Wingman Foil Club

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?

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.
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! 😂

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!