Should legropes break?

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Surfpolitik

It’s the one item in surfing that hasn’t changed since invention. Since legropes appeared, boards have grown and shrunk and grown again, they’ve sprouted fins, they got plastered with deck grip front and back, while fashion has spun in endless cycles, and all the while the humble leggy has remained constant. Just a simple piece of plastic connecting tail and ankle.

Even florid language misrepresents its simplicity, so I’ll cut that out right now.

Recently FCS claimed they had reinvented the legrope with the Freedom leggy, and going on looks alone they’ve made a good play at it. The Freedom features a standard PU cord but the most obvious change is a lattice work of nylon covering the cord.

It’s hard to discern if the over-braided nylon is there to add strength, protect the PU cord from damaging sunlight (more on that later), or it serves another purpose entirely. Unfortunately for review writers, the positives of a legrope show over time thereby leaving a reviewer with two test sessions under their belt fumbling something about looks, and ..err, looks. What else can you go on?

Not so long ago a fella called Jose Espinoza attached an article on legropes to his LinkedIn account. It was called ‘Should surfboard leashes have expiration dates?’ and was just about the most exciting article on leggies I’d ever read. In truth it was the only article on legropes I’d ever read.

Old Jose is a plastics consultant working in south-east Asia and he described the lifespan of polyurethane (PU) used in legropes and how it breaks down over time. All PU will eventually break but you can extend your legrope’s life by doing things such as avoiding high temperatures, high humidity, contact with soil, and direct sunlight.

That last point explains why FCS Freedom legropes may last longer: the nylon stops sunlight reaching the PU cord.

However, Jose’s take home message was that you have no control over what happens before you buy your legrope. The manufacturer may use cheap PU pellets, the PU may get left in hot factories, warehouses, or shipping containers, it may even get left in customs for three months at a time. You may not get your legrope till upwards of six months after it was made, yet the PU began deteriorating from the instant it was extruded.

So if it’s your new $1,000 sled at stake, Jose came to the conclusion that legrope makers print a use by date on the pack and you toss the legrope into landfill when it passes said date. Even if it’s not broken it soon will be, so chuck it away before you get stuck with a big swim and a visit to the ding repairer.

It’s a thoroughly sensible idea yet something about it rankles. Maybe it’s the planned obsolescence, or perhaps it’s the Great Plastic Garbage Patch that’s growing in the corner of my shed. Should we accept all legropes will break and confine them to landfill?

About a year or so ago, a company in South Africa started producing Silver Cord legropes. Their legropes used hollow PU with a threaded metal rope running inside the cord. If the PU broke, the ‘silver cord’ would keep the surfer attached to their board.

Silver Cord were more concerned with safety than economics or environment, however another company have just launched a legrope that comes with a lifetime warranty. If it does what it says it’s both good value and green.

Cold & Sharky legropes use a flexible metal line attached to the ankle cuff at one end and entwined into the rail saver at the other (see video below). The core line is then covered with a mesh sleeve which looks an awful lot like the new FCS Freedom exterior. If the leggy breaks, either this week or sometime in 2028, Cold & Sharky say they’ll replace it. I looked for the fine print but couldn't find it.

Unlike the Silver Cord, or most leggies made for big waves, the Cold & Sharky legropes don't have a bail clip. If you get caught on a coral head you better know how to reach your ankle cuff (tip: bend your knees not your hips). I imagine this would be a deal breaker for some, even those who never surf over coral.

Also, the Cold & Sharky is approximately twice as much as the average leggy on the market. Planned obsolescence keeps the price of products low, but a leggy for life that curbs my own Great Garbage Patch has some merit too.

If nothing else it’s at least worth thinking about what revolutionary mean in the context of the humble little legrope.

 

 

Comments

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 2:23pm

Interesting concepts, each one has it's merits.Definately interested in trying out the last one ( what a terrible name for a company). I think they may come from a mountaineering background? Looks like similar ideas and materials.(may be wrong though) Never been too keen on using a leggy in heavy beach breaks. Had my board hit me a few times and was real close to being K O d surfing solo.
Best leash I ever owned for big waves was an Ocean and Earth. It was specifically made for big waves the ends were folded and tied then wrapped with rubber( old school style) railsaver was permantly attached and it had a built in leash string , so you could attach another having two ( double the strength.) ... it's still going strong and has proven it's worth, time and time again. (In the real heavy stuff) .

