Surfing Waves

Gotham need help! I have a 6'7" fun board and 2.5" thick. I'm about 168cm & 60kg. Is having a traction pad appropriate?

Batman

There is no need to worry about appropriate,,if you want one have one, especially if you want to use it
It is you surfing the way you want to, not a fashion statement!

I have a traction pad on every board I own. Longboards, Fishes, Fun boards, Sponge boards. ( Well, my Alaia doesn't have one )

Do you "NEED" a traction pad ? NO.

But make sure if you do put on one, Please, please put it in the right place.

At the moment, for a 6'4" board I'm not stepping on the traction pad yet or I'm doing it wrongly if I didn't?

If you are planning on doing sharp turns then you do those turns from the back ie weight over the fins. In which case your back foot should be on the traction pad. But if you are just cruising down the line or doing slow carving turns, and you can do them without your foot on the traction pad, then that is the way to do them.

Find some videos of guys surfing mid lengths (7fts or so). I know they are longer than your board but they show the principle well (or even more so with longboarders). Their back foot will be going back to the tail/pad and then forward again, depending on what they are doing.

I don't have traction pads on any of the boards I own but if you want one get one and if not then don't worry about it.

Thanks guys, question answered!

Tidak risau, alvthm! in your country you would be a leader , make your own true path!

If you are having problems turning then perhaps you need to get your back foot further back. If not then whatever. I know a couple guys who surf shortboards with their back foot off the traction pad and don't feel they have any problems. The thing is with boards that length you probably want your rear foot over the fins for most of the wave except when you are trying to get speed. However you may not be advanced enough in your surfing yet so if you are enjoying it don't worry and if not then ask us about the problems you are having. I surf longer funboards than you 7'6" and 8' and these boards don't ride well with my rear foot that far back due to the length of board in front of my front foot so I surf with my rear foot right in front of the fins (and in front of where a traction pad would be if it had one) but I also weigh 210 pounds and think my weight helps me to turn the board from that position.

If you want a traction pad, get one, it won't make you a better surfer but if you're more comfortable with one go for it, I have a 6'6 fish and I have a traction pad, I love it since I can get a grip of my thigh when climbing onto my board again, lots of grip on it and also helps a bit with carving but other than that it shouldn't make you turn any better, it's more technique than hardware