Nice shape! Did you do a single to double concave on the bottom? I’ve been wanted to shape something like this in the 7’4" range. How big are you? Have you surfed it and is there anything you would do different with it?
At 58, I’m not exactly “new school” either, and you’re spot on about not needing the stomp pad …for surfing.
I use the longest traction pads available - multi piece Flatliner - because at 6’3 my surgically repaired, cartilage deficient knees are cushioned by the pad when i’m ducking smaller whitewater, and if i’ve really got to drive the board deeper, I can cock my back foot against the kick bar for additional leverage…found it really helps wrestling these bigger boards under.