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 5:56pm

Good...if its a one off expense well worth the $100
Big call calling a stainless swivel a weak point...have never seen or had one fail.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:02pm

Same. I've seen a few manufacturers call the swivel a weak point but I can't ever recall breaking a legrope there.

carpetman's picture
carpetman's picture
carpetman Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:11pm

Can they give a lifetime warranty on the velcro? If the leash lasts the velcro will eventually go.

Maybe they can replace the ankle cuff?

Regardless, I wouldn't buy an unbreakable leggie unless it a quick release clip.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:49pm

Totally agree re: Velcro. Always been the weak point for me.

dangerouskook2000's picture
dangerouskook2000's picture
dangerouskook2000 Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 8:51pm

yep. Also where the pu is sewn to the ankle strap. And the actual leggie itself up from where it reduces diameter. I get rid of mine as soon as it gets a bit of a flogging. Usually around 12 months give or take.

dandroid's picture
dandroid's picture
dandroid Wednesday, 4 Apr 2018 at 7:38am

Hi there, thought I'd jump in and mention that smart leash co sells replaceable parts that you can swap out with a fin key. Good luck!

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 4 Apr 2018 at 7:45am

Yep ...good eh i mentioned them on here a few years back.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:15pm

Brass yes ..had 2 fail .
Clicked on buy 9ft leggie ...still showed $75 .

derra83's picture
derra83's picture
derra83 Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:29pm

I bought an FCS freedom two week ago and it hasn't snapped so far! I surf a lot of limestone reefs, walk and climb rocky coastline, and one thought I had is if the nylon mesh gets nicked by a reef (or even by a trailing edge of a fin), would it all unravel? It feels solid now but in 6 months?

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 6:36pm

Legropes are pretty much a disposable item as far as I go. They stretch , they twist , they get knicked. And Ive been hearing about all these technological improvements in leggies since the 80,s,, and I,m yet to come across one that went the distance. If they don't break your simply not trying hard enough.

blindboy's picture
blindboy's picture
blindboy Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 7:41pm

Leg ropes pose some serious design problems. The most serious being how to design a quick release that can be reached when hooked on a coral head in swirling water. Having been there, done that, I was glad that it broke, at the swivel from memory. At the other end of the spectrum there are circumstances in which you really do not want it to break as the board will be washed against rocks or you will face a serious swim.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 7:46pm

A mate of mine took his leggy back to the O and E shop at Sussex recently after it frayed a bit. Without a warranty or a second glance they told him to just grab another one off the rack.

Yeah , that’s a plug but it’s one they deserve. Good service is hard to come by these days.

Another good article , Stu.

Hope every one reading is getting their share of Huey’s bounty.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 7:55pm

Been a junky start to autumn here.

I bought the top of the line O and E leggy and snapped it before even getting out the back at G-land.
Came home, replaced it no dramas.
Snapped the replacement first surf at the Point.

I know you can get unlucky but no more O and E for me.

Now I get my leggies from the manufacturer at SurfAids Byron Bay. No frills, been there for ever. Local business.
He can customise the thickness if you want something super strong.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 8:18pm

Surf Aids are still going? Unreal to hear.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 8:24pm

Give yourself an hour, old mate loves a chat.

I bought a lightweight comp leggy off him and he went to extraordinary lengths to explain it was not for surf over 3 foot.
Took it to Fiji and stretched the fucking thing to about 30 feet, then it finally snapped.

He actually rebuilt the leggy with new components right in front of me and charged me about 10 bucks for it.

Fan for life now.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 9:53am

Bahhahahaha.
Gold free ride gold!

Average's picture
Average's picture
Average Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 9:04pm

I really liked the idea of the idea behind the Tourniquet leggies. Did anyone get one after the Swellnet article and try it out?

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 9:47pm

I like Creatures of Leisure leggys and never had a real problem with O&E. Snapped two FCS leggies after a short time, so they didn't live up to expectations.

If that leggy does everything it says it does, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 9:52pm

Legropes dont snap on the rubber very often (unless they get tied around the fins too tight and get nicked), usually the string on the rail saver goes first, thats the weak link

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 10:19pm

Jose is cool

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 10:29pm

Stu, there is this material Saint motorcycle jeans are using here in Melbourne called UHMWPE, which is tougher than nails and they can spin it with just about anything. I wonder if any of the leggie mobs have tried it?

