Surfing Waves

Ok so I did get a new surfboard, YAY! but I need help with my traction pad placement. I have been arguing with a bunch of buddies on where to put it. On my older board, the placement was about 1 inch from the leash plug. Some people say its preference, opinion mattered, or just use wax. I HAVE CLICKED THE SEARCH, but no real results

trust me, i want to use just wax, the problem is, for someone who is still fresh to surfing(1 year and 3 months) I want to practice proper foot placement from now, rather than fix it a year later.

I want a big discussion. I've heard 2 inches, 1 inch, in the center of all the fins, slighlty back. I WANT a good place for it so i train myself to find it to perfect my placement on the popup. SO that i can train with that area, and get use to when i need to move my back foot more forward for speed and pumps, then move back to turn. I've had some days where i really could spray like crazy, then other days that just felt weak.

Recently on the new surfboard i put a pad sligtly in front of the back fin(i was hoping it would create drive) but it turned out to produce massive resisantce on a snap. I really couldn't snap at all, so i ripped it off and came crying to here. I am now contemplating my pad placements on all my boards, as recently i moved them all around. DAMIT!


so take a look at the pictures, where that wax is on the white surboard, that is about where i put my pad, which i found to be a slightly bad

My pad is about the same as your first picture it feels right to me.

I think it is all preference mostly and how you shift body weight.

I'd say over the back fin to a little in front is nice (Talking about the bump on the pad)

If you lean forward and shift weight forward you create drive, and for spray your nearly shoving all weight onto the back if you know what I mean. Maybe your body weight adjustment is to blame and not the pads? Well to some extent anyway..

I don't know, maybe someone else could explain further than I can

Dude - the stomp stop is to stop your foot slipping off the back of the pad - stick the mofo on and if you don't like it after a rocking session cut the back stop off and reposition – you’ll placed to your style which only you know - for this moment in time until you seek assistance from coaches it will be awesome.

I usually line up the front of the bump on my tail pad with the front of the center fin. Just like your first picture but forward just a touch. But that's just something that's worked for me on the boards I ride, I don't know if anyone else does it that way.

Put it back as far as possible, if it's placed to far forward when you get up its like stepping on your leash. You can always add another section.
Also if you don't like where it is a blow drier on high heat will usually take one off and you can start all over again.

If you want it on correctly, put the tail pad as far back as possible. Just like the picture of 10 time world champion Kelly Slater. I think he knows what he is doing. Most beginner and intermediate surfers do not keep their back foot on the tail enough. This loosens up your board and helps you to have more manuverability on the face of the wave. It does take a little more skill though as you have to keep the right amount of pressure on your front foot so that you do not lift the nose of your board to much and stall the board. Put it back on the tail and then see where your foor placement is and start trying to keep your back foot more on the tail. It will in the long run improve your surfing.

Tony
Safari Town Surf Shop
http://safaritownsurf.com

The traction pad placement is kind of a pet peeve of mine. I see so many people putting them on wherever their feet usually land when they popup. For most beginners, that's usually way too far forward.

Aside from it looking strange, it also prevents the surfer from using the fins effectively. You can always have it further back than you typically stand and then use it as a guide for better foot placement over time. I find that it's most helpful when I'm getting ready for a big turn or to go vertical.. I usually try to keep moving my foot back until I feel that kicktail at the end of the pad. Then I know the fins should respond the way that I expect.

For a 3 fin Thruster setup, the kicktail (raised end) of the traction pad should be placed directly over the center fin. Ideally the end of the kicktail should be placed directly over the rear base of that fin, as long as it doesn't cover the leashplug. Otherwise, place it just in front of the leash plug, or you could always choose to cutaway a small part of the traction pad.. as long as you dont think it would negatively affect the functionality or aesthetics of the pad.

the bridge goes at the end of the center fin, usually where the leash plug is at but it varies.