Traction Pads

TRACTION PADS - BETTER GRIP AND CONTROL WITH THE BOARD

Traction pads are indispensable for the vast majority of surfers, they help ensure grip and control. Two decisive and critical factors for the overall surf experience. Traction pads, which can also go by the names grip pads, deck pads and/or tail pads, are fantastic because they give the surfer a sense of where on the board you are. This can be both in relation to when you stand upright on the board and surf a wave, but also when you lie on the board in the water and wait for the next wave

In short, a traction pad is a piece of EVA foam that can be placed on a surfboard. It can both be in the middle of the board, but especially many use the so-called tail pads. Tail pads are, as the name indicates, located on the board's "tail", i.e. the back of the board. On the back of the traction pads there will be strong 3M adhesive to be found. Therefore, it is also central to get the pad positioned correctly the first time, as a misplaced pad will have an effect on how the board feels to surf.

Tail pad location on board

The first time you have to be responsible for placing and putting a tail pad on your board, it can feel like a bit of a task. Typically you have one shot to get it positioned correctly, which means there is little at stake. That's why we're here with a short guide on how you can easily achieve the goal of mounting your traction pad correctly on your board in the first attempt! Firstly, the vast majority of tail pads come in 3 parts: A middle part and two outer parts. Which has its advantages when it comes to correct placement and mounting of the pad. Next, we suggest that you follow a series of steps, where you will eventually end up with the tail pad positioned correctly.

Step 1: Clean the surface and the area around the tail of the surfboard, i.e. the area where you want to place the tail pad. If it is a new board you are going to place the pad on, this is a relatively straightforward process. Here you can simply wipe the board with a clean cloth to remove any dirt and dust. This can be done simply with a clean cloth and possibly some household alcohol. If, on the other hand, you have a board where you have removed an old pad, it may be advantageous to use a mix of both household alcohol and a so-called wax remover. Next, thoroughly clean the area where the tail pad is to be placed.

Step 2: Tear off the foil that can be found on the underside of the tail pad. Start by peeling off the foil from the middle part only.

Step 3: Place the middle part of the pad on the board. It must sit in the middle of the stringer or the stringer line, which is the line or the piece of wood that sits in the middle of the board. Also, make sure to place the pad as close to the leash plug as possible.

Step 4: Next place the two outer parts. The placement of these is very much a matter of taste and comfort. Centrally, however, it is just that the tail block will appear as one integrated part.

Traction pads that take the environment into account

For the vast majority of surfers, the sea and nature have a huge meaning. The key word is sustainability and the large surf accessory retailer Creatures of Leisure, which we at Westwind sell, have taken this to a new level with their Ecopure traction pads. These pads are biodegradable and of course have the same durability and functionality as their other traction pads. For this reason, we can warmly recommend that your next pad should be a Creatures Ecopure.