Traction pads... are they needed

by **buffalosoldier** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:02 pm

I've recently invested in a 7'0 thruster/shortboard after spending a year or two surfing mini-mals.

I found the transition reletively easy but was left wondering do i need this pad as i very rarely got my feet far back enough to actually make a difference.

Usually i surf 3-4 ft waves at my local bigbury and was just wondering if anyone uses a shortboard without a traction pad for manouvers and tricks as i intend to try some in my next session and was wondering if it would be worth leaving the pad on and getting used to it. And if they made much of a difference in key areas like tricks such as the cutback and bottom-turn.

Any ideas ??? Cheers

**Sponsor**

by **surferdude_scarborough** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:57 pm

on a normal shortboard your back foot should be on the tailpad in normal surfing conditions as sharp turns are done with your back foot over the fins. wax is ok though. i dont have a tail pad on my big wave board and its fine with just wax.

by **Sillysausage** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:04 pm

they help to get your feet over the fins for sharper and more powerful turns. can help a bit to stop you slipping off but wax does the job just as well

by **isaluteyou** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:20 am

echo the above. A traction pad also raises your back foot slightly allowing you to more easilty pivot and turn during crucial moments. anything under a 6'8 should really be padded (personal pref of course though) :wink:

by **pkbum** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:19 am

love my traction pad, i tend to fall off less with it.

by **scsurfer481** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:15 am

well i need one for shure it puts my foot in posistion and then your foot doesnt come off when you mess up as easy

witch is nice on big wavees

by **Rico** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:05 am

traction pads rock, what a question

by **myate** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:47 pm

http://www.surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12275

by **TReMoR** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:02 pm

Rico wrote:traction pads rock, what a question

i knowwww.. they totally stick to my feet .. so much that my foot is rippping it off when i fall off

!!!

by **scsurfer481** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:29 pm

get a dakine pad they are like 30 dollas and hey will out last your boards life

by **surferdude_scarborough** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:44 pm

scsurfer481 wrote:get a dakine pad they are like 30 dollas and hey will out last your boards life

you fo seem to be quite knowledgeable all of a sudden for someone who was struggling to take later drops a couple of days ago.

by **scsurfer481** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:56 pm

well the only reason i know is just cause i have three of those pads and i never have a problem with them. sorry man.

by **Mirx** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:22 pm

surferdude_scarborough wrote:
scsurfer481 wrote:get a dakine pad they are like 30 dollas and hey will out last your boards life

you fo seem to be quite knowledgeable all of a sudden for someone who was struggling to take later drops a couple of days ago.

relax sds. should we all wait 'till we nail those late drops before posting a message?

besides, he makes a point.

as for the pads - love them, for all the above mentioned reasons.

by **scsurfer481** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:29 pm

Mirx wrote:
surferdude_scarborough wrote:
scsurfer481 wrote:get a dakine pad they are like 30 dollas and hey will out last your boards life

you fo seem to be quite knowledgeable all of a sudden for someone who was struggling to take later drops a couple of days ago.

relax sds. should we all wait 'till we nail those late drops before posting a message?

besides, he makes a point.

as for the pads - love them, for all the above mentioned reasons.

thanks man pads do make a difference

by **surferdude_scarborough** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:17 pm

didnt mean to sound rude or anything. you just gave off the impression you hadnt been surfing long enough to know a certain type of deck pad would last longer than a board.

it is true they make a difference. i like the one ive got on my normal shortboard. the only reason i dont have one on my big wave board is coz i havent got round to buying one yet.

by **buffalosoldier** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:51 pm

is it worth seeing what the board is like without the pad and then deciding after.

if im going to buy a pad i need to find the right one... is it worth just getting a flat one or shall i invest in a arched one ?

any ideas ???

by **isaluteyou** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:21 pm

most models are arched in fact never come across one that wasnt.

Id be inclined to put a traction pad on a 7fter

by **buffalosoldier** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:13 am

"most models are arched in fact never come across one that wasnt.

Id be inclined to put a traction pad on a 7fter"

really why ???

by **arnie** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:54 am

glad i spotted this thread! i just got a creatures of leisure pad for a bargain- it is pink but will do the job.
anyway, i was wondering if anyone waxes their traction lightly at all?

sorry if i highjacked your thread mate but i figured this was on topic!

by **drowningbitbybit** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:12 pm

arnie wrote:
anyway, i was wondering if anyone waxes their traction lightly at all?

Sorry to laugh, but, er, no.
They're called traction pads for a reason, mostly to do with traction. They dont need waxing.

Traction pads... are they needed

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