Leash/Leg Rope

A surfboard leash or a leg rope is a cord attached to the deck of the surfboard where a person stands to surf.  It’s a safety device which protects the surfers in high water current and tides. Its helps the surfboard from being wipe-out by high waves and also prevents from hitting other surfers. Nowadays, the leashes are made of polyurethane polymer, one end of which has a band with a Velcro strap fixed with the surfer’s foot and the other end is fixed with the tail end of the surfboard. If a surfer falls from the board while riding through the wave, the leash helps him to regain the surfboard and return on track.

Manufacturing and Different Parts of a Leash 

• Cuff - Cuff is used in leg ropes to wrap around the leg while surfing, which provides extra support and strength to the surfer and helps balance the board.
• Swivel - Swivel helps the cuff to twist and spin without twisting and tangling the rope itself. It is meant to lessen the burden on the rope. Surfers must ensure the quality of the bearings on the rope.
• Cord - Cords are usually made from high-quality polyurethane. They are mainly found in two different thicknesses of 4.7 and 8mm, which help determine the strength of the leash.
• Rail Saver - Rail saver helps to provide a better connection of the leash to surfboards and also offers less strain on the rail. High-quality leashes have an extended and broader fabric, which will safeguard the rail when the surfer falls off and the cord from twisting. Even though longer rail saver may sound safe, but it has its demerits like higher water drag.

Length and Thickness of a Leash

In the official competitions, leashes with lesser thickness are preferred over thick leg ropes. The thinner leashes produce the fewer amount of drag and result into appropriate wave catch. The length of the leg ropes depends on the length of the surfboard. The leashes are usually of the same length as the board or sometimes a little longer.  The standard rope size chart is as follows -

Types of Surfboard Leash

• Competition Leashes - The competition leashes are relatively thin. These help professional surfers to reduce water drag by using a thinner and light-weighted leash. These leashes have a thickness of approx. 4.7 mm (3/16^th of an inch). The competition leg ropes have a significant advantage as they tangle less in comparison to regular leashes due to its thinner profile.
• Regular Leashes - The regular leashes are most commonly used for recreational purposes because of their strength and durability. The beginners tend to use regular leashes for better safety. The regular leashes are approx. 8 mm (5/16^th of an inch) thick.

Evolution of Leashes through the years

The surfboard leashes or leg ropes were invented in the early 1970s by Peter Wright in Raglan, New Zealand. He preferred nylon cord to manufacture the leashes to be used against massive tides and current. Later, Larry Block renewed the traditional leash with a bungee cord while decreasing the stretch. By 1974, the commercialisation of the leashes begun and those manufactured with the rope/ latex tubing and Velcro strap were available. In 1977, David Hattrick patented his urethane designing. Urethane was a breakthrough in the evolution of the leg ropes as it possesses both strength and flexibility with a lesser degree of stretch.