SURF-SKI SAFETY: Remounting with Wrist Leash - Millers #69

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Please note that the sequence of my footage has been modified in order to better illustrate my premise that, for wrist paddle leash users, it is better to always re-orientate the ski to one's favoured direction before re-mounting.

The interesting thing is that my two swims occurred in the reverse order to that which is depicted in the video. So, I did the "CORRECT" remount orientation first and then the "WRONG" one second (the reverse order to that depicted in the video). How bizarre ! My body clearly knew what to do long before my brain had any clue about what was going on. I had never previously consciously decided to correct the orientation of my ski (as my default) as the conventional wisdom is that you need to be able to re-mount with your ski pointing in both directions.

This concept of “body knowledge” is familiar to the profession of life and managerial coaching. A coach will often lead a client into re-embodying (somatic immersion) a particular experience with a view to first seeking to notice any messages from the body when reflecting on a particular experience. David Kolb, author of the Experiential Learning Model is the father of the science of adult learning.

My contention is that for most of us, there is always going to be a significant difference in one’s balance, co-ordination, and timing between one’s favoured and less favoured remount orientations. The wilder the conditions, the more vulnerable you are going to be in your least favoured orientation, particularly if you use a wrist paddle leash that restricts your hand placement.

Ski Stability: My evolving experience on this topic is that there are three modes of stability being, (i) primary: ski at rest, (ii) secondary: ski under your power either in flat or in rough conditions and lastly, (iii) tertiary: ski at speed on a run. I have recently “re-upgraded” to the Fenn Swordfish (SF) after having spent nearly 8 months in the Fenn XTS. I have noticed a significant improvement in my overall stability in the SF, in particular, in my “secondary’ stability. I attribute this improvement to the fact that the XTS has poor “secondary” stability because the seat height is 2cm above that of the SF. So, while it is 3cm wider than the SF it still rocks from side to side due to the higher seat. My theory is, that it is this “8 months of rocking” that has improved my overall stability in the SF.

[RobinMousley]

Thanks for posting this Richard! Folks using the wrist leash really need to think about this, so it's great that you've highlighted it. Personally, I prefer a paddle to boat leash, so I can let the paddle go completely if I need to use both hands. (Some folks don't like the leash bouncing around in front of the paddle, but I've used it for 20 years now and don't even notice it... And I've never had a serious tangle with it and my belt leash!)

[tvepaddler]

Thanks for posting! Interesting thoughts. When I did some practice remounts with a wrist leash I concluded that I need to have the paddle alongside the boat on one side and across the boat on the other.
I've never found a difference between R and L remounts in terms of preference. The key for me overall in rough water has been Oscar's teaching about starting to paddle while both legs are still out on one side. That paddle in the water gives so much control that even if my butt is in the wrong place I can eventually wriggle my way through.

[elieuncle]

I will have to watch this video many more times and analyze it good !

[dr_white]

Good point. It is important safety topic.

[frederico]

At 3:18 it looks like you intentionally let the boat go, trusting the leash to hold it. Never trust the leash! They brake too easily.
Nice video about safety!

[jaimemetcher]

As a relative novice, I'm surprised that there's even such a thing as a paddle leash. Question for the more experienced: have you ever actually lost hold of your paddle?

[Alastair]

The problem with a wrist-paddle leash is really obvious in this video.

I use a paddle to boat leash. Yes, sometimes it gets tangled around my legs.

Every time I take a swim, the water seems less rough when I'm in it than when I was paddling. A reminder to calm down, don't panic. Take a breath and get everything in the correct place before remounting.

I use plain shock cord for my leash, which isn't prone to tangling with itself. Wouldn't fancy using the coiled stuff, I imagine that, like a telephone cord, it would be easy to get tangled.

[peetsnort]

Perhaps you could have a sea anchor that deploys when flipped.
My surfski blew away from milnerton beach to saldana in the 70s

[jdk]

How are you keeping water out of the ski? Especially if youre tipping over? My foot well is usually flooded. Obviously adding a lot of weight. Am i missing something?

[Jamii]

Indeed paddle leashes can often comprise remounts, especially if they become tangled so a wrist leash offers a solution to avoid this but isn't a fool proof either as much depends upon paddle placement and remount techniques.
Everyone has a preferred method yet
I generally place paddle across the footstrap to help stabilise craft with same hand grip ready for paddling so to avoiding paddle beside the craft regardless which side I remount from as blade on side of craft often gets caught under legs and back to front.

[d]

I find that having the wind in the back [the logic being that the ski is pushed away from me] is problematic once I'm in as I am broadsided by waves and so, quite unstable once in the bucket. I always orient the ski perpendicular to the waves, upwind or downwind, regardless [if upwind, then I have to turn around but I'm also more stable when remounting and also see what's coming].

[Tony-otmh]

Wonderful video, thanks. Pity about the lousy music (if you can call it that)

[peetsnort]

What's the red and yellow. I'm in the UK now

[HEKOT]

When you remount, you do not have to hold the paddle with your far hand. Hayley Nixon shows remount with the paddle in the closer hand. It may be even easier.

[mikecoglione]

Yikes I couldn't even get on a surfski to go paddle it without the damn thing constantly flipping never mind remounting in open water. You gotta be a balance gymnist to pull a feat like that off!