Tail Pads, do we really need them?
No tail pad for me. Stopped using them after a few years.
I actually don't mind a bit of compression 'deck sink' under the backfoot though, sort of like wearing in a new pair of shoes.
Island Bay wrote:
Right big toe has surf bump, but looks completely distorted in that cell phone pic. Better in real life - promise
Hahaha, yeah wow that’s a ripper.
That's one sexy outline IB only thing missing is the channels that's when the quads really fire still beautiful looking board.
As for tail pads I like the feel, lets me know where the back foot is.
But paying $60 plus sucks (at least to me make my own sticks) so I use the 6mm adhesive EVA from bunnings cut grooves in with the edge of a rasp then cut up to shape and you get two out of one pad.... $6.29 each makes me smile each time.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/moroday-400-x-500-x-6mm-adhesive-rubber-mat…
Didn’t they used to sell them as “ rocket blocks” or something….i used them a bit but they fall of when pushed hard..
always went back to tail pads to preserve the tail and have something to push on.
Shapers make the best tail pads.
Yes tail pads rule….except on big guns and mals...and never wax your rails.
For me, using a tail pad feels like walking around with one shoe on..
icandig had already Posted it on Page 1 Opti
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Microdot
Ok got it Udo…PS …that new grip looks OK ish but I still like forward pointing diamonds best ….and have changed from arch pads to flat 3 piece with usual kick even though I have an arched foot.
Tail Pads are the next best thing to the leggie invention.
Err... Opti, please clarify- 'forward pointing diamonds'. Are you talking the shape ◆? A diamond is symetrical so they're always pointing forward?
Any with forward pointing diamonds?
Do they sell different pads for goofy footers?
Zen, regular foots need to get the diamond pointing to the right where as goofy's need to get the ones with diamonds pointing to the left
pointing to the left when you are facing them, or when you are looking away from them? (asking for a friend).
I can't get my head around the right footed leggies and those boardbags with the reversible zips.
Oh how I hark back to simpler times.
I've developed a heightened sense of awareness regarding kancho- I know they're gonna do it before they even think about it.
Part ninja part street smarts.
Seaslug wins the internet today. Zen a close second for his ninja skills avoiding kancho. Nice one.
Happy New Year peeps
I dunno, seaslug a close second for me, pipped at the last second.. picturing @zen walking around giving people the stink-eye for wanting to stick a finger up his anus, before they've even thought of doing so, is too priceless : D
Happy New Year all.
Admiring Albee’s skills & courage, I noticed what looks like a tail deck pad . His back foot appears to be well forward of the pad. I have noticed some big waves guns have full deck grip . This just stood out to me .
zenagain wrote:
Err... Opti, please clarify- 'forward pointing diamonds'. Are you talking the shape ◆? A diamond is symetrical so they're always pointing forward?
Opti's Forward Diamonds
https://rydbrand.com.au/collections/traction/products/true-3-piece-trac…
Interesting thread. I stopped using tail pads a while back and hearing some of you say about the reliability of knowing where your foot was something I noticed too, so I started placing a few strategic 'bumps' and a small wax tail kick. It has a worked a treat and still wax free :)
I have pondered this and have a solution. Shape the tail pad, including the kick, into the foam, and glass over this. Then wax over it. Best of both worlds for those who like wax and those who like to feel a kick so they know where their back foot is, and even those who like to feel pressure indentations for familiarity.
Have often thought the Same VJ
10mm Ridgeline would be enough for me.
you'd have to be pretty committed to the placement @vj, no trial and error..
(what would you guesstimate the added cost/time might be %-wise in the shaping bay @udo/@vj?)
hehe that was a total joke, I mean would be even faster not to shape the tail rails at all, leave them square, once you outline it and rocker & concaves done ;)
When we were teens, bro bodyboarded and I surfed and began shaping - he decided one day he wanted to do a foam/glass bodyboard. Shaped it with all the chamfers the design has, stringer down the middle, concave underneath, bat-style tail swallowtail. Then he surfed it, it was incredibly fast, but every single bump got sent straight to the ribs. I picture shaping in a tail pad might be a similar kind of geometric adventure. Now I've said it someone will do it and post to insta, if not already.
velocityjohnno wrote:
When we were teens, bro bodyboarded and I surfed and began shaping - he decided one day he wanted to do a foam/glass bodyboard. Shaped it with all the chamfers the design has, stringer down the middle, concave underneath, bat-style tail swallowtail. Then he surfed it, it was incredibly fast, but every single bump got sent straight to the ribs. I picture shaping in a tail pad might be a similar kind of geometric adventure. Now I've said it someone will do it and post to insta, if not already.
Some Sexy stuff along those Lines on this Kneeboard
Yep udo there's a whole heap that is being done on the deck, quite like the idea of shallow double concaves on the deck toward the tail, create a bit of a bump under the back foot for side to side movement off centre when the foot is there, and join up with double concaves through vee on the bottom, into a swallow tail. Probably too much art and not enough practicality in this idea.
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?