I had a friend last week get caught up in a big clean up set ,that shouldnt be a problem if you have a sand beach
but the direction of the swell was washing him into a rock face ,and cliff ,rocks covered with sea urchins .
He is 90 kgs very fit ,and he rides and surfs a big 190 litre atlantis Halo .anyway he got wash around the point .
and made the decision to ditch it ,leg rope off ditched the paddle and swam for it .
make s me relies big boards can be a danger in big surf ,thats a lot of foam to drag you ...he said there was no way he could get out of it .
Anyway it's on my repair bench after been wash completely up on some big narly rocks ,I thought it would of been worse .Hes looking at a smaller board now..he's still limping ..with reef cuts . 
anyone else been dragged in shore by a big lump of a board .?
I can happen also with small SUPs. You can get trapped onto rocks or a jetty with any board that you cannot duckdive, be it prone or SUP.
I have been trapped onto a rock jetty once in only shoulder-high surf, but with a 6s period: I didnt have enough space between waves to gain distance.
I ended up ditching the paddle, letting the waves wash me on the rocks, using them to push on them, taking care of not having my legs stuck between rocks or letting the board hit them. After what felt like hours (must have been 5 minutes) of this game, I could escape unscathed through a lull, and go fetch my paddle.
I was on a pointed nosed 8'9" x 125 litres for my 100kg, something that I punch through surf quite easily... but still no duckdive.
Some days after, my leash broke in front of the jetty and my board was well dinged (ended up on top of the jetty). I made the mistake of bailing on an incoming wall of foam and lot pushing on my board to put it sideways: it stayed facing the wave, and so went backwards, cutting the leash with the fins trailing edges.
Ah, and was victim of the old gag: jumping from a jetty and having the leash caught in a bollard... glad to have quick-release leash cuffs :-)
In a nutshell: the drawbacks of SUPing is the handling of broken waves, winds, and chop. Being very aware of them is an essential part of safe SUPing, for you and others.
I had my short leg leggie half hitch around my leg and hook onto the reef at Cloubreak No chance of releasing it and then it caught on the reef. It was big surf and when it hooked it was only 3 foot deep. I would have drowned if the reef didn't snap off. Just a freak occurance the board was a 8-6. The wave before the swivel at the board snapped so I tied it above the release strap. I could get my hand to the back of the board but couldn't release it . I'll never do that again.
Select to expand quotecolas said..
I can happen also with small SUPs. You can get trapped onto rocks or a jetty with any board that you cannot duckdive, be it prone or SUP.
I have been trapped onto a rock jetty once in only shoulder-high surf, but with a 6s period: I didnt have enough space between waves to gain distance.
I ended up ditching the paddle, letting the waves wash me on the rocks, using them to push on them, taking care of not having my legs stuck between rocks or letting the board hit them. After what felt like hours (must have been 5 minutes) of this game, I could escape unscathed through a lull, and go fetch my paddle.
I was on a pointed nosed 8'9" x 125 litres for my 100kg, something that I punch through surf quite easily... but still no duckdive.
Some days after, my leash broke in front of the jetty and my board was well dinged (ended up on top of the jetty). I made the mistake of bailing on an incoming wall of foam and lot pushing on my board to put it sideways: it stayed facing the wave, and so went backwards, cutting the leash with the fins trailing edges.
Ah, and was victim of the old gag: jumping from a jetty and having the leash caught in a bollard... glad to have quick-release leash cuffs :-)
In a nutshell: the drawbacks of SUPing is the handling of broken waves, winds, and chop. Being very aware of them is an essential part of safe SUPing, for you and others.
Yes I think your right colas ,it could happen to guys with any size SUP .
i see guys SUPing near pole jetties ,board one way you the other could be big trouble .
i think he just has to be aware of the sets .we are more vulnerable not being able to duck dive .
with the big sets I jump off and start swimming under the wave ,I still end up further in shore than a surf board .we need a lot more room .
You have to be a bit smarter as a SUPer.and know when to speed paddle ,so not to get wastered.
Select to expand quotePiros said..
I had my short leg leggie half hitch around my leg and hook onto the reef at Cloubreak No chance of releasing it and then it caught on the reef. It was big surf and when it hooked it was only 3 foot deep. I would have drowned if the reef didn't snap off. Just a freak occurance the board was a 8-6. The wave before the swivel at the board snapped so I tied it above the release strap. I could get my hand to the back of the board but couldn't release it . I'll never do that again.
BLOODY LUCKY.it s a powerful wave that drags.
