Hello all,

Certainly not my intention to start up any animosity amongst the SUP crew...

But ....

Is it common for SUPers to not wear a leggy down at the beach? Seems pretty common sense to me coming from surfing but at a glance I would guess that 50% of SUPers don't appear to wear them...even at crowded beaches!

I recently had to dive on a run away board that was heading straight for a mates daughter while I was teaching her to surf. It was heading across the white wash but I managed to stop it literally a couple of inches away from the side of her head. When I asked the bloke why he wasn't wearing a leash, he responded with 'I don't wear one.'

Thought it would be common sense to have a leash on something that big? Do people give a heads up to the newbies without one? I can why you wouldn't need one in flat water...but waves?

Again, not having a go but what's the general consensus?

Kiterdan, Agree 100%. I don't really surf in SUP popular spots but I would like to think most people would wear a leash. I am just starting to try tricks like fins first take offs and shove its which can tangle your leash pretty good but I am still wearing one. Pretty sure this subject has come up more than once with the Alley as a known leashless area by at least a few offenders.

malibujet said...
Here at Noosa everyone wears a leash.

and that says alot considering how many f...wits surf noosa

All leashes here - unless paddling flatwater. Even bought the heavy-duty Balin ones to make sure that I don't endanger other surfers. I've seen a few SBers without them though.

Maybe it's a WA thing.

See heaps of surfers without leashes. It seems to be a trend.

I quizzed one recently after his riderless board nearly crashed into me. He said the same thing, "I don't wear one". I told him that next time his board came anywear close to me without him on it, I would put my paddle through the deck. Needless to say, he stayed clear of me [}:)]

The only people Ive seen not wearing leggies in the surf were a certain bunch of ###kers on racenoards at the alley - apparently way to good to need them. Certainly all the tassie crew wear them - and we are all amazingly competant !

Their would be a good argument that no leggies would be a good thing , it would make surfers much more aware of controlling there boards and regulate the size surf they venture in too.its easy just to rely on the leggie.

Pfff no chance mate I'll have a 10 foot cruiser by then

Surfing the Alley on Saturday morning I was paddling back up the point when a loose 12'6 DC headed my way from a group coming in from doing a DW run. Jumped on it and starting paddling it back out, got about 100m wide / past the point and came across a bloke swimming in.

Gave him the board and he said the board belonged to a girl still out behind the point and that he had given her his board and was swimming in.

Couldn't believe it no leggie in 4/5 ft of swell, super crowded break and by appearances unable to swim in..

BTW - I SUP and longboard and wear leggies