Jul 25, 2004
The History of the Surf Leash
The History of the Surf Leash Photo Credit to AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM Today, surfboard leashes (or “leg ropes,” in the Aussie vernacular) are a ubiquitous part of the surf experience. But this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, prior to the early 1970s, the concept of a safety net for surfboards didn’t even exist. It was Pat O’Neill, son of famed wetsuit inventor Jack O’Neill, who is credited with creating the first leash—a piece of surgical tubing tied around his wrist, and attached to the board with a suction cup. Pat took his leash public at the 1971...