The Loaded Fat Tail
“The Fattail was designed for pumping, carving, pedestrian slalom, freestyle and generally any situation where lively, energetic lines are on the menu. Increased concave locks your feet in against g-forces, while the topmounted and cambered platform provides energetic performance in and out of each carve. The width of the deck has been redistributed while maintaining subtle tapering near the trucks to provide both ample leverage and awareness of foot position while powering through turns. The formerly vestigial tail has received the silicone treatment for improved functionality in both freestyle tricks and surf-style shredding. The Fattail is also equipped with a slight nose kick for manuals and shuvits.”
From the moment you pick up this board, you can tell loaded have really let loose with the R&D guys. It feels unusual, different; more exploratory than the usual loaded mixture. Sure, loaded are no strangers to kicks and flexy pumping; the well-versed Tan Tien demonstrates this very well. The Fat tail seems more understated, laid back and sure of itself.
There are two kicks on this tiny 38-inch deck, the rear kick being larger than the front kick. Yet both seem to mellow into the board. The rear truck can be mounted in two different settings to allow a wheelbase of 26.5-inches or 27.4-inches. The deck is only 8.6-inches wide giving a slim line feel to this upgrade to the classic Loaded Pintail design. The whole board weights just over a bag of sugar and feels as compact as your Iphone.
The board is constructed of laminated bamboo sandwiched between fibreglass layers. It has camber and concave but just like the kicks, these are very understated. The deck is offered in three flexes, Flex 3: 35kg-80kg Flex 2: 55kg – 95kg and Flex 1: 95kg – 125kg. I bought a flex 1 for a stiffer flex. I had this flex on my Dervish before and decided to go for the same. Even at Flex 1 it still rebounds and pumps well. The Fat tail is designed around pumping and carving meaning the flex is important to get right.
It has magnificent flexibility making lovely long carves a dream and those sharp carves required to navigate the everyday crowd slalom are smooth and effortless. I set it up with a set of O’Tang 4Prez purples and Paris 125 trucks making the board ignight with hard carving pleasure. When I previously owned a used Loaded Dervish, I gained a passion for pumping and carving. The fat tail seemed to be the next logical board to progress my ability and take me a step into more areas of longboarding. I am not keen for sliding, but it is a board able to slide and It may seem short, but it gives enough space and support to allow a little bit of dancing. It rides well on short hills but this is not a hardcore downhill board, being top mounted and short would not be ideal for heavy bombs.
I love this board. I chose it as a platform to step up my riding and make every journey and adventure. This board certainly does it all, with bells on.
Photos are courtesy of Stoked Longboards UK and Loaded Longboards. Review submitted by Tony Boden. Editied by Joe.