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 10:42pm

Not enough stretch.

Elicat's picture
Elicat's picture
Elicat Tuesday, 27 Mar 2018 at 11:12pm

Bring back the Surgical Rubber and the 20 foot nylon cord. While we are at it, have no rail savers or Velco , just a sock tied around the ankle . Ah, the good old days

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 5:45pm

Ahh, not sure they were that good from memory. The fricken cord used to cut through the rail (and would keep going to the stringer) once the rubber perished, which was about 1 day. Then you were left with just the nylon cord trying to pull your leg off. The only two manufacturers back then from my memory were Balin and Ocean and Earth. Polyurethane came in pretty quickly after this from memory.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 10:07am

Made surfing conveniently accessible to a whole planet of folks that can barely walk, let alone swim. Bad idea. Like plastic bags, lazy gimmicks with a lethal legacy.

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 3:23pm

I get your point......I am not a huge fan either. That being said, if you grew up surfing where I did , there are some waves that just guarantee you needed one.
If there is sand and there is no one around I just paddle out without.
When was the last time you surfed without one though ?

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 5:41pm

Over summer, picked up a little quad I have, got to the 1 - 2 foot beachies and guess what? No leggie. Did a little bit of swimming and you certainly are a bit more conservative with your surfing.

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 2:23pm

Always been a fan of Hawaiian manufactured leggies. Figured their made for the biggest waves so will be the strongest. Best ones I've ever had are HIC brand and Da Kine. Anytime I relent over a patriotic guilt and buy Aussie they always are gone inside 6 months.

evosurfer's picture
evosurfer's picture
evosurfer Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 2:24pm

Halibit I 100% disagree with you. Its like having seat belts in cars they saves lives not to mention the countless injuries that don't happen and saving these days $1000 surfboards every surf its like having wax everybody needs it.
Use to be a big fan of O&E but lately they come undone at the ankle a lot so
moved onto Dakine now theyre the business.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 2:40pm

Yep, leg ropes are a good idea. Anyone who says otherwise needs a bit of a rethink. Imagine the carnage in a crowded lineup with no leg ropes? People are gonna get hit for sure.

Also as Lanky Dean mentioned there are some spots where no legroom is basically gonna guarantee your board getting smashed up on the rocks. There's a couple of slabs round here where a 50% take-off success rate is a good result, even for a very good surfer. Inside are sharp rocks which will pretty much destroy any board that washes into them. Any theory about leg ropes not being cool would evaporate after about the third destroyed board during the first session!

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 2:57pm

People are terrified of having a surf without a legrope. The whole idea of having to deal with the reality of oceanic forces is just too confronting for most folks to deal with. They just don't like it. I do surf without a legrope, it's what keeps me interested in surfing, but folks don't like it, not one little bit. Strange that surfing without a piece a of elastic plastic has become inconceivable to so many.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 3:05pm

Is surfing without a legrope the main thing that keeps you interested in surfing?

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 3:14pm

It's not the main thing but it's certainly there. It's a whole other world out there without a legrope that's for sure. All of a sudden there's a entire skill set that needs to be developed or employed or both. It's good, it sharpens the whole experience.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 3:29pm

I've never had any thoughts as to whether my surf session is being held back by the presence of a legrope (to be honest, I don't see how it'd make any difference).

What I am acutely aware of though, is the prospect that my surfboard sans-leggie could easily become a dangerous weapon, and cause harm to someone else.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 5:48pm

And a fricken lot of swimming.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 8:04am

Surfing is swimming. Swimming is surfing. They have been intertwined as part of the same experience for millenia. It's only the last 40 years they have totally become detached from each other.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 8:27am

For millenia..?

Surfing's only been here in Australia for a scrape over 100 years, and only in it's modern incarnation - foam and fibreglass boards - for 60 years. The leggy has been around for 40 years which means it's the norm and you're the outlier.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 9:01am

Surfing has been around for millenia. I am standing by that statement. Truckloads of evidence to support that one. Ditto for surfing and swimming, even until recently. Some excellent Australian reference material around this, in particular, archives from the Australian National Surfing Titles, Bells Beach, Easter 1965.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 9:18am

You comparing yourself to the ancient Hawaiians? But you wear cotton and nylon boardies right? Probably even a wetsuit. Don't tell me you ride a foam and fibreglass board!

