Ankle / Calf Leash

Anywhere the water has no movement and there is no snag risk.

Ankle Cuff: Most common, often included with a board package. Fit to the same leg every time.

Calf Cuff: Larger cuff worn below the knee. Same suitable waters, easier for some to fit. Fit to the same leg every time.

Waist Leash with Quick Release Belt

For slow moving or flowing water where there is a risk of snagging.

⚠️ For White Water environments we recommend NO leash is used.

Formal Course Requirements

There is one area where a firm stance on the use of SUP leashes applies: 

For official BCAB SUP courses and assessments.

As a regulatory Awarding Organisation, BCAB holds a distinct, legal duty of care to candidates on formal training and assessment programmes. 

Consequently, the use of leashes in white water is currently not allowed on official BCAB SUP WW courses.

This is a course-specific requirement, not a judgement on paddlers who choose differently outside a formal assessment setting.

Evidence is Welcomed

BCAB and Paddle UK have an open door on this formal course requirement. If new, peer-reviewed, evidence-based research can help inform or refine the current position, it will be considered seriously. People are invited to share their full, uncurated data and testing parameters with the safety team for formal review, and we'd encourage that process to move forward constructively.

Calum McNicol, serving as the Water Safety Lead for sportscotland and Water Safety Manager for Paddle Scotland, states:

"sportscotland endorses and aligns with the stance taken by Paddle Scotland and Paddle UK concerning stand-up paddleboard (SUP) leash usage in white water settings. Grounded in operational experience, existing incident reports, and evidence-based safety protocols, this position represents current best practices to mitigate risks and encourage safer engagement in the activity.

Furthermore, sportscotland notes Paddle UK's ongoing commitment to an evidence-driven methodology, remaining open to evaluating fresh, rigorous, peer-reviewed research and new findings that could help shape or update future recommendations in this field."

The general SUP Leash safety guidance is a recommendation.

For the wider SUP white water community, the current guidance on leash use is exactly that - guidance. It is not a mandatory prohibition.

We fully recognise the skill, experience, and technical judgement within Scotland's active white water SUP community. Experienced paddlers are well placed to make informed decisions on the water. The guidance exists to support good decision-making, particularly for those less experienced or new to the sport.

The insurance rumour is false.

We're aware a rumour has spread that choosing to wear a leash against Paddle UK guidance and recommendation invalidates your insurance cover. This is not true.

Choosing to use a leash in white water by a competent person* based on an informed decision does not automatically invalidate your insurance cover. Insurers typically look at the actual case of a claim and whether the policyholder acted with reasonable care. This works the same way as buoyancy aid guidance: paddling outside a National Governing or Awarding Body recommendation in these examples does not, on its own, invalidate cover. This has been confirmed directly with the insurers, Marsh. For further information and policy details (including liability policy wording) visit the Paddle UK Insurance zone: https://www.marshsport.co.uk/ngb-schemes/paddle-uk.html

*A competent person can be understood as an individual who possesses the right combination of training, skills, experience, and knowledge, along with the ability to apply them to safely execute tasks or make decisions.

If you obtain cover through alternative insurance providers, it is recommended to contact them directly to confirm whether their policies contain specific clauses requiring compliance with National Governing and / or Awarding Body rules, safety guidelines, or codes of conduct. When such requirements are explicitly stated in a policy, non-compliance may provide the insurer with valid grounds to reject any associated claim.

We encourage centres and clubs to share this update with their SUP white water communities to help prevent further confusion, with thanks.

“Paddle Scotland is committed to supporting its paddling community and ensuring that clarity around advice is in place for our members. We endorse the stance and guidance taken by Paddle UK around SUP leash guidance and are committed to working with them to ensure our members and the wider SUP community have the best and most up to date guidance. 

We encourage our members to spread the guidance around the community, share with ourselves and Paddle UK any peer reviewed feedback and ensure paddlesport is as safe as it can be for our community."

Adam Burns, Development Manager at Paddle Scotland