On a recent July day, a 26-year-old man drowned on Oregon’s Willamette River when a submerged tree knocked him off his standup paddleboard and into the cold current. He was connected to his board by an ankle leash, which snagged on debris, trapping him underwater.
The tragic event adds to a concerning rise in paddleboard deaths — specifically involving leash entrapments.
Paddleboard accidents on the rise
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that between 2023 and 2024, standup paddleboarding fatalities spiked by 164 percent.
In Oregon alone, 13 paddleboard deaths have occurred since 2020, with leash entanglements involved in five of those accidents, according to data compiled by the Oregon State Marine Board.
A SUP leash is a safety cord that connects a paddler to their board. It is an essential piece of equipment, says Ashley Massey, Oregon State Marine Board’s public information officer.
“Imagine,” she says, “you’re in the middle of a lake, you get a wind, you fall off the board and — whoosh. Your board’s blown out of reach.”
The Marine Board recommends paddleboarders wear a leash, Massey says, but knowing which type to use on which type of water is critical. While the type of leash included with many commonly purchased paddleboards works for certain bodies of water, it may not be the safest choice for others where entanglements tend to occur.
Government agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada set strict rules for how life jackets are made and who must wear them. However, SUP leashes are not regulated, Massey says.
“This is where skill becomes important,” she says. “Choosing a leash requires discernment.”
Types of paddleboard leashes available
There are three broad categories of standup paddleboard leashes.
Straight leashes attach to the ankle or calf via a Velcro cuff and are intended for ocean or river surfing. The single, uncoiled line helps keep the board at a distance, preventing it from springing back toward the paddler in the event of a wipeout.
Coiled leashes also attach to the ankle or calf, and are designed to reduce drag and avoid tangles at the feet. Coiled leashes are for flat water such as lakes or ponds, but only when there is no risk of underwater debris or obstructions, stresses Massey.
The problem with both of these types of leashes that attach to the ankle or calf is that if the leash gets snagged underwater, it can be extremely difficult to reach down and release the cuff, especially in the current. All five leash-related deaths that have occurred on Oregon waterways since 2020 involved ankle leashes, the data shows.
Instead, quick-release leashes are vital for moving water, Massey says, which includes rivers and creeks, or even flatwater where there may be submerged hazards such as sunken trees, dense vegetation or old bridge pilings.
Quick-release leashes attach to a waist belt or life jacket and feature an easy-to-grab toggle or pin which, when pulled, instantly disconnects the paddler from the board. There are also aftermarket SUP waist belts that let paddlers convert a standard ankle leash into a quick-release system.
“You can’t go wrong with a quick-release leash,” Massey says.
The continuing campaign for PFD use and paddling education
Another aspect in avoiding paddleboarding fatalities remains wearing a personal flotation device. Approximately 83 percent of fatal boating accident victims were not wearing a life jacket, reports the U.S. Coast Guard — though all boaters, paddleboarders included, are required to carry them on board.
But, she adds, paddlers also need basic skills and an understanding of a waterway’s inherent risks. For example, how strong is the current? How high is the flow? Have there been any recent wildfires or high-water events that may have put debris into the river and created log jams?
Massey attributes the increase in fatal SUP accidents largely to the sport’s growing popularity coupled with lack of education. Over the past decade, paddleboarding has become the fastest-growing paddlesport in the world. SUPs have become more accessible than ever, available at big-box stores such as Walmart, Costco and The Home Depot.
“But picking up a paddleboard at Walmart isn’t going to help you learn necessary skills like reading the river,” says Massey.
Waterways are ever-changing, Massey shares, so gaining the ability to read water, avoid hazards and self-rescue are as essential as proper safety gear.
Feature Image: A group of Standup Paddleboarders on the Willamette River near Eugene, Oregon. | Marcel Bieg
