Board Leash to Waist Harness -- connection

[wsurfn]

Rob and Forum:

I have a Kaohi board leash that I connect to a rope on the back of my Ride Engine waist leash. I use a Wichard Snap Hook I purchased from West Marine. I had it release-come off after a hard crash the other day for the first time. I was on flat water, so not a big deal, but I can imagine a nightmare scenario in different conditions.

Although I could do a pigtail with larkshead connection (which I use for my wing), I want to connect when first getting in (or out) the water as quick and easy as possible. Is there an agreed on shackle that is the best out there now?

[Wingman]

EDIT: Oh geez. I just realized this question said BOARD LEASH not wing leash.

I’m not a fan of board leashes. But I do recognize they offer some safety and comfort when far from shore or in big waves. Also definitely a good idea to use one anytime around surfers.

When I have to use one I use the North calf leash. It works pretty well. The cuff is great. The only thing I don’t like is the plastic attachment to the cuff sticks out and sometimes it tangles with my wing leash.

As far as waist leash attachments, I actually do think a marine shackle is a decent option. Unlike wing leashes, if you have a failure it’s probably best for it to break away because that’s a lot of force, and with the wing, you can body drag after your board, so it’s not like a wing leash where if you lose the wing you are screwed. If you haven’t practiced body dragging, do it. It works 99% of the time if it isn’t light wind and giant waves or swell current.

I would use this type with a cord attach for a quick release.

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You could hit up Vince from VB Surfboards on insta. I know he uses that system and he’s in big NorCal swell.

Also @slava has a board leash failure horror story. Maybe he will share in the Injuries / Accidents forum. The take away being don.t hold your board by the leash when getting slammed. (And maybe don’t hold those Kaohi cuffs either.)



For wing leash thoughts see below! 😂

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Great to have you here @wsurfn ! And great question.

I don’t know of a perfect leash system out there right now which is why I use my own rigged up system which uses a regular Cabrinha leash bungee webbing section girth hitched to a Mystic kiteboarding quick release that I hack sawed off the carabiner from. Then I have a locking aluminum carabiner on the end of that which I attach to a webbing rock climbing belt so I can move the leash freely around my body. Even though this isn’t kiteboarding and it’s fairly easy to release the locking carabiner I chose, I still wanted the kiteboarding quick release because you never know when you might get wrapped up or caught in a wave. So far I haven’t had any failures or accidental releases, but you do have to be mindful when manipulating the quick release not to accidentally pull the leash by the release! 😂

Jeff Howard at kiteboarding.com has an interesting system that uses what he calls “locking lark’s heads.” I like his idea and it doesn’t use any metal which is cool, but it isn’t free moving and no quick release.



I avoid shackles as I had a friend die kiteboarding while using one, and they are big and heavy. And even though they are rated to insane specs I’ve never trusted the design.

There may be a better leash system out there now but I haven’t seen one. Definitely a market for a good system. Hmm. Maybe I should work on one!