Leash it Up

Want to take your dog for a walk?  Put a leash on it.  Want to make sure that your snowboard won’t accidentally careen off of your foot and hit a skier in the head while your on the lift or make it all the way up the mountain only to have your board go down on a joy ride without you?  Then like I said, put a leash on it.

The snowboard leash is a cord or strap that links your front leg to your front binding.  Some have little hooks or “key ring” that you put on the bottom most lace of your boot.  Other leashes actually go through your binding and boot then clasp both ends together to form a circle connection between you and your board.

The reason why snowboard leashes have become almost mandatory in the last few years is because ski resorts don’t want to have dumb people chasing their runaway snowboard all the way down the hill.  What you’re supposed to do is have one side tied to your board and the other clamp onto your boot ideally when you’re on the ski lift.  Once off the lift you bind in your hind foot and remove the leash from the front foot, but because I never really re-bind my front foot I always leave the leash attached just for that little extra sense of security, hey it can’t hurt you know. 

Leashes usually will run the boarder anywhere between 5 bucks to 20.  It may sound steep but for a leash that’s really going to last you I’d drop a few more bones to make sure I’m not running after my board.  The newer snowboard bindings come with a free leash, just think you get a free leash after dumping 300 bucks for bindings, how nice!  The more expensive leashes can also double as a chain lock for your board when you decide to go in and grab a quick hot cocoa.  So remember to use that leash, lock up your board, and keep doing what you’re doing boarder!