I’m looking for feedback on footstrap placement for tow-in boards
contact:
Welcome Allen,
You shaped my first custom board some years ago. Thanks
hi mate…we been towing almost more than paddle surfing for some time now…(we are blessed with power on the westside haha)
so tried the whole strap thing to death…my advice is ( and i dont know your skill level here, or time doing it…but)
learn hardcore doing water starts strapless…you need to be able to have the rope swung out to you in any conditions, calm, windy, even in the impact zone, and you need to be up and riding as soon as your operator gases it.
my team dont use foot straps at all…
we are riding serious waves… but often wider than they are high… so we dont really content with big fat judder-bar-up -the-face waves. just tow to get in and out of the barrel…
i have tried strap in, and i swear they scare me to death, all i can see is broken ankles and heavy slaps haha…
im not saying the lairds or liams are wrong at all (far from it), just be careful.
strapless is pretty satisfying… to come flying out of a large pit and grabrail a huge punt, is second to none
however, if straps are for your team… take your new tow board out with wax only, get the driver to get you up and planing at pace, get into your comfy stance, then simply bend down and score the wax with a fingernail or something… then home, and drop in some HDPE or nylon stem and you’re away…
it sounds kinda un-scientific , but it works a treat…
i just found, that i like to be a bit mobile on my board, and adjust my stance continually…who knows, you might love the straps…
i used to think “tow-in” and “footstrap” was an automatic couple… but experiment
Nice to have alternative thoughts, HEIST !!
Some peeps want the straps placed for wave riding, not tow behind the boat.
Since most…not all…towboards are relatively narrow, centerline doesn’t hurt, slightly wide stances for bigger, bumpier surf, and appropriate side, of course.
Depending on width of foot, 5.5" spread at straps is good for tall but tight sideways placement of screw…tall to allow you in or out setting of foot, narrow to hold in place, tall to allow you to get out quickly.
Front stance 45 degrees, back foot a little off center, no need for duck stances unless rider preferred…you’re usually going forward in towin riding.
Hey Allan - It’s Taylor from Oregon here - Good to see ya. How has the whole Clark deal effected your livelyhood? Jes’ must been a biggy. Talked to Perry lately? We did some emails recently. He’s still between Moro, and Moss. Won his division of the “log jam” in Santa Cruz… What a stud, huh!?! How’s the Fam? Fairly new daughter, right?
Sorry to ramble… shoulda PM’d ya, feel free if you want - anyway glad to see ya here. Taylor