Hey Loz, I'm with you. I like a tail pad on a longer HP board. I too tend to surf a little forward and I liked having a tailpad on the HP 9'1 i recently sold. I would often be a little forward as i went through the sections of a wave then when I flew out onto the fat wall of the wave I found it really useful to be able to feel with my foot whether I was back enough. I often thought I was, but i wasn't, so i'd put the foot back further, feel the pad, feel confident and wah-hey. It worked for me. I wouldn't go one on a gorgeous old school log, but on the HP? Hell yes, if you wanna.