Last surf comp - 10'+ boards with 6' plus waves...........was not a great situation, and i took the big heavy one, and i'm not the smallest person on a sup 
You made the point that it is hard to swim with a paddle and the only option can be to let it go. Someone should create a product to get around this. Imagine if inside the pocket of your boardies there was a piece of bungie cord (or some sort of cord that was attached to the boardies at one end) with a tight loop in the end that could be popped around the paddle handle, like a noose. As you swam the paddle would be dragged along behind you. It would not solve the hold-downs or the drags, etc. but the aftermath might be less dangerous or expensive.
Ive got a starboard avanti and it does worry me that that thing is so heavy it will kill someone else in the line up, over 26kg. I have had no problems as its super buoyant and not heavy in the water. However during the last surf session I got caught in the wind and had to slam my hand up fast to stop being knocked out. Even dinged the bottom of the board.
Its a big effort out of the water in the wind.
As for the legrope this is why a knee located legrope can be helpful. I always would go out in ten foot plus surf with an easy access leggy and feel confident in taking it off. I was out many years ago in crazy crosswaves must have been 10ft plus and got held down so long in a repeat set i had to unleash under water it was a scary process and i just made it up. heavy heavy hold down.
Select to expand quoteShireSUP said...
Last surf comp - 10'+ boards with 6' plus waves...........was not a great situation, and i took the big heavy one, and i'm not the smallest person on a sup
You're not the largest person on a SUP anymore either mate!
Being attached to a bigger board can have many consequences, how you are attached to your board can also come into play here.
I am currently getting over a heavy knee sprain (12 weeks now) from being attached to my SUP via a below knee leash.
Spent the first month off and on crutches and it still hurts a bit every know and then at the moment.
Back-story to wearing a knee leash in the first place, I had a bit of a dodgy ankle over summer that inflamed of an evening and kept me out of the waves for a good 4-5 weeks so I changed to a knee leash and never thought twice about going back to a regular ankle leash.
Surfing 5' waves for over 2 hrs on my backhand one day I felt my knee tweak a little bit when I bailed my board in front of me at the end section of the wave. At the time it did not hurt all that much but the next day I really felt it. Next surf, jumping over the back of a small wave I really wrenched my knee and that was it, knee seriously buggered. Spent the next day In bed with any slight movement of my leg the wrong way and I would 'yelp' in pain.
Spent half my Family Holiday in Fiji on crutches and missed an epic surf at the reef I had located as I could not walk over the ridge to get to it.
I now wear my ankle leash on my front foot and do not find it in the way or awkward whilst SUP surfing, however I am looking forward to one day wearing my leash back on my left ankle some time soon.
I like riding big boards on occasion and hope to find a good legrope that will keep my board close to me, not break easily and not hurt my body parts.
Note the legrope on my wrong foot in the image below.
Ouch ,bit of bad luck there jacks boards .ever thought of a belt leg rope .
I've seen a kitesurfer ,he had one hooked to his harness once .
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..
You made the point that it is hard to swim with a paddle and the only option can be to let it go. Someone should create a product to get around this. Imagine if inside the pocket of your boardies there was a piece of bungie cord (or some sort of cord that was attached to the boardies at one end) with a tight loop in the end that could be popped around the paddle handle, like a noose. As you swam the paddle would be dragged along behind you. It would not solve the hold-downs or the drags, etc. but the aftermath might be less dangerous or expensive.
Your on something .plus it hards to kick with one leg ,the other getting pulled.
sometimes when I see the big set come in with no way of getting out I just turn around and ride the white wash in .it mostly works out faster to get back out ....and don't feel as stuffed..and wait it out ....looks like your a chicken ,but chickens are smart. 
Hi Tardy
Not sure on the paddle attached to my pants theory as you could end up losing your pants attached to your paddle and no board. Creeping up the shore with no pants on is concerning.
In theory in soft waves this could work yet that is when swimming with your paddle is easiest.
Gear can always be replaced, if getting yourself to safety means losing a paddle so be it.
Some board riding activities need lift tickets at $100 a pop so being prepared to replace some gear on occasion is not a financial crisis in my opinion. When traveling take a spare paddle(s).
A belt style leg rope could be on the cards at some point, I have seen a pic of a SUP surfer using a belt style safety leash in huge waves, he had two chords going directly to the back of the belt.
Not sure I can envisage being pulled backwards from my waist whist trying to stay calm or the tight pressure that is needed on the belt rope to be effective and not taken with the board also.
I have spoken to another Surf SUP rider who attaches his knee leg rope just above his knee, not below. This could be a better option for using a knee fastening style legrope with a SUP.
Regards
jack
So true ,us SUPers draw enough attention walking up the beach with no shirt on little lone no pants.
it s the joints that cop the grunt of the pulling action ...above the knee sounds like a good idea .
my mate wasn't that worried about his board and paddle ,he said he was just happy to get back to shore after having To swim around a rock face .
