By Barbara Butler


New surfers learn very quickly the importance of staying attached to your board. There is a definite benefit to using a surfboard leash. Boards come with an attachment to make it easy to wear one and connect it easily to the board. When you come off the board, this will prevent losing it and make it easy to pull it towards yourself. There are a few things to consider in the style that you choose and these will make a difference in both the way it works and whether or not there is a lot of drag on the board.

The first piece is the cuff. Most surfers wear it on their ankle. It is typically more comfortable and makes it much easier to kick your leg and pull the board back towards yourself. For those using a longboard, they will find that having one worn on the calf of the leg will work better. This is because they want to have a longer leash to be able to move around on the board without getting tangled.

Not all leashes come with a swivel. You might not think this matters much, but when the cord starts to bunch up on you from twisting around, you'll wish you had one with the swivel. It allows the cuff, and you, to move around without causing the cord itself to get twisted. The last thing you want to worry about when out on the water is the cord getting twisted and becoming too short.

Cords are generally made from the same material. The difference between them is the thickness. This is a big factor in preventing drag if you want to surf professionally. New surfers shouldn't worry about this and should get the thicker cord. They need to worry more about breaking the cord or staying on the board. As experience grows, they can easily move to the thinner versions to begin reducing drag in the water.

The rail saver connects to the board. This is usually made of fabric and the thicker it is the more protection it provides to the cord. Again, the thickness can cause drag, so it is a matter of preference for the design. If you're more concerned with smoothness and speed, the thinner version will serve you well but could snap if the cord becomes too taut.

Length does matter. Most surfers will have one that is at least four feet long. The key is to have one that is long enough to do its job but not so long that it gets tangled in your legs or on the fin. Longboards usually required a longer cord; sometimes up to twelve feet. The longer the board, the more likely to have tangling or for it to drift into another surfer.

You do not want to experience drag during a competition. Beginning surfers do not need to worry about this. Their primary concern is keeping the board close by and not falling off while on a wave. Professional surfers worry a lot about drag and will choose cords and rail savers that are made from thinner material to reduce the drag as much as possible. As your skills and experience increase, you will find yourself moving to the thinner styles.

Everyone loves to see a set of surfers out in the water waiting for that big wave. With the right equipment, those surfers will be able to keep their board close by and have maximum fun in the sun. The right leash will be just long enough to do the job and not slow you down.




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