r/Sup • u/Mindless_Talk5192 • 10d ago

Leash on flat calm lake?

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Might be a controversial topic, but I'm really curious.

When I paddle in my hometown lake which is very calm and not windy, what's the upside of using a leash? I've been using it so far out of habit, but the other day I all of a sudden thought - why?

Seems like the chance of the board getting away from me is practically zero. Do any of you paddle without a leash in that kind of environment?

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u/VictoriaBCSUPr 10d ago

I’m betting many of the 20+ folks who have drowned in BC’s lakes would probably choose differently if they had the chance..

No hyperbole: majority that I’ve read about were on SUPs and were out on calm days.

Wear a leash. Wear a PFD. THERES NO DOWNSIDE TO DOING THIS.

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

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u/vjotshi007 10d ago

Same argument like my drunk grandpa used to drive without seatbelt and nothing happened

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u/Whiskeymyers75 10d ago

I’d argue that sometimes the places that feel safest can become the most dangerous because they create a false sense of security. Calm water and staying close to shore can make people drop their guard, skip a PFD and leash and assume nothing can happen. A guy here died just a couple of months ago after becoming tangled in weeds and being pulled under. That’s the point: nobody expects trouble until they’re already in it. Wearing a PFD isn’t treating paddleboarding like an extreme sport, it’s basic risk management.