He reckons he's about due for a new one ,it took 12 days in the sun to get the water out of it .it did weigh over 13 kgs .it'll be abit more after glassing
and epifill.all the fins broke off....10.6 @190 litre 32 wide .not the idea board you want in 5-6 feet.
i like the look of your 2016 Hokua GTW.
waist leashes are the only way--easier on the hips and knees, and they drag you UP to the surface, when youre getting worked.
they stay more clear of the feet when riding/stepping-over etc too
see leashlok in Hawaii--i always wear in bigger waves, but now also in small
Also, a duckdivable board is not foolproof either...
in this case, I mean literally fool - proof :-)
www.facebook.com/TheInertia/videos/1218785878161228/
Select to expand quotecolas said..
Also, a duckdivable board is not foolproof either...
in this case, I mean literally fool - proof :-)
www.facebook.com/TheInertia/videos/1218785878161228/
Ouch!! That had to hurt!
Select to expand quoteDylpeters said..
I find this works best 
Well, not with a beer/pie belly :-)
Also the potential for injury is non-negligible if you botch it...
I prefer the anchor technic to colas .
paddle like hell toward the white wash dive over it and your the anchor .
For the big ones anyway ....
I like beer and pies too
but he's a talented guy. .. He's pro.
Its a sad day if we stop learning .
its good to see ...we mightn't be able to do it .....but ??,
I've surfed in a few social comps on the Gold Coast with Matty, he has perfected the 'sup duck dive' takes a little practise, and timing but is a really good way of getting your board over the white wash and back up and going again quickly, also is a good way of avoiding getting dragged around by the leg...!!!
Select to expand quotecolas said...Dylpeters said..
I find this works best
Well, not with a beer/pie belly :-)
Also the potential for injury is non-negligible if you botch it...
Agree i like pies and beer way to much to attempt that... also Kai Lenny is a freak and he is probably on the smallest board... that 'duck dive' is not for mere pie eating beer drinking mortals
Select to expand quoteDylpeters said..
I've surfed in a few social comps on the Gold Coast with Matty, he has perfected the 'sup duck dive' takes a little practise, and timing but is a really good way of getting your board over the white wash and back up and going again quickly, also is a good way of avoiding getting dragged around by the leg...!!!
I agree, I tend to use this more and more.
I try to begin the move as a "normal" climb-over-the-foam, then bail backwards at the top: this way the board has more chance to reach the back of the wave: bailing too early may have the board pushed back to you in a mean way...
Most of the guys who surf bigger swells now use waist leashes ....not ankle or knee leashes.
i reckon its a great idea to be able to kick with both legs .
its just like towing a truck out of the mud ,you always tie it to the strongest part.
Waist leashes will solve release and injury …. Takes the pressure from your knees n legs and easy to reach … can get them from Bali direct $15 bucks plus delivery … have been using them in large surf (and small surf) for 5 years after tearing ACLs on old legs …. good for Downwinders and BOPs …. But safe and easy for Surfing .
Select to expand quoteSlab said..
Most of the guys who surf bigger swells now use waist leashes ....not ankle or knee leashes.
No way totally disagree , short thick ankle leggies are the way to go. Show me me one big wave surfer who uses a waist leash ? Short leggies stop the tomb stone and give you control over the pull by bending and straighten your leg. You only get excess pressure on your knee if your board tomb stones from long thin leg ropes , short thick leg ropes won't do this.
I could think of nothing worse than getting sucked back over the falls by a leg rope attached to my waist, your body will bend in half and you will get pulled straight back onto the board. Leave the waist leashes for to the races.
While far from the norm, I'm actually the only one using one here, they do work. And by big I'm talking 10' at 16sec and up kind of big.
And then attached to 18' of cord. If your going over the falls then, it's really gone wrong. I get that they look kook, but on the big days the
crowd is thin and nobody cares about that.
For the normal big, up to well overhead, I use shorter thick ankle leashes. Select to expand quotePiros said..Slab said..
Most of the guys who surf bigger swells now use waist leashes ....not ankle or knee leashes.
No way totally disagree , short thick ankle leggies are the way to go. Show me me one big wave surfer who uses a waist leash ? Short leggies stop the tomb stone and give you control over the pull by bending and straighten your leg. You only get excess pressure on your knee if your board tomb stones from long thin leg ropes , short thick leg ropes won't do this.
I could think of nothing worse than getting sucked back over the falls by a leg rope attached to my waist, your body will bend in half and you will get pulled straight back onto the board. Leave the waist leashes for to the races.
Maybe that includes the board? 18 foot seems bloody long ....
I've never used a waist rope before ....but would like to try.
A 8 foot 10mm thick leggie seem s to do the job .
I don't like long leg ropes ,takes to long for you board to get back .
I would have thought a waist leash has more opportunity to get looped around your head/neck?
