Tail Pads, do we really need them?
I agree. I like having one so I know where my back foot is on the board. But the size of the tail pad should be in proportion to the board. If a grom is riding a 5'3", they don't need a standard size tail pad.
These guys sell 5 piece tail pad which is pretty good for size customization:
Haven't used a tail pad in 25+ years. I'm a wax minimalist, front foot and back foot only (not in between either) and nil wax on rails.
tail pads I can do without...but knee pads on a kneeboard, best invention since...the kneeboard.
tail pads haha marketing magic.......might help compressions in the tail but when you see the pros waxing their tail pad you gotta ask yourself the question.....why have one...also has to be a lot of drag from the kicker ..imo
I don’t mind tail pads , stops my foot slipping of the back and injuring foot on rail or fin which has happened in the past . I don’t use them on boards over 7’ , no point really unless you’re in cold water and have full deck done . When I was talking to webby about putting one on my 6’ 10” DS he said it would add to the overall strength in that area . With my style of duck diving , I use my right foot on tail pad . Webby did say don’t put one on the 7’6” and I wasn’t intending too , narrow area and a bit pointless. I have thought about if the tail pad effects performance when laying board over on a bottom turn but doesn’t really effect my surfing . Each to their own.
simba wrote:
tail pads haha marketing magic.......might help compressions in the tail but when you see the pros waxing their tail pad you gotta ask yourself the question.....why have one...also has to be a lot of drag from the kicker ..imo
simba wrote:
also has to be a lot of drag from the kicker ..imo
Interesting, never considered that before.
Corners Gone ...Lessens the Drag
https://sideways.com.au/products/fire-wire-lowrider-tail-pad?srsltid=Af…
Kicker drag - you spend all that time shaping a nicely flowing rail, then stick a hydrodynamic brick on it....
How many Pro’s don’t use a tail pad ? If they could squeak any type of advantage out of not using one , then none would be using them .
Supafreak wrote:
How many Pro’s don’t use a tail pad ? If they could squeak any type of advantage out of not using one , then none would be using them .
Not on tour, but Mason Ho never uses them.
Hiccups wrote:
How many Pro’s don’t use a tail pad ? If they could squeak any type of advantage out of not using one , then none would be using them .Not on tour, but Mason Ho never uses them.
Good discussion, Have you ever experienced that situation when you have wax only, it gets shiny and you push on your rear foot and it slips backwards and you almost do your groin.
I think many of us use a pad to stop our rear foot going over the back of the tail.
Saying that I just got a beautiful Banks Indo Rocket quad off Gumtree and the previous owner only used wax. So I’m going to keep it that way. AW
Never used them ,
I was always halfway looking for speed, and then stepping back at the end of the section.
Too much grip, not enough movement.
Always use them these days, and immediately notice it if I ride a board without a tail pad. Feel less secure and liable to slipping. Not a great thought; earlier this year a mate did the ol' Mick Fanning splits and hurt himself badly.
Not too bothered by supposed drag: my back foot is bigger than the kicker anyway.
Have started using front traction, both enjoying the feeling of connection and the freedom of stacking boards without worrying about reverse wax jobs.
By visiting the right website - starts with a tee, ends with the sound a cow makes - you can get front and back for $16, including shipping. Word for the wise: don't surf the grip for 48hrs after sticking them on. Glue's not as good.
It can probably also depends on water temperature and quality,
If it’s too warm the wax can go gooey,
But if the water temperature is too cold, the wax can go hard and slippery ,
And in between , not so important ?
Also shifting position when padding, with a wetsuit on, might not be so quick with a grip,
not sure though, because I’ve never had one.
stunet wrote:
Always use them these days, and immediately notice it if I ride a board without a tail pad. Feel less secure and liable to slipping. Not a great thought; earlier this year a mate did the ol' Mick Fanning splits and hurt himself badly.
Not too bothered by supposed drag: my back foot is bigger than the kicker anyway.
Have started using front traction, both enjoying the feeling of connection and the freedom of stacking boards without worrying about reverse wax jobs.
By visiting the right website - starts with a tee, ends with the sound a cow makes - you can get front and back for $16, including shipping. Word for the wise: don't surf the grip for 48hrs after sticking them on. Glue's not as good.
Stunet. Hi , hope you’re well.
Stuff it, I agree, too risky, the more I think about it , the chances of injury are amplified, especially in our colder water.
Back to a rear pad on my new second hand board.
Good discussion.AW
hahA wrong thread @base but yes....niiiiice Gary.
Good morning tailpad thread!
I had the full Damian Hardman front and back in the 80's but then went clean skin for about 20 years thinking it was easier to make small foot adjustments without one. Then I got old and went back to them, they make popping up and duck diving easier and with the cost of wax they save a bit of money.
