So you finally bought a bodysurfing handboard but realized there is no leash plug for attaching your bicep leash. If you are as confused as I was not too long ago about how to do this, don’t worry, I will show you how to attach your leash to your hand strap in 5 simple steps so it never falls off.
How do you attach a Slyde proc bicep coil leash to your handboard strap?
- Thread both ends of the string through the metal eye hole located at the end of your leash. Make sure both ends are pulled through until even.
- Hold both string ends together while creating a tight knot.
- Undo the velcro hand strap on your board.
- Loop the string over the primary strap.
- Re-fasten the hand strap.
Note that if your handplane does happen to have a leash plug and you prefer to attach it that way, you may find my post on how to attach a bicep leash to your handboard leash plug more helpful instead.
The remainder of this post dives into detail on how to securely fasten your bicep coil leash to your handboard strap.
here is what you need
If you have not purchased a bicep leash then do so already. You can not start without it. I recommend using a leash for all handboarders. It is a great investment that is extremely affordable. It will save you time and energy from having to chase after your handplane if it slips off.
bicep leash pieces
Before we dive into the step-by-step tutorial, here is a quick breakdown of the different bicep leash components. This should help to keep your mind organized and make you more knowledgeable regarding the terminology I will be using as you follow the instructions for attaching your leash.
- leash cuff – This is the part that wraps around your arm.
- swivel – This is the part that is built into the cuff. It is a cool piece of technology that allows you and your board to move unhindered.
- coil – This is the long leash connecting the cuff to your hand strap via the string.
- string – This piece attaches the coil to your handboard strap.
attaching the leash to the handboard strap
When I first bought the Grom handboard, I remember being so confused regarding how to secure my leash to the board. I thought I had to drill a hole through to the underside, which I found out later that you can actually do.
Instead of breaking out the power tools, I discovered how to quickly attach my leash to the hand strap. Here are the steps to easily do that.
#1 – feed the string evenly through the eye hole
You will notice that the string is separate from the rest of the coil. The first thing you will want to do is feed the string through the metal eyehole located on the opposite end of the leash cuff. Continue pulling it through the eye hole until the string length on both sides is equidistant.
#2 tie a knot
Once the string is threaded through the eye hole, fold the two ends together and make a small, tight knot at the end. There are a variety of different ways to do this.
Here’s my recommendation: Hold both pieces of string together and wrap them around your finger. Then pull both ends through the loop you created with your finger. Give it a strong tug to secure the knot. This type of knot provides an amazing hold for my handboard.
#3 undo the velcro strap
In order to attach your leash to your board, you will need to de-velcro the top strap and then the one underneath to set it free from the plastic oval ring anchor. This will enable you to loop the string around the primary hand strap.
#4 loop knotted string around the main strap
After you have released all the velcro strap pieces, take your knotted string and loop it around the longest hand strap piece. This is the velcro strap that feeds into the plastic oval rings.
Make sure to place the leash string to one side or the other so it does not become a nuisance to your hand while bodysurfing. This will also help to keep the leash out of your way.
#5 lock it in
Once you have the string positioned on one side of the strap near the plastic ring, re-fasten the velcro. Make sure the velcro is locked in real tight by squeezing around the string with your fingers to secure it into place.