OK Shapers, let me know what you think about having a board shaped around this problem…
I busted my left tibia when I was 16 and my left leg is 5/8" shorter than my right. As a result I need to adjust all of my street shoes to “level” my posture. I’ve adjusted my snowboards by shimming under the front binding but I’ve never figured out a way to adapt my surfing gear. I ride regular stance so either my left foot needs to be higher or my right (back) foot needs to be lower.
So the question: Would it be possible to shape a board with the area around my back foot “dished out” to compensate? Obviously that would require the removal of a lot of foam so am I looking at major strength, and floatation issues? I’m having a 7’6" made soon and I don’t know whether to bother the shaper with this issue.
My brother has a similar short leg problem, and wears a custom wetsuit booty on one foot. Even in warm water. He has the additional problem of scar tissue on his heel where his leg bone protruded through the bottom of his foot. So the booty route is best for him, and you might consider it for longboarding where you move around a lot. For a shorter sufboard…if you ride it all the time, then your brain can readjust the muscle memories that control split-second moves. How about a little thicker foam (like 1/2") under your left foot, and if you like a traction pad for your rear foot, then have it recessed so it’s flush with the rest of the tail?
If you are working with a really experienced shaper, you might talk about getting a “front foot” board. In your normal stance you are putting more weight on your front foot. So get a board that is designed more to be ridden and turned from the middle of the board rather than the tail…Fish, single fin eggs, or thruster shape with a little more rocker curve in the middle and less “kick” in the tail.
If that’s too complicated, I like Poobah’s booty with lifts…
Hey, I have one of those. Left leg half inch shorter than the right. Tibia sticking out of the skin and hung upside down by it in my old slide window VW van. Seven degree angle in the tibia, left foot a bit more pigeon toed than the right. I ingore it and refuse to let it enter my consciousness or stop me from doing what I want to do. The bootie idea seems the simplest. Mike
You could take the 5/8 off of the other foot, and be plum and flush. No one would ever know?
I know this guy that surf with that soft stomp pad stuff all over his board. You could put it in the front of the board? i think it’s about 3/8 thick? So now your only a 1/4 inch off.
That’s funny, Resinhead. When people notice the big knot on the side of my shin bone and ask me why I don’t have it removed I tell them “because I like it and Im thinking of having the other side done the same way.” Good idea with the stomp pad, too. Mike