“The Leash Ruined Surfing”
I keep seeing a bumper sticker (at Beacons no less) with that phrase on it and always makes me think of a world with no leashes…a happy, peaceful world filled with surfers that can swim, bodysurf, and fix dings.
Top 10 Reasons To Ban Leashes:
A packed lineup at Swamis (or anywhere for that matter) is instantly cleared after a freak set separates the clowns from those who can duckdive.
Taking off in front of a jetty creates a whole new pecking order—lose your board, pay the price.
While the leash plug industry dies, the ding repair industry would experience a boom.
Boards look really cool without a leash plug.
After swimming after our boards so much, we’d all start to look like Michael Phelps.
Kooks on longboards and SUPs would think twice about surfing a spot more geared toward shortboards.
Everyone would surf better if there were repercussions to falling.
Wax technology would rival that of NASA.
You’d never have your leash wrap around your feet leaving you to untangle yourself mid-face.
There would be les surfers in the water.
Ban the leash!
Thoughts?
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November 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
A couple random thoughts..
1) Who speaks up for the Leash Industry?
2) with lighter and lighter materials going into boards, isn’t the current state of ding repair industry still pretty solid?
3) Couldn’t one argue that leashes have actually helped with the progression of surfing? It’s an awfully long day trying to learn airs without one.
4)Leash tan lines always remind me of summer…
November 14th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
less kooks sounds good,but this is such a stupid topic.Cote should spend the next 6 months surfing without a leash, then let us know. With winter surf around the corner he should have fun…
November 20th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Surfing on the Gulf Coast of Fl leaves me dealing with kooks constantley. I do agree that no leashes would thin the water out a bit but we all have to remember that we all arrived to our current skill level that we are currently at by surfing with leashes and taking bigger risks. Ask yourself where all the young groms that are changing the way we surf to day would be without leashes. Ask yourself how many more injuries caused by a run-away boards there would be. And finally, ask yourself why we all surf in the first place; to have fun, be happy, and share with friends.
November 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I hardly ever wear a leash, except for when it’s big or I’m surfing somewhere that will ruin your board if lost. I still back the ban!