Look, in terms of reference material, there's plenty around that show rudimentary legropes from he 1920s onwards. The only reason they weren't more popular is because urethane hadn't yet been invented.

Honestly, the legrope debate is one of the great hoaxes, especially in surf over head high; it falls apart at a mere lick of intellectual weight and all that's left are poseurs with no consideration for other people.

Terminal's picture
Terminal's picture
Terminal Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 9:34am

Hear, hear.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 11:38am

Don't worry! Surf swimming is no longer cool, unless you're a poseur of course, body-surfing your way to the beach like a complete show-off. If there's one thing that won't be tolerated in the surfing world, it's a show-off.
Like I said, folks don't like the idea of no legropes, they don't like it one little bit. Surfing and swimming got divorced decades ago and they ain't getting back together, no matter what I think.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Thursday, 12 Dec 2019 at 1:48pm

Salute Halibut...Oz been surfing for 10,000's of years easy. Saltwater crew surfed to China-Antarctica-South America. Oz invented all forms of free,hand,prone,sit,kneel,stand -surfcraft. Several variations of Canoe design reflected local waters.

China & Turkey were also surfing 1000's of years ago. Both surfing cultures continue celebrating their surf roots.

Ancient Hawaiian surfers are newbies on surf timeline...99.99% of surf writers just stuck stickers over that!

1829 Oz convict surfers wore first modern leg ropes. Convicts leg irons were run thru Surfraft vine Stringers. This allowed Surfers to walk the deck & tend to wave face. Surfing the length of the Gold Coast during marathon event.

A whole Surf Culture of River/Surf Raftsmen followed. These anarchic bards wrote our surf glossary. Wave types & manoeuvres all coined by River wave pioneers. Spring boarding / River Surfing all Natural or Goof deckerz. Pioneers performed more manoeuvres per ride than today.


[20:05] Log Birler Song is a River Surfer's Song. Old Log Birler shames today's Wax Models. [20:40] Birler splits raft switch log to spinner-swing 360*-spin kick flip! All this in just one river wave section...Surfs better than all of us! No WSL Pro in the the world has half the old hack's surfing skills. Today's surfer's feet are welded onto one flat machined face of one craft with Astronaut life-lined to Jet Ski life support modules. Rogue Surf historians view Hawaiian & modern selfish lazier recreational forms as the decline of surfing. Everyone will clutter the surf but next to none can actually surf. The more surf product you add the less surfing skills you have. Surfjustsurf.

Halibut's picture
Halibut's picture
Halibut Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 7:53am

I do get that unattached surfboards are a risk. Surfboards are a risk. Mostly because the way people surf in general is a risk, particular in intensely crowded situations. Boards getting flicked thru the air as grommets go hard trying to go "off", boards getting flicked directly at people, floaters over the top of other folks, hard carves right into someone's face, beginners in the line-up, hardcore wankers in the line-up, folks bailing out in front of you or not being able to duck dive, all manner of push me shove you games, it all leads to accidents and we have all seen plenty of them. Most of the time, the only reason people get away with all this flicking and slashing around is because of the legrope. I see this stuff all the time at Angourie & I would'nt bother surfing an intensely crowded situation, period.
Mostly what happens when you surf without a leggie is that you become much more aware of what the hell is going on, because if you don't, the person most likely to pay is you!

Terminal's picture
Terminal's picture
Terminal Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 9:19am

Are you suggesting here that we would all be safer in the water if we didn't use legropes?

ron's picture
ron's picture
ron Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 10:13am

Try it next time its 2-3 foot and uninspiring with no one else around. All of a sudden you have to rethink things you may not have given much thought since you learnt. Duckdiving. Letting go is not an option so you make more effort to get it perfect. Taking off becomes a make or break situation, makes you try that little bit harder to hang on if its hollow. Also may make you think more carefully about which waves to take. Finishing the wave requires more thought. No flicking out, no jumping off and just expecting the board to be waiting for you. You have to plan the end of the wave to either ride into the channel or stay with it on a close out by laying back down or flicking it up over the white water like Rob Machado. Those are the basic differences. I think it also makes you try that extra 5% to hold onto turns or drops when you might normally pull the pin earlier. All of this is good for your surfing IMO.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 10:26pm

