The river surfing scene is growing fast, with an increasing number of participants joining hundreds of river waves around the world.
Unlike ocean surfers, river surfers rely on powerful currents that create standing waves. In theory, these waves can be ridden indefinitely.
However, when they fall off or end their rides, there is a risk of getting trapped, entangled, and held underwater due to rocks or debris sitting on the riverbed.
One of the causes of similar accidents is the surf leash.
The history of river surfing is filled with many stories of close calls in urban or inland river streams.
In the winter of 2013, two near-drownings in Alberta occurred in shallow, slow-moving rivers due to ankle leashes.
A surfer in New Zealand also got trapped around a bridge pylon. He was freed by kayakers, but even one rescuer got briefly entangled.
In 2025, a 33-year-old woman died after her legrope got entangled on the bottom of the Eisbach river wave in Munich, Germany.
She was not able to reach her ankle and detach herself from the leash and the board.
The tragic accident sparked a series of heated discussions on the safety procedures that should be required to surf rivers and canals.
Should river surfers get a special license before taking on these fast-moving volumes of water? Which signs and instructions should be installed near the entry and exit of wave-riding spots?
Should ropes, buoys, poles, and other rescuing gear be always available nearby?
Does it make sense to have lifeguards patrolling the most crowded and popular river surfing breaks?
There is already an informal list of sound practices river surfers should follow to ensure everyone enjoys their session safely.
But ultimately, as long as these venues are safe for surfing, it all starts and ends with personal responsibility.
Leash or No Leash in River Waves?
So, despite following all the major safety guidelines, are river surfers being betrayed by what was supposed to be their lifeline?
First, let's try to understand the reason behind the use of the leash.
River surfers usually adopt legropes to stay close to their surfboards when they kick out or wipe out.
The moment they're not surfing anymore, they're quickly dragged by the river's flow.
Obviously, if they're dragged fast by the current, without the leash, they may lose their surfboards forever or, in the best-case scenario, will have to retrieve them hundreds of years or even miles away from the original surfing spot.
Also, having a board close by allows them to paddle to the shore easier and faster than just by swimming.
Imagine surfing the famous Zambezi River's Rapid #11 wave and losing contact with your surfboard. Where would you and the board end?
So, the surfboard leash still has many river wave adopters.
The problem takes place underwater. Several hidden dangers below could transform a session into a nightmare.
Reports of surfers getting their urethane cord stuck in an object - rocks, trees, pylons, flotsam, etc. - below the surface of the water are more common than one might think.
The forces at stake are so powerful that they straighten your leash leg and flatten your body underwater.
You cannot reach your ankle to release the leash because the water pressure pins your body down.
And on top of that, the Velcro strap is often hard to unfasten.
The quick-release system should work effortlessly and fast. When one is underwater, there is not much time and oxygen to spare.
Therefore, in rare events, surfers do need to let go of their board and leash. The question is: what are the options?
Available Safe Alternatives
Where do we draw the line between safety and comfort in 99 percent of the rides and a rare need for a no-strings-attached moment?
There is no perfect answer - only a few options that each surfer should opt for when surfing in static river waves.
It's important to stress that none of the following alternatives are 100 percent safe. It's up to each rider to consider the one that best suits their preferences.
Option #1: No Leash
Many experienced river surfers have advocated adopting a no-leash policy in river breaks.
They believe it's the only option available that minimizes the risk of entanglements underwater to nearly zero.
The trick is to learn how to land on the surfboard and master swimming so you can retrieve it safely if you lose control of it.
Option #2: The Waist/Harness Leash
Some river surfers use a special type of surf leash around their waist.
They resemble a harness or a belt, and in an emergency, they can be quickly released using a simple buckle system or just by undoing a Velcro strap near the belly area.
Option #3: The Magnetic Quick-Release Ankle Leash
The river surfing community also developed and adopted a leash that automatically breaks in parts if the tension goes beyond a certain level.
It features a built-in quick-release magnet that opens at a pulling force of around 20 kilograms.
If you don't want to buy a new leash but would rather have it installed on your existing legrope, you can do it yourself for around $25 using your standard legrope.
However, the installation is permanent and cannot be easily reversed.
Option #4: Standard Surf Leash + Knife
Lastly, if you insist on using a standard leash, at least install a short one - for example, a 5' - to reduce the chances of underwater entanglement.
You should also think about carrying a portable rescue knife that is easily accessible and available anywhere close to your body.
In an emergency, it might cut you loose.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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