to trackpad or not to trackpad

[DreamSurf]

so here goes the hotheaded :p
man so i have this big volumed malibu 7.6 a,d 70 liters volume. and im like do i really need that trackpad for such a length. i allready surfed it without it. its practically a smaller longboard considering the volume. so my question to yall experiences surfers is. does it make sense? i mean with the shortboard and my fish i use the trackpad a lot cause i put pressure on it during steering. but with this malibu it makes more sense to just put my body weight on the right to steer right. so i change stance a lot depending on circumstances

what are you guys experiences and opinion on this matter?

[Big H]

I put one on a 9'6" longboard and it taught me how to get my foot back....totally a personal choice...some people don't like them at all, some have on shorter boards but not longer...some have on all their boards regardless of length.

[oldmansurfer]

I have never used a board with a traction pad so I don't know what I am missing but on the other hand I never feel a need for one.

[BaNZ]

I got a traction pad on my 6'3 fish. I really struggle with it because you know your feet position is wrong and it puts you off.

[oldmansurfer]

A traction pad can't tell you your feet are in the wrong place however once you figure out what you can do with your feet in various places then I hear it is a good marker to let you know if your feet are in the right place. Some of the guys I know say they never put their feet on the traction pad but if they are touching it then they know their feet are in the right place. If not they slide their foot back till it touches.

[Tudeo]

It's a good help for less experienced surfers to know their position on the board, especially on bigger boards where you must move around to use the wave to the fullest.
Make speed by stepping forward, from that position you can still do trimming turns. But for a more radical (carving) turn you need to get ur backfoot over the fins. The trackpad will let you know if ur foot is in the right position.
I get a a lot of stoke from turning with my foot pressing hard on the tailpad, it adds to the experience, knowing my feet were positioned good. Come to think of it, I should put one on my 8'2" funboard..

[jaffa1949]

Amen to having a tail pad, the best turns on a long board are generated over the fins. lean turns are much more likely to fail than on a short board as there is o much more rail to bog.
A good turn from the tail and then several step forward to hook in the high speed drive feels absolutely great. A step back tail stall raising the nose and the two step accelerator steps forward. .
Long board surfing is all about getting the foot jive going responding with the wave!

[DreamSurf]

so the pad is a good indication orientation point. one big plus is the high end u can lean with your feet on that. but since i dont have one at the moment i sometimes put my feet on the tail edge for an instinct reason to sharpsteer(kinda) so maybe if i do use the traction pad i wouldnt stick it on the edge precisely. maybe a bit more on front. like a 7 cm.
ok so if i do decide to put the traction pad is it possible to detach it again?

[Big H]

ok so if i do decide to put the traction pad is it possible to detach it again?

Yes...might take a little elbow grease, scraping and mineral spirits but you can definitely take them off. Newer ones come off easier than older ones for sure....old ones can be tough and some crusty bits might remain if you don't want to gouge your board with scraping.....but in the end you wax over that anyway.