Different skill set totally. I taught myself sidestroke so I could turn to see both the loose board in one direction and next chunk of whitewater to mow me down in the other direction, back in the day surfing by myself in some juice without a leggie.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 6:10pm

I surf without one all the time. Mostly on uncrowded beach breaks when there's no danger of my surfboard hitting someone. It's liberating and makes you think a lot about staying on your board! However the reality for most surfers it that they often surf crowded lineups where the penalty for losing your board could be putting someone else in hospital. Also as I mentioned there are other spots where losing your board even once basically means it's gonna get destroyed. Oh yeah, I just thought of another situation where leg ropes are great: Surfing some outer reef or harbour mouth somewhere where losing your board would mean swimming for an hour. This is not just dangerous (what if you've hurt yourself and can't swim very far) but also just a pain in the ass.

Pops's picture
Pops's picture
Pops Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 4:07pm

Not a fan of the idea of an unbreakable leggy, personally. If there's enough force, somethings gotta give eventually - I'd rather it be the leggy than my ankle, or the attachment point on the board.

evosurfer's picture
evosurfer's picture
evosurfer Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 5:19pm

Halibit have you ever surfed near rocks or in crowded conditions?
I sometimes don't wear a leggie in 1-3ft beach breaks in uncrowded
conditions but really it makes zero difference in performance.
Long live the leg rope even thou it almost killed me last year I know
its saved me countless times.

coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 5:43pm

Hey everyone! Stu kind of blew up Cold and Sharky with this post and I wanted to introduce myself and reply to a couple of comments & questions! Feel free to reach out to me anytime, I'm stoked to talk to all of you! : [email protected]
First off, Yes, we ship to Australia! Our checkout system is new and caters to the locals. We're working on it. Reach out to me directly and we can sort it out.

@udo It's not always the stainless, sometimes it's the plastic surrounding it. It depends on what you're using but we've seen a lot of broken leashes. Leashes fail at swivels often enough. I had a SUP'er send me a picture of a broken swivel housing just the other day. His first time using the leash!
You're not the first to mention our leashes don't stretch and it's true. We're working on shock absorption, but we're also pretty sure that by the time your leash stretched out (and weakened) the sharp jerk happened and next the resistance happened, stretching the leash. Most people with similar questions around leash stretch were pleasantly surprised.

@carpetman Hell yea we'll warranty on velcro! If you'll send me the leash back I'll put fresh velcro on for you whenever you want n/p.

@tubeshooter Try us! No one has ever broken our leash and if you do we're going to figure it out, build it better, and send you a new one. We're real people building your leash by hand so we can improve in real time. We're not batch ordering them from China.

Thanks to everyone reaching out and for all the support!
Cheers,
Dave

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 6:02pm

You mention 'Swivel' as a failure point more than once in the vid ?
My not enough stretch comment was referring to use of UHMWPE
While your here give us the fine print on the Lifetime Warranty.....Repaired or Replaced at your Discretion ?

coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 2:57am

Definitely. Leashes sometimes fail at the swivels.
I don't think you'll miss the stretch but if you purchase a leash and you're unhappy with it we can definitely sort it out and we can refund your money.

There is no fine print on the warranty. Sure, you throw it in a fire or something crazy to damage or destroy it there might be some pushback, but if something has gone wrong with it we're going to make it right. We know we're occasionally going to take it on the chin here but someone damaging our leashes is an opportunity for us to improve them.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 6:08pm

Some surfers and presumably some SuP surfers probably don't understand the "fishing lure" technique .
This technique can be utilized in emergency situations where a wave is so big you think that your leggie is going to break. So you allow your self to get dragged fast . A too thin a leggie can survive remarkably well if you go with the flow instead trying to hold your ground (or water in this case)

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 6:19pm

Dave...the legrope pricing
5. 6. 7. 8. 9 ft are all $75 US ?

coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 4:19am

Yes, that is correct current pricing. We'll add 6" increments to the leashes sizes soon to give a few more options. We can also build custom lengths as you need. We have some folks running 12' and 15' lengths.

