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.

little chunk of wax stashed in the key pocket of yer boardies

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

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.

Malo said..

Need a pic of you & that disguise

did I go close

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 ..............

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.

i buy the ones with the foot arch because i think their great

One other thing about the tailpads..gettin them off is a task

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.