However, I have never felt the need to wax my tail pad, seems a bit anal to me.
Always go pad-less.
If I buy a second hand stick and it’s got a pad on it comes straight off.
Anyone who puts pads on a fish or any step up/gun/semi gun whatever should be made to ride a boogie board for a year as punishment.
Boards looks SO much better without them
old-dog wrote:
I had the full Damian Hardman front and back in the 80's but then went clean skin for about 20 years thinking it was easier to make small foot adjustments without one. Then I got old and went back to them, they make popping up and duck diving easier and with the cost of wax they save a bit of money.
However, I have never felt the need to wax my tail pad, seems a bit anal to me.
Old-Dog. Hi mate.
The full Damian Hardman front and rear, sounds like sandpaper gate for your nipples in Summer.
Three cameleers depart for the desert next Thursday, I’ll give you a wave when I pass Port Ohgutter. Bit of swell around by the looks of it. AW
Hi AW, its been onshore shite for the last few days in SA but should be hot by next Thurs. / Fri. Hopefully you will get some NE winds and pumping surf if your camel makes it alive. I'm waiting till Feb. after the circus leaves before heading over.
Have fun. OD
old-dog wrote:
Hi AW, its been onshore shite for the last few days in SA but should be hot by next Thurs. / Fri. Hopefully you will get some NE winds and pumping surf if your camel makes it alive. I'm waiting till Feb. after the circus leaves before heading over.
Have fun. OD
Im jealous, I’d rather be there then also, but I’ve got a bathroom/ensuite job early Feb, ultimately it’ll fund my Indo surf trips mid year and won’t have to work much at all thereafter. I hope you get some good waves.
When we left there last week of January this year, there were 16 days in a row of nothing smaller than 3ft but many days 4-5ft and the odd 6ft. AW
goofyfoot wrote:
Always go pad-less.
If I buy a second hand stick and it’s got a pad on it comes straight off.
Anyone who puts pads on a fish or any step up/gun/semi gun whatever should be made to ride a boogie board for a year as punishment.
Boards looks SO much better without them
haha.If i buy a board second hand, sometimes i don't even realise it's got a tailpad til a few months later.
Either says how much i rate pads, or maybe it's a poor reflection on how i surf.
southernraw wrote:
Always go pad-less.If I buy a second hand stick and it’s got a pad on it comes straight off.
Anyone who puts pads on a fish or any step up/gun/semi gun whatever should be made to ride a boogie board for a year as punishment.
Boards looks SO much better without them
haha.If i buy a board second hand, sometimes i don't even realise it's got a tailpad til a few months later.
Either says how much i rate pads, or maybe it's a poor reflection on how i surf.
My opinion has purely got to do with aesthetic.
My below intermediate skill set on a board has no affect on my opinion!
Hah
Just picked up my Ben Webb SubVault. Sat and stared at it for 15 minutes in awe of how hot it is - then put a pad on it.
Oh you bad man.
It’s just gone from a Kate Upton to a Gina Rinefart.
Nice boards Chaps
The Ben Webb has the Classic 90s Shaping Co Decal .
Island Bay wrote:
She still hot!
Lovely @IB! It's lines go well next to the mid-century danish dining chair! fin setup?
That's the outdoor room of the airbnb we're staying at. Great little library too.
Five fin setup. Will experiment, starting with my fave quads.
Island Bay wrote:
That's the outdoor room of the airbnb we're staying at. Great little library too.
Five fin setup. Will experiment, starting with my fave quads.
quad, nice, like that clip jono posted in march 'easy on a rusty back knee' 'style for miles'. Have the fun!! (are you in oz? noticed you cursing the northeasterlies earlier).
basesix wrote:
She still hot!
Lovely @IB! It's lines go well next to the mid-century danish dining chair! fin setup?
IslandBay. Merry Xmas to you. Devine looking board, can’t say the same about those toes of yours.
Geez, through my reading glasses I thought I was looking at freshly pulled from the ground peanuts.
You’re obviously a big unit and those feet have seen some work.
Hope you get much pleasure out of your new rocket. All the best. AW
goofyfoot wrote:
Anyone who puts pads on a fish or any step up/gun/semi gun whatever should be made to ride a boogie board for a year as punishment.
That's a type of fascism I could get behind.
Right big toe has surf bump, but looks completely distorted in that cell phone pic. Better in real life - promise
They are viking hoofs attached to viking pins.
Snapped a fin box out on one of them last year.
IB barely got a graze.
Just finished making a couple of boards last thing to do before waxing them up is to throw on tail pads.
So being a miserable tight you know what and looking at spending $50 to $60 on a piece of stick on grip just wondered what others think.
Back in the day never used them but at some point they just became normal and never questioned them, until now.
Any opinions?