When you think of polyurethane tubing, many possible applications come to mind. For example, pneumatics, water transport, or perhaps even as a conduit for bolts. But very few people would think of its possible use in surfing – especially when the frosty temperatures in January in Germany make such activities unthinkable. Nevertheless, since last year PAPUREX has been supplying a special tubing to a manufacturer of innovative surfboard leashes, making it part of the equipment used by surfers.
What exactly is a surfboard leash?
When surfing, falling into the water is a daily occurrence. It is not uncommon for water sports enthusiasts to lose not only their orientation but also their surfboard due to the time spent underwater, rollovers, and ocean currents. In strong surf waves, the board can drift 50 to 100 meters away from the surfer in a matter of seconds. In the best case scenario, this only costs the time it takes to retrieve the board. In the worst case scenario, the surfboard may not be found at all.
To avoid this gamble, it is now standard practice for water sports enthusiasts to secure their boards with a surfboard leash. The surfboard is attached to the surfer’s ankle by means of a cuff. To allow full freedom of movement for balance and tricks on the board and to avoid injuries in the event of a fall, the leash connecting the ankle cuff and the surfboard is usually several meters long.
PAPUREX is part of an innovative surfboard leash
In sports, the maxim “higher, faster, further” often applies. Surfing is no different. Accordingly, ambitious athletes place high demands on their equipment. The innovative surfboard leash with a PAPUREX core is therefore particularly thin. This helps to minimize resistance in the water.
In addition, the flexibility of the polyurethane tube in the leash ensures a certain amount of shock absorption in the event of a fall. A leash that is too stiff could cause injuries to the ankle. The material is also very light, which helps to ensure that the surfboard leash is not too noticeable while surfing.
Another example of Individual Tubing Solutions
In aquarium technology, with the smallest extrudate in the company’s history for guitar strings, or now with surfboard leashes – PAPUREX shows that the slogan “Individual Tubing Solutions” is not just promoted, but lived. Every request, no matter how unusual, is carefully considered by our sales department in collaboration with the product development team. The goal is to be able to offer the customer a tailor-made solution for their specific problem in each of these cases.
