If you're in the water and another wave is about to pass over you, don't consider grabbing the little loop of rope that connects the board to your leggie. As I discovered today, what happens is that the board gets ripped out of your fingers, partially degloving your fingertip in the process.
If anyone has some good ideas on what to do in this situation then I'm all ears...
Yowzer.. Glad you didn't show it without the bandage on it..
I've seen a pic of the end of someones finger ripped right off from doing a similar thing..
Shame you didn't see that pic first because you'd never concider doing it... ever..
Far out Nebs that looks nasty. Sorry i didn't mention the "dont grab ur leggie" tip in ur SUP induction a few weeks back. Sometimes it better to bail (if its safe) or just bear hug the board. Heal quick mate.
Thanks guys. Yeah you really don't want to see what's underneath the bandage... I just about passed out looking at it while cleaning it up for the nurse.
When it happened the finger was numb, that's what alerted me to the problem, no real pain at all. But putting it into a bath of saline and antiseptic at the hospital woke up the nerves. Gosh that hurt.
I vaguely remember someone posting a picture a couple of years ago with a velcro handle or something they attached to the legrope loop, anyone know what I'm talking about?
I did a similar thing the result of which is two permanently bent fingers on my right hand. I hope yours heals soon.
I had a similar mishap while surfing, but not as severe.
Now, I just do not try to grab the leash! I just let the board go, and if the waves are big, I try to let myself be dragged by the leash (do not resist) so as not lessen the stress on the leash and reduce the risk of leash breakage...
Ouch! Bad luck ..let it loose ..grab the nose and pull it through ..
when you think about it there is alot of pull on a sup and two little fingers ain't gonna hold it .
heal up mate and get back out there .
I wouldn't be hanging onto your board that close anyway.
Don't worry about it Nebs. Just bail and let nature take its coarse.
You wanna be as far away from that board as possible.
Jesus mate that doesn't sound or look flash - all the best for your recovery hope ya get wet again soon as
22nd of February this year (i remember the date for a good reason) i ripped the end off my ring finger attempting to stop my 10'' laird surfer going over the falls. Needless to say i am somewhat legrope shy nowadays.
3 1/2 weeks later i was back in the water, but i wouldn't wish it on anyone. It still gives me pain. The only time it feels normal is after a good sesh.
Hands off leashes people!
Geez Brenno, yours takes the cake. I assume you did the same thing I did, stick your fingers inside the leg rope loop to control the board? Thought mine was bad.
How was the trip back to shore minus a digit? Also are you left handed?
Ouch nasty.
I see a lot of people feed the loop of cord through the leash plug on the board then back through itself to leave a long loop of cord, this can allow fingers to get easily caught and also in some cases (particularly on surfboards) the cord can cut cut through the rail of the board.
The loop of cord should be threaded through the leash plug then the railsaver on the legrope past through both loops of cord so that the cord is doubled and kept as short as possible, reducing the chance of catching fingers.
Fingers can also be injured from getting jammed between the railsaver (flat material) and the tail of the board, it you are going to grab the leggie/railsaver do it so your fingers are clear of the rail and make sure leggie is not wrapped around hand or fingers.
As mentioned though if the surf is big you are better off just letting the board go.
Make a tail handle, there are many ways to do it, most of them are discussed at the Stand Up Zone, www.standupzone.com/
Use the search for several threads on it.
Although I didn't injure fingers I can appreciate all comments above. I typically sup away from other surfers and boogers but on this day whilst was supping with mates last year at a local break, a couple of adult guys on boogie-boards kept putting themselves directly in front of us no matter where we moved to. This one guy took a wave that wasn't his and I saw him just in time. As I was taking the drop on a smallish (3') wave I saw that my 9'8" and I were heading straight for his head and there was no way I could avoid hitting him if I kept going.
I jumped off the back of my board behind the lip and grabbed the leggie as close to the board as possible. The result was a slingshot board to my head which resulted in 7 stitches in my temple. An inch to the left and I would have lost my eye. Not even my helmet would have saved that from happening.
As a windsurfer that has been caught in some scary predicaments - I'm more than happy to sacrifice my gear if it means no injury...unfortunately the injuries tend to happen when I put others safety before my own.
Had my first surf this morning after the accident. Finger is watertight with new skin, but doesn't fully open (or close). Feels like scar tissue all around where the rope cut through which you'd expect. Hopefully it continues healing!
Anyway that surf today was magic! Couple of really good rides, had at least half a dozen dolphins come up and check out the lineup, good conversations with a couple of shortboarders, great vibes in the water. Stoked to be back on board
Im really happy i had a read of this one. Lucky i was out in only 1-2ft today and grabed the velcro to hold onto the board while standing up. Thought it hurt now ill never go near it especially in some swell. No offence i dont want to join the club poor blokes
Obviously you have to be able to safely grab your leg rope
Your leg rope is attached to your board via a small piece of rope / cord, that is supplied and or is a single loop and or stitched to the leg rope rail saver which is the webbing
THIS LOOP SHOULD NOT BE LARGE ENOUGH TO GET YOUR FINGERS IN AND IF IT IS YOU HAVE INCORRECTLY ATTACHED IT
i see so many leg ropes attached incorrectly at a shop level and it astounds me people really dont know how to do this , i am constantly re attach them for people down the beach
The idea is to tie this rope / cord as short as possible
The first reason is if the loop of cord is long it can act like a knife to butter impacting the rails slicing and crushing them when under tension from a fall
The webbing is designed to distribute the apparent pressure over and around the rail on a fall
Grabbing this webbing is an essential tool for you to use for controlling your board from getting away from you / best done when the board is upside down and no large loop to potentially get your fingers caught in
So
Do not attach your your rope / cord around the the leg rope plug bar with a single loop slipknot you often also expose a large loop and knot on the side, this knot will also impact your rail causing damage hand fingers board.
ALL LEG ROPE / CORD KNOTS SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED AND TUCK NEATLY UNDER THE ASSOCIATED VELCRO WEBBING / RAIL SAVER
The slip knot is ok as long as you can make it shot enough to attach legrope / which is often not the case and your knot is not exposed.
Best practice is to use the double loop , where you simply push the rope through / under plug bar / you now have 2 loops , put velcro webbing through both loops, put knot under velcro and webbing. again some tweaks with loop size prior to are required to minimise the length of the rope / cord length to get it as short as possible
Also check this rope regularly for wear and tear stretch they are to easy and cheap to replace. When it does snap it wont be a sore finger it will be a bloody long swim
Ps ill would post a couple of photos ............but im SUPen in remote location