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Are tail pads worth it?
Tail Pads offer their own unique pro’s and con’s, but ultimately, the better choice for most surfers, offering a long-lasting, high traction, no maintenance option over traditional wax.
Where should I put my tail pad?
Your pad should be placed so that the start of the kick is above the rear of your back fin. Your tail can be quite narrow here, and this is close to where your deck plug is located. That’s why it’s important your pad is the right width, not too wide, and can open around your deck plug.
Do you need a tail pad for a soft board?
While you can certainly get by with using only wax to maintain your grip on a soft top surfboard, having a traction pad provides so many benefits, particularly on high performance boards which require more frequent turning off the back foot. Traction pads make surfing easier and more enjoyable.
How do you pick a tail pad?
An incredibly broad design element of a tail pad, the amount of arch you’re looking for is completely variant on your foot size, and how much movement you’re after. A larger foot a longer and higher arch that runs the complete length of your foot, is what you’re looking for.
Where do you place a deck pad?
Most surfers either place their pad directly in front of the leash plug or line it up with the front, center or back of the rear fin. This is a matter of personal preference and where you anticipate your back foot will be living on your tail.
Do you wax your traction pad?
Well, one of the upsides of having traction pads is that you don’t have to wax your surfboard anymore. The traction pads are easy to install and you have to do it one time, unlike waxing where you need to constantly re-apply.
Do pro surfers use traction pads?
In the current era of high-performance surfing, traction pads are a mainstay. They are extra valuable when making hard turns on a shortboard, providing grip to your back foot, and allowing you to generate power through pumping and other maneuvers.
Is traction pads better than wax?
Van Der Waal front pads came with some important advantages when compared to wax: They are really thin and lightweight, easy to apply, crystal-clear, and will last for ages (2 years on my board now, and still working). Of course, that permanent traction option only pays off if you are riding your board for a long time.