Surfboard Leashes
The surfboard leash (initially called a leg rope) is a urethane cord that attaches a surfboard to the ankle, or in the case of a few longboard surf leashes the calf, of a surfer.
Surfboard have a leash plug glassed into the tail, one end of the leash attaches to this plug with a leash string (or cord) with the other end of the leash attaches to the surfer with a strong velcro strap that is padded for comfort and protection. The majority of surfers use a leash to keep the board attached to them at a safe distance, and making recovering a surfboard much easier when you fall off, wipe out, go over the handle bars or whatever you want to call it!
The first surfboard leash was created in the 1970’s by Peter Wright whose local surf break was Raglan, New Zealand. At the time surfers were closed minded to advances and the leg rope was mocked and not instantly accepted. Nicknamed “The Kook Cord” surfers at the time thought the leash would cause the board to bounce back at them, if they fell off at speed, and cause more injuries than it actually prevented. Peter Wright was never credited for creating the surf leash because he did not copyright the idea. Opinions about the surfboard leash changed quickly when the entire surfing community could see the advantages and benefits of wearing one. The leg rope did become widely used throughout the surfing community. The urethane design was patented by David Hattrick in Australia in the mid 1970’s.
The surfboard leash is now available in more colours, styles and designs than ever before. Leashes now come in variety different thicknesses dependent on the size of waves you are riding and different lengths based on the size of the surfboard you are riding. When buying a surf leash always buy one made from urethane, with a rail saver and precision moulded fittings to attach the leash to cord to the velcro strap. Fitting a leash is simple, thread the rope through the plug and secure. The best bit of advice we have ever heard was from an Australian who said always clamp the knot into the Velcro this helps to keep the strongest part of the surf leashes in contact with the board plug and the knot should also never come undone.
