The Journal

How to Choose the Right Leg Rope Length for Your Board
A leash that's too short creates constant tension. Every wipeout yanks the board back hard and fast, directly toward you. Too long and you get drag and tangle, especially on a longboard when you're cross-stepping. The right length keeps the cord relaxed in the ride and gives it room to stretch safely on impact. The standard guide 5ft–6ft board: 6ft leash 6ft–7ft board: 6ft–7ft leash 7ft–8ft mid-length: 7ft–8ft leash 8ft–9ft longboard: 9ft leash 9ft+ longboard: 9ft–10ft leash Between sizes, go longer. The extra cord costs you nothing and gives you... Read more...
Five Signs It's Time to Replace Your Surf Leash
The honest answer: If you can't remember when you bought it, replace it now. A leash looks fine until it doesn't. The cord degrades from UV and salt over time — the elasticity breaks down, the cord becomes brittle, the swivel corrodes. None of this is visible until the leash snaps under load. In heavy surf, far from shore, that is a serious situation. Five signs it's time The cord feels stiff or has lost its stretch — it should feel elastic, not rigid Visible nicks, abrasions, or white stress... Read more...
Knee Leash vs Ankle Leash for Longboarding
If you're cross-stepping on a longboard, a knee or calf leash makes more sense than an ankle leash. The reason is practical: an ankle leash trails from your back foot and sits directly in the path you're trying to walk. Every step toward the nose, you're navigating around it. It's a small thing, but it interrupts the flow of what you're trying to do. Move the attachment point up your leg — calf or knee — and the cord pulls back and out of your footpath. The practical result: you... Read more...
Does a Surf Leash Hinder Cross-Stepping and Noseriding?
A cord trailing from your back ankle creates some interference when you're cross-stepping toward the nose. It gets underfoot. It can pull tight as you move further from the tail. A coiled or kinked leash will genuinely disrupt your footwork. But the solution isn't to surf without one. The solution is the right leash, set up correctly. What actually causes the problem Almost always one of three things: leash too short for the board, ankle attachment when knee would be better, or poor cord quality that kinks and tangles easily.... Read more...
Why Surf Leash Design Still Looks Like an Afterthought
Surfers are particular about their boards. They'll spend months choosing a shaper, debating rocker and concave, agonising over fin placement. They'll research wetsuits, consider glass jobs, choose fins that suit the way they surf. Then they grab whatever leash is on the rack. It's a strange gap. The leg rope is the one piece of gear that's attached to you for the entire session. It's visible in every photo. It connects your body to your board, and your board to the water. And yet the category has been treated as... Read more...