, warm and uncrowded. Feels liberating.

 

i if longboard no leash always.

 

Yup. But Ive never worn one on a longboard. What are you guys wearing? Ankles or calf? I cant picture having one on and it not getting tangled.

 

I agree with the above. I used to go without a leash all the time when I "surfed" at Tybee Island in college. (The waves were almost always small there) Now I've got better places to surf, I use my leash with or without people around. Besides, as soon as you have to make that long swim back to the beach to get your board I'll regret not having one.

 

I wear one if the inside is crowded with little kids or swimmers or if its frigid and big cause swimming in a wetsuite blows. Otherwise I go without no matter what board I ride.