twisting Footstraps

frenchy · Joined: 28 Apr 2000 Posts: 6

I just bought JP freeride 265, great board but my foot strap keepo twisting.
Does anyone has a solution for this problem?

artofwindsurfing · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 182

Dear Frenchy,

The footstraps are twisting because there are only two screws per footstraps and no anti-twist device.

FLAW OF DESIGN

I consider footstrap twisting a flaw of design. I would contact your dealer and state that you are not happy with the board and want to have it replaced with a board that has footstraps that do not twist. If this doesnt work, I would contact the manufacturer. It this doesnt work, I would threatened to sue them. If you are a lawyer, you could initiate a class action lawsuit. I am very confident that you would win. You could even get compensation for all the people who have gotten injured because their feet got stuck in the footstraps. Theres a lot of broken knees and ankles because of footstraps twisting.

Good luck,

Sylvain Pilon, windsurfing instructor, HI

The most simple remedy is to build board with four inserts per footstraps or build the boards with anti-twist device that work. Very few companies build their boards that way. It seems like the foostraps are installed on them as an after tought.

prozac · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 105

I usually just open the strap up more so my foot can slide in. It looks really cool the way the strap has taken its own position on my board.

If that does not work for you, try mixing up some epoxy glue, unscrew the foot strap, coat the bottom of the strap around the screw hole, and tork down the screw. Let it cure. Does molded in footstraps ring a bell?

There are those lil plastic cleat things that go between the board and the strap. They work good if you dimple the board first where the cleat goes.

frenchy · Joined: 28 Apr 2000 Posts: 6

Thanks for your tips, I will try them one after the other startingopenning the strap.

frenchy · Joined: 28 Apr 2000 Posts: 6

Dear Sylvain,

I totally agree with you for the price at which they are slling their boad, they should be flawless. I will try to get something from the manufacturer. I dont know if I go further than a phone call to the customer but in the meantime I will try to fix the problem using some solutions given by Prozac

Thanks again

prozac · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 105

I remembered another way that is a bit extreme but works good. I got turned on to some new foot padz with the kicktail. I was too lazy to tear the old padz off and in too much of a hurry to get in the water so I just stuck the new padz over the old and this solved the problem of twisty straps. If you have some old pad material you could cut a U shape to fit around the ends of the strap and taper the side where your foot would rest. Use contact cement to glue them.
Sometimes straps just need the screws torked tight after the material gets wet.

frenchy · Joined: 28 Apr 2000 Posts: 6

I try to tighnten the screws but I am scared to pop of the insert from the board. I like your pad idea, but I think that I am going to cut a piece of old wetsuit and put it in between the board and the straps. The neoprene should do the job.

I hope for the best

Thanks again for your input.

By the way does anybody know the phone number of JP. I went to their site but did not find anything.

spyder · Joined: 24 Sep 1996 Posts: 2790 Location: oahu

I looked around for the JP-Australia phone contact, but
I have a feeling they are down for now. From what I understand, this board was shaped by Thommen of F2, and JP went on their own. Probably they are in a state of flux right now. If you try to go the jp-australia website you get redirected to F2s website, and there is NO mention of JP boards!!!! (note the maui project)

JP is an AWESOME board! I sailed the Wave 250 all week in Maui. Great!

joeyyyy · Joined: 18 Jul 2000 Posts: 162

Dear Frenchy,
Contrary to what others have said to you, I myself really like the twisting and do NOT consider it a flaw at all. For Me, its a good thing and They work great for High Performance... Check most all Custom High performance boards out and ask the people who ride them and youll find the same feeling...THINK If the foot strap doesnt move a little, then your foot does!! (ouch!!!) If you dont like the twist and want a more rigid strap, then change it. You are the one riding it and its your comfort that counts!!!

frenchy · Joined: 28 Apr 2000 Posts: 6

Thanks for the feed back I over heard that JP was trying to leave F2 and go on its own, but this is just a Rumor
By the way I really like your comments about JP 250 wave because I am actually considering to purchase this board as my high wind tool.