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DIY tail pad! Do you use them?

Created by obct obct  > 9 months ago, 9 Nov 2013
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obct
obct

NSW

3487 posts

9 Nov 2013 5:49pm
I don't like them all that much and I haven't used one in years, mostly because they're all for shortys and they usually have a kick block that I don't like. But I've had to go back to trying one because of a bad habit I can't seem to break when I'm paddling.

I rest my curled up right toes at the back of the board and it tends to wear away all the wax, so at the end of a long sesh, with lots of paddling, I go to stomp on the tail and my foot slips off because I've worn the wax off it.

I tried changing the way I paddle, but nothing seems as natural so basically I've given in and gone back to a tail pad.

Because I don't want one with a kick block, I got a big sheet of the stuff from a place that sells 666s and wind surfers, I've probably got enough left over to make another half dozen.

Oh, just in case you're wondering, nobody I know saw me go into the 666 shop, but just in case, I made sure I wore a Groucho Marx disguise.







Malo
Malo

NSW

138 posts

9 Nov 2013 6:03pm
Need a pic of you & that disguise
thePup
thePup

13831 posts

9 Nov 2013 3:11pm
little chunk of wax stashed in the key pocket of yer boardies
MickPC
MickPC

8266 posts

9 Nov 2013 3:46pm
I wouldn't have one on a LB & I need to remove the one on my main shorty. Its not as grippy as wax & the raised section in the middle is way too high. I doubt I'll buy one for Shorties or LB's in future.
62mac
62mac

WA

24860 posts

9 Nov 2013 4:54pm
Obct,try cutting your toe nails every now and then



Oh and clean up that filthy wax job you have going


on a positive the deck pad looks good
obct
obct

NSW

3487 posts

9 Nov 2013 8:24pm
Nope, my filthy wax it staying.

Every time I de-wax and do a new wax job, I spend the next 2 weeks going arse over tit whenever I try to stand up
wavelength
wavelength

1195 posts

9 Nov 2013 5:43pm
Good on ya Obct.
I quite like a tail pad on my shorter boards cos I sometimes think my back foot is where it should be, but I tend to be a bit forward. Comes in handy. I'm also a bit heavy on the back foot (because of all the full rail WOTY carving I do) so it can add a little life to the deck of the board. But like you I don't want a kicker on it or -- one of those ridges in the middle.
I also reckon some blokes put the tailpad a little too far back.. they end up with a row of deep depressions just in front of it, while the back of it is almost on the plug and in pristine condition cos it's never been stood on.
And I hate buying wax, I scrounge around the carpark like an airport sniffer dog looking for little bits. My mates are the same. Probably have a full block in the car but would always rather use someone else's. So yeah. Love a good coat of old dirty old wax. Rub a bit of sand in and surf like Slater.

Simondo
Simondo

VIC

8024 posts

9 Nov 2013 8:49pm
Shoulda just borrowed Makaha's mask for the trip to the 666 shop!


BRING BACK MAKAHA!
obct
obct

NSW

3487 posts

10 Nov 2013 12:59pm
Select to expand quote
Malo said..

Need a pic of you & that disguise



did I go close






62mac
62mac

WA

24860 posts

10 Nov 2013 10:44am
LOOK who I found



Ted the Kiwi
Ted the Kiwi

NSW

14256 posts

10 Nov 2013 9:08pm
Select to expand quote
obct said..

I don't like them all that much and I haven't used one in years, mostly because they're all for shortys and they usually have a kick block that I don't like.


Why don't you like the kick block ob? I love them on my short boards - you just whack your foot against it when you are getting up and you know you are in the right spot ! I also love the high arch on them......diff horses for diff courses I guess. Never used one on a long board though. These days half my boards have a pad on and half do not....it used to be 100% so maybe I am also changing ..............
chrispy
chrispy

WA

9675 posts

10 Nov 2013 6:18pm
I like tailpads on my boards.
First I really heavy with my back foot. Then on my Hp
Longboard I like it because it does let me know where the sweet spot is. On a more cruisey longboard I would not worry. I buy the ones without the foot arch as I think they are sh1t but I do like having the tail block on them.
I also surf better if I get some earlyzzzzz
obct
obct

NSW

3487 posts

10 Nov 2013 10:28pm
Select to expand quote
Ted the Kiwi said..

obct said..

I don't like them all that much and I haven't used one in years, mostly because they're all for shortys and they usually have a kick block that I don't like.


Why don't you like the kick block ob? I love them on my short boards - you just whack your foot against it when you are getting up and you know you are in the right spot ! I also love the high arch on them......diff horses for diff courses I guess. Never used one on a long board though. These days half my boards have a pad on and half do not....it used to be 100% so maybe I am also changing ..............


Because of what's happening to the tail of a longboard when it's under the curl of a wave as you move forward. It's kind of working like the wing of a plane with water rather than air flowing across it and keeping it sucked in under the curl. I'm not sure a big arsed bulge on the top of the tail would help.

Ted the Kiwi
Ted the Kiwi

NSW

14256 posts

11 Nov 2013 8:29am
fair enough ob - never really thought about one on a long board before.......I used to hate how tail pads used to ruin yr wettie yrs ago from all the duck diving.
laceys lane
laceys lane

QLD

19804 posts

11 Nov 2013 8:21am
i buy the ones with the foot arch because i think their great
62mac
62mac

WA

24860 posts

11 Nov 2013 6:47am
Isn't using a deck pad like wearing a condom,you lose that sensation of a fresh wax job
surfbroker
surfbroker

NSW

1489 posts

11 Nov 2013 9:49am
One other thing about the tailpads..gettin them off is a task
chrispy
chrispy

WA

9675 posts

11 Nov 2013 7:03am
Select to expand quote
laceys lane said...
i buy the ones with the foot arch because i think their great


obct
obct

NSW

3487 posts

23 Nov 2013 7:48pm
I've decided to keep the pad for now.

It's no use in really small surf because if you stomp on the tail that far back in a turn when you're going really slow, the board will just bog down.

But today I managed to get a couple of waves with some juice and it seemed to work okay when I planted the foot.

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