To Leash or Not to Leash?

Leashes are often highlighted as essential safety tools, but they are far from a complete failsafe. Misleading statements about going leashless can create confusion, especially when paddling rivers or lakes where risks abound regardless of leash use.

Ultimately, the decisions made before you paddle are far more critical than whether or not you clip on a leash.

Priorities Matter

For many whitewater paddlers, the leash is often considered a default safety measure. We clip on a quick-release leash and feel confident that we’ve done our due diligence. But this mindset oversimplifies the complexities of the environment.

The phrase “Go Unleashed” is often promoted to prevent entrapment, but it doesn’t address the broader hazards of dynamic environments like mellow rivers or Canadian lakes. These settings can still pose serious dangers if you are not adequately prepared.

Key Questions to Ask Before You Paddle:

• What is my comfort level and understanding of the current environment?
• Am I wearing a properly fitted, inherently buoyant PFD?
• Is my equipment suitable for river use?
• Can I identify and manage the risks and hazards? Are my paddling companions equally prepared?

Skills Matter More Than a Leash

Going leashless won’t prevent entrapment in a strainer—but strong paddling skills and hazard awareness can help you avoid one entirely.

It won’t prevent foot entrapment in shallow water—but proper swimming techniques (keeping feet up and swimming flat) will.

It won’t guard against cold water shock—but appropriate immersion clothing can mitigate those risks.

The leash, at its core, is designed to keep your board close to you, reducing the risk of extended immersion and minimizing the time spent in potentially hazardous water. However, relying solely on it without proper training and preparation is not enough.

A Story of Preparedness

During a cold, windy paddle, a friend and I encountered a person clinging to a mid-lake buoy, barely hanging on. She wasn’t wearing a PFD or a leash and had no immersion gear. After falling in, she lost her board and equipment, leaving her stranded as a swimmer.

We were able to rescue her and bring her to shore, where she showed signs of mild hypothermia. Without intervention, the situation could have ended tragically.

Key factors to consider in this scenario:

• Did she have a trip plan or a check-in person?
• Was her clothing sufficient for immersion?
• What if the wind hadn’t pushed her toward the buoy?

Going with the Flow

Quick-release leashes in swift water environments can be valuable tools, but their effectiveness depends on user experience and confidence. Using one requires calmness, situational awareness, and practice.

A Personal Account:
While paddling a Class 3 river, my board became pinned. I calmly pulled my quick-release leash, swam away, and relied on downstream safety measures like a throw bag to reach the shore. My paddling group retrieved my equipment, and the situation was resolved without incident.

Why This Worked:

• Risk assessment of the environment and hazards before paddling.
• Proficiency with equipment and rescue techniques.
• Support from skilled paddlers with swift water rescue abilities.

Your Board Won’t Save Your Life—Your Skills Will

All paddlers, regardless of watercraft, should feel comfortable swimming in the class of water they intend to paddle. Unlike kayakers or canoeists, who are not attached to their equipment, SUP paddlers often rely on their board as a safety crutch. This reliance can lead to a false sense of security.

To stay safe, you must be aware of your environment, confident in your swimming and rescue skills, and prepared to assist others.

Being leashless removes one small factor from the risk equation, but the larger picture—your preparation, skills, and group awareness—remains paramount.

Key Takeaways

All paddlers, regardless of watercraft, should:

1. Seek Professional Training
   Gain knowledge specific to the water environment and paddling style.
2. Understand Your Equipment
   Ensure it’s suitable for the conditions and practice using it.
3. Plan and Prepare
   Anticipate potential hazards and know your limitations.
4. Paddle with Skilled Companions
   Surround yourself with paddlers capable of assisting in your chosen environment.

Safety on the water isn’t about a single tool—it’s about comprehensive risk management and preparedness.

Reta Boychuck

After spending many years as a coach in the ski and swim industries, instructing and teaching comes naturally to Reta.

The water is where Reta feels the most at home, and you can find her sending in every medium – whether it’s rafting, kayaking or canoeing, or representing as a Badfish SUP Athlete, Reta loves to push her limits on the water. Her newest endeavour, CANRVRSUP is Western Canada’s leading instructor collective, providing quality instruction in water environments ranging from flatwater to river.

Despite (and, just maybe, because of…) being an adrenaline junkie, Reta’s first and foremost focus is safety. Becoming a swiftwater rescue instructor has rounded out her teaching capacities provide a high level of confidence and safety on the water to all who paddle with her.