heals's picture
heals's picture
heals Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 6:45pm

G'Day Dave,
I like the idea of an unbreakable legrope but also have some reservations about the lack of an escape route should my leggy get caught. I've never used a bail clip, but are you considering putting one on?
Thanks for geting down and dirty in the comments. It's better for everyone when the people involved mingle with the plebs.

coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky's picture
coldandsharky Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 4:15am

Thanks for the comment, @heals!
We'd consider putting one on, but haven't received that request too often, yet. Not pictured is an easy pull loop on the ankle cuff that we just started adding. That may put your mind at ease a little bit?
You definitely do not want to use our leash in a river. :-)
No problem to chat with everyone, you all keep us stoked! Thanks!

rooftop's picture
rooftop's picture
rooftop Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 10:03pm

Came off the first wave of a set the other day to see the longboarder on the wave behind me get knocked off her board. Her 8 foot log came jagging unpredictably towards me in a wall of whitewater and missed me by inches. She was a competent surfer; she just had a fall like anyone else.

When I came up and told her to get a bloody legrope her response was shocked innocence. "Gosh, why is the vibe out here so aggro today?" "I have no idea," I replied. "But it might have something to do with the fact that I NEARLY GOT SMACKED IN THE HEAD BY A LONGBOARD."

Absence blindness obscures the huge number of injuries prevented by legropes.

Sure, if it's a small, uncrowded beachy, why not. Go without. Surf in the nude if you want. But where there's other people around, especially kids, you need to subsume your predilections for the common good.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 11:54pm

Should a Legrope Break

Here's a poem

Under strain, to save is my sole purpose
The pulls of this Earth are great
But I have this Human counting on me

I was created in all the Beauty they may recall
Is what I am worth?
I revel in the holding on

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Wednesday, 28 Mar 2018 at 11:59pm

What I am really talking about is, Fuck, I am Fifty. I can record several deaths here.

Don't know what I am trying to say, to drunk.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 12:11am

Actually, a little bit drunk, but it metamorphosis.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 12:12am

Like a legrope, it finds it meaning in life.

T.Conor's picture
T.Conor's picture
T.Conor Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 10:27am

Don't we rely on PU to stretch. No stretch lots of pain for body and board?

Legrope's picture
Legrope's picture
Legrope Thursday, 29 Mar 2018 at 7:57pm

Everyone needs a good legrope.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Saturday, 31 Mar 2018 at 11:48pm

Ten thousand people, maybe more!
The sounds of silence

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 12:17am

But it takes so long my Lord
Hallueha, Halluhea, Hallaua

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 12:31am

Fuck, I am good poet when I wanna be.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 12:31am

Fuck, I am good poet when I wanna be.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 12:32am

For Godsakes.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 4:16am

Keep 'em coming man. I'm a fan.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 2:02am

Should many people people die in Thailand, falling of the edge of a cliff in a bus.

I have a idea, a legrope of life, it is a little bit mystical.

When you are born you are given a symbolical rope, part of you umbilical cord, you could put it on your arm, leg, ?

It will save you once, of course they can be traded.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 3:44pm

Can imagine the leashes will still break regardless of any "unbreakable" claims.
Many types are far too weak and gimmicky & standards are low.
better quality brands are a must.
Bring on the technological improvements , theres a lot to develop with leashes in future

Fliplid's picture
Fliplid's picture
Fliplid Sunday, 1 Apr 2018 at 4:41pm

A legrope with no stretch? Good luck with that. Anyone who uses a legrope and surfs waves with a bit of punch are in for a bit of a surprise. Before urethane legropes the norm was a nylon cord inside a stretched rubber tube. If you were in the impact zone on a good sized day it wasn’t unheard of to have a plug ripped out of the deck when the rubber reaching its’ limit.

blindboy's picture
blindboy's picture
blindboy Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018 at 4:04pm

A ripped plug was the least of your worries. The board would come back like an Exocet if the cord was fully extended. My own score, two broken noses and five stitches in my face. I was a slow learner!

tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter's picture
tubeshooter Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018 at 4:42pm

I remember them ripping plugs. But the main one for me was getting dragged over the falls with bigger boards on bigger days, when the stretch ran out. But I can also definitely remember more boards recoiling back because ,I believe , no stretch meant that while your surfacing and the board was being dragged under with limited stretch, the tail would often sit higher than the nose in the water column at full stretch , thus spearing backwards at your head at great speed when the towing pressure eased, because of the angle the board underwater. I remember that everytime those chorded leggies went slack after a heavy drag and you couldn,t see your board on the surface , It was time to cover your face.,,especially if you had a swallowtail.. Also the outside rubber was often quick to deteriorate , and once that went they were usually discarded.

