What Is Surfboard Traction?

A surfer needs to be able to stay on his surfboard while paddling and while riding a wave. Surfers wax their boards, which help them stay on the board. However, there is another way to keep you on the board without using wax or in addition to using wax. Surfboard traction pads were designed to replace wax. The pads are made of soft foam that has been molded into a shape that sticks to the surfboard's surface. Most surfers now use the traction pads, a tool that revolutionized the connection between the surfer and the surfboard.

  1. Fletcher Invention

    • Prior to the invention of traction pads, some surfers used spray-on traction in the 1960s, which was the invention of Tom Morey. It was called Slip-check, but this option never caught on. Herbie Fletcher, a surfing legend, followed this invention with one of his own: the surfboard traction pads. He called his invention "Astrodeck." The pads were flat and provided a substitute form of grip. In time, the design of the traction pads changed. The flat pads became contoured, which provided the surfer with an improved grip particularly when he was doing maneuver and crucial turns.

    The Design

    • The design of the traction pads changed again, adding a center arch bar in the pad that follows the contour of the foot. In addition, there is a high kick pad located near the tail of the board that gives the surfers a push off surface. Tail (traction) patches should be placed centered over the rear fins of the board. One of the benefits of the tail traction pad or patch is that it lets you know if your back foot is in the right position. This gives the surfer greater power and control when he needs it. Some traction pads feature ridges at the back that enable your foot to have even more power over the board. You can place other pads where you think you need them; placement of the pads is at the surfer's discretion. You decide where they will best benefit you as a surfer.

    Pads and Wax

    • Surfers find that the traction pads are superior to wax, giving them better grip. However, some surfers still use wax. They use a tail patch traction pad and wax the remainder of their board, which many surfers believe is the ideal combination for acquiring good traction and grip.

    Application

    • You can apply traction pads by peeling off the back tape of the pad and sticking them to the board. After applying, don't put your board in the water for 24 hours.