Traction Pad help

[Laguna]

Im currently riding a 6'10 funboard and want to start practicing manouvers on waves more, I was wondering is it worth me getting a traction pad (grip) for my board or is it not appropriate for it. ax is fine at the moment but I know a lot of people use traction pads. What does everyone think? thanks

[orbital]

It's not uncommon, stick it on your board and it will give you mor traction for sure.

How do you like the 6'10 funboard?. Hybrids are my fav boards.

[Laguna]

Im liking it a lot. I started on a popout board and the difference was so unbelivable. Its so much lighter and quicker and feels so much better on a wave, easier to turn and makes me feel free lol. I love it, its the right dimensions for me too I think, I didnt want to go shorter.

Ye I like hybrids too. The only bad thing I can say about my funboard is that I find paddling hard.

Im thinking now whether I should get traction pad. How does it stick onto the board exactly, and by looking at it, it looks like it will cover the leesh plug.

[drowningbitbybit]

They come with adhesive on the back - you need to clean the board (make sure its as clean as it can be) then its best to warm the board and traction pad and then very very carefully stick on, then leave it somewhere warm for 24 hours.

Someone will come on now and say 'I just stuck mine straight on and went in the water and its still there....' but ignore that, better safe than sorry because they do come off.

As for the leash plug, depends where it is on your board - if its central they have a groove cut out to miss it, but if its off-centre then you need to place it in front (which can look a bit pants), so choose which one you buy carefully.

As for whether you need it, they are useful, if nothing else for placing the back foot right on the tail, but a lot of people never put their foot that far back on a hybrid anyway. So you might not need it - see where you put your back foot

[Laguna]

Thanks a lot for the help. I was thinking the pad might be too far back , because I dont think I have my back foot that far back, maybe it would touch the top of the pad. I will think about it a bit more.
This might sound stupid but my board is yellow and white and most pads are white/blue/red which would look a bit stupid on my board. Never seen yellow lol

[Laguna]

Just checked and I think I could fit the pad above the plug because the plug is right at the bottom, I think this could be ideal because it would be were my back foot is. Lucky the plug is right at the bottom. Anyone know whats a good traction pad?

[oslo]

General rule is, place your pad about an inch above the leash plug.

Make sure you sand down your board a little where the pad is about to be, then wash with alcohol. Let dry, use a rag to clean in the end, then put the pad on. Make sure you wait for about 24 hours before you go out.

[Laguna]

Thanks for the help, i'll look out for some traction pad. £20 seems the average price, bit high isnt it?
oh and also doesnt the pad wear eventually, and then you are left with a board with a tractionless pad?

[oslo]

My experience is; the board will die before the pad as long as it sticks to the board.

[FidesMaris]

The cleaning part is definately important, I've seen so many surfers with bits and pieces of their tractions falling off because they got stoned when they slapped those babies on. If you don't want to use Sticky Bump's wax remover any acetones will do, gasoline, paint thinner etc. Do check where your back foot is when you ride though, as you might have noticed. And depending on the design of the traction make sure that you stick the different pieces on where you will need them. There's a reason they're not physically connected. Finally the most important part: COLOR!!!!!!! Da cola of da pad MUST match that of your board! It's absolutely essential that you do not break down in tears a week later while staring at your green surfboard with pink traction.

[Laguna]

Thanks again for the help guys. Here is a pic of my surfboard (when it was new) and the plug is kind of in an awkward place, im not sure really what to think.



I havent seen yellow deck grips before. I think its a bit hard to find a pad that matches this. If anyone does I would appreciate it

[drowningbitbybit]

I've got a yellow one from Gorilla grip

[Laguna]

Is this the pad you got?

[drowningbitbybit]

Not exactly the same design, but close enough.
You cant go wrong with gorilla grip pads. Most of the others are fine too, and its really only template and design that make the difference, but some of the cheaper ones have completely flesh adhesive and come off. But GG are great!

Apart from colour, the only thing to think about is the size of the 'humps'. There's the back hump, and they also have an arch down the middle which range from, 0, 5, 10 and 20 mm (I think). The large humps can be uncomfortable and arent really necessary unless your busting radical 360 airs

So my advice would be to go for a flat or small arch

[Laguna]

Cool, thanks for the help. I might get some grip if I see a yellow or white one, one day.

[Driftingalong]

I've seen lots of black ones...is thers something wrong with black ones???

[Laguna]

Nothing wrong with black, I just think the only suitable colours for my board would be white or yellow

[Driftingalong]

But, black goes with everything...