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Thursday, 10 May 2018 at 12:27am

Should legropes break, should there be unnecessary death?

I have actually payed up as a member now, so I don't feel so guilty about talking shit now! That is the advantage of being unemployed for more than twelve months. You can claim financial hardship. I have 1500 left in my super, I am fifty. But I have a Magna Executive I got for free, payed a few bills to keep my Landlord happy.

Felt like the French dude, splashing money about.

My leg rope is rather long and it has just snapped back. I will keep on surfing (after I have got the Magna registered).

marcus's picture
marcus's picture
marcus Thursday, 16 Aug 2018 at 2:49pm

hey Stu, good point on the way to undo a legrope if caught on a coral head. I had a legrope catch on island lefts when i was 12, full set of waves on the head, every time i reached down to feel for the little nylon tab on the velcro... boom another wave on my head and loss of it from my fingertips. eventually my lips got above the water,got a breath, reached down and undid the surfboard leggie i had on my old booger. i swam away while my board bobbed in the spot and then next set blasted it over the island into the channel. luckily my mate terry was at the peak and noticed me and paddled over to help just as i got loose.

funny bit was looking at the cliff thinking(with my eyes just above water), i wonder if anyone will come to my funeral :)

spuddyjack's picture
spuddyjack's picture
spuddyjack Thursday, 16 Aug 2018 at 10:23pm

Is there a local equivalent to the Oregon based Cold and Sharky legrope - or someone importing these items into OZ now?

ritchie-rich's picture
ritchie-rich's picture
ritchie-rich Saturday, 17 Nov 2018 at 9:27am

I’ve surfed a Freedom surf leash on my groveller for the last month or so. Seemed fine in Small weak Gold Coast beaches. Not much different to a comp leash though.
Anyway yesterday I turned up at Sth Straddie with my Lost HPPJ to find slightly overhead chunky conditions.
From here the Freedom Leash story takes a negative turn.
At least three times during a 4 hour surf the legrope was stretched pretty hard and the speed with which the board recoiled was quite disconcerting to say the least. Enough to make a mental note to never use that legrope again.
At one point I had to take the legrope off and let it untangle as well which is uncommon in good legropes these days.
Anyway after three close calls, Huey decided I’d had my fill of waves for the day and gave the FCS freedom leash the freedom to do what it had hinted at doing all surf.
I didn’t see anything coming i just felt it. Straight in the forehead. I was pissed off thinking I’d be taking my board to the doctors on the way home. After a shaky board check which showed up nothing, I noticed a brown discolouration on my board.
It was then I touched my face. Blood everywhere. No boat running, so I had a good paddle back bleeding heavily and a bit dazed. Luckily two guys paddled with me to make sure I was ok.
So instead of my board it was me going to the doctors. 6 stitches later and a forced rest day from work.
My warning is beware the beast that is the FCS Freedom surf leash in waves that will drag your board forcefully. It’s bite is as bad as it’s bark. I should of listened to my earlier inner warnings.
If the board hit my eye or temple things could of taken a very serious turn. Thank Huey they didn’t.
Also the legrope is advertised as having low recoil properties. I assume there was plenty of testing done on this to come to this conclusion. I just don’t understand it.
I haven’t had a legrope do this in over 15 years.
Anyway that’s my take on the FCS freedom leash haha.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Sunday, 20 Dec 2020 at 7:51pm

And how are The Freedoms holding Up ?

Surf ResQ instant in Water leash repair device... looks good -$16. https://surfresq.com.au/

The Surf Rat on U-tube does a cool legrope repair with some cord and heatshrink.. $2 of materials Max..

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 10 Aug 2020 at 6:09pm

Very sad incident involving what looks to be a leggy caught around the pipe at Collaroy :( Try and remember to bend those knees if ever snagged.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/surfer-44-dies-at-collaroy-beach-20200810-p55kds.html