Surfing leashless is a thrilling experience for most people. It gives you a different way to experience the glide and be excited about your time in the water. However, this is one thing that is best reserved only for the pros. If you are inexperienced, it is best to keep your board’s leash on all the time.
There’s a reason why the leash was invented. It is meant to keep the board as close as possible to the rider. This way, you will not lose it when you are in the water. You don’t have to swim endlessly chasing the board. More importantly, because it is attached to you. It won’t hit other riders and won’t cause an accident.
If you have mastered the basic techniques and you are all set to go on the water without a leash, keep on reading. We’ll let you know the basics of how to surf leashless.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Surf Leashless
Ready to experience surfing without a leash? As a beginner, we recommend that you do not try it. It can be unsafe for those who are inexperienced. For those who have already mastered the art of surfing and ready to cut the cord from their routine, below are the best things to do.
1. Find the Right Board
When you are surfing, either with a leash or not, one of the most important considerations is the type of the board that you are using. It will be highly influential in your overall performance and safety. From the material to the size, it is important to choose a surfboard that will work best for your needs.
The best option when surfing without a leash is a longboard. It is longer than a standard surfboard. It has a better ability to catch waves compared to their shorter counterparts. The glide is also effortless.
2. Look for the Right Location
One of the secrets for successful leashless surfing is your choice of location. As common sense, do not surf in a place where it is crowded. If there are too many people, there is a high chance that someone will be hit by your board if it has no leash and you will lose hold of it while riding a wave.
It is also best to try leashless surfing only when the water is knee-high. When the waves are too big and the water is too deep, you will have a hard time chasing the board when you experience a wipeout. This can also make you easily tired.
3. Be Confident
Confidence is your best weapon when it comes to leashless surfing. Before you paddle the board and ride the waves, make sure that you are already confident about what you are about to do. Start by having an honest assessment of your skills. If you are unsure, do not risk it. Your safety is the most important priority.
To be more confident, it will help to practice the basic surfing techniques on land. You should also work on your swimming skills so that you can easily catch the surfboard once you lose it.
4. Wax Your Surfboard
This is one of the most important things that you can do to prepare the surfboard for the water. When surfing without a leash, it is critical that you stay on the board. To lessen the chances that you will be slipping, waxing the board can help. This can improve the traction of the surface, and hence, there will be fewer times that you will be slipping off the board.
To wax the surfboard, start by applying a basecoat. For a longboard, you need to wax it from the nose to the tail. In contrast, if you have a shortboard, you only need to wax about 2/3 of the middle part of the board. This is where you will most likely be keeping your feet, so it is important for such a part to have an exceptional grip. After the basecoat, you can now apply the topcoat. Comb the wax and spray cool water. The latter is an important step because this is what will make the wax stick on the board.
5. Position Yourself Properly
Like when you are surfing with a leash, proper positioning on the board is an important concern. By being at the right place at the right time, you can be assured of not slipping, which is important since there is no cord that will keep you close to your board in case you fall.
If you are using a longboard, you need to stand almost at the end of the tail. This way, you can maintain a better balance. Before being hit by the wave, throw the board against the water and pop over. While doing this, breathe deeply. This can be effective in positioning you above the water.
6. Dip the Board of Your Nose
Another important technique that will help you stay on your board is to dip its nose in the water. By dipping the nose at an angle, you are gaining leverage. Using a scooping motion, use your body to apply pressure on the board so that the front part will dip in the water.
7. Do the Turtle Roll
Doing the turtle roll is a good practice when you are using a longboard. Paddle in a straight motion, flip your surfboard, go underneath, and pull the board down until the wave passes through you. This is an effective way to keep your leashless board with you.
Conclusion
By now, we hope that you learn a thing or two about how to surf leashless. Take note, this experience is not for everyone, especially if you are a beginner. This can be unsafe, not just for you, but for other riders. However, with a good board, the right location, and mastery of techniques, it won’t take long before you can ride the waves without a cord.
If the local customs dictate that you should go without a leash, do it! If you are confident about your skills, cut the cord. On the other hand, if you are a newbie who is yet to master the basic surfing techniques, it is best to err on the side of caution and use a leash
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