When it comes to stand up paddle board trips, the experts always note that wearing a leash is very important. You have probably noticed that some people out there are just not wearing a leash. Although they are advanced users, their action does not justify that what they are doing is right. Wearing a Leash is a MUST!
You might question about the obligation of wearing a leash in any SUP condition. The answer is 100% YES. In calm water, whitewater, or in a surf, SUP leash is not just for your safety, but also for people surrounding yourself. If the leash is not connected, you will take a wipeout, and your board will be gone. You won’t know the conditions of the currents. The Kauai’s water can be unpredictable. If you are lucky, the missing board won’t hurt anyone. But how if the waves have enough force to injure other people? With such currents, there’s also a possibility that the power may kill the other users.
As mentioned, you’ve probably seen many people use the SUP board without leash. We’ll tell you that it is not good etiquette. Out there, you are responsible for yourself and other people.
In a calm condition, people tend to be “relaxed”. But it does not mean you can overlook the importance of wearing the leash. Often the question is followed by the statement like “I am a good swimmer, don’t worry.”
Even though you are a good swimmer, that does not eliminate the fact that the missing board can be dangerous for you and other people. A fun paddle can quickly turn into the unfortunate experience just because you neglect to wear the leash in the first place.
Since the SUP sport was introduced, we’ve seen numerous cases of injuries and deaths in the SUP sport wherein the users did not wear the leash. Most of them are not able to retrieve their board. Stand Up Paddle Board is the world’s most significant personal floatation device, although this is a boat life for you. So, it does make sense that you will want to get closer to it all the time, including when you fall into the water.
Whenever your friend or family ask such question “Do we need to wear a leash?”, You have known the proper answer. Always consider these in your stand up paddle board trips to make the SUP activity fun and safe.