I've just been using surf wax on my board but I'm thinking about getting a traction pad, does that completely replace the wax or just the wax towards the back of the board? I've heard you can use a small one for the front but that no one ever does..?

the reason i ask is that i've been using sticky bumps and it seems to wear off really fast, someone out in the lineup told me sexwax stays on better but if a traction pad would eliminate some of the problem i might as well get one.

Sorry mate but I've never used full deck grip, just a tail pad. Wax has always worked for me and I figure that if hardly any pros' use it know there must be a reason. Everyone had it in the 80's and then it dissapeared.

Ozzie.;-)

Hi,
I've just stopped using front traction pads made by Gorilla Grip and gone back to wax. My reasons for doing so were...

It's expensive (in my country $70 a pop for a front pad).
It doesn't last, when it's new it works fine and I believed it really was better than wax to start with, every day the grip pad was constant and unchanging in it's grip levels and characteristics, I never needed to waste time rubbing the messy wax stuff on, combing it etc etc. I was in the water 5 mins ahead of my mates...
And no mess on my car seats from wax melting in the sun either.

But no, I've gone back to wax because the pads don't last, They are good for 3-4 months tops before they go downhill, you'll first notice when paddling your chest starts to slide about, especially if you're in a wetsuit, over time the pad seems to "polish off" because of this friction between your wetsuit or rash vest as you paddle and lose it's grip.

Standing up and surfing it's fine however...because rather than being spread across the whole pad your body weight is pressing down on a specific spot and gains grip that way.

I believe if you are an occasion surfer or someone who just goes out on sunny sunday afternoons every so often...a front pad is fine, but for me anyway they were a failed experiment.

Hope that helps.

just use wax my board came with a traction pad in back...ITS PINK
but i still need wax.

cool, thanks that helps. I've asked a couple people about it before and that seems to be the case for everyone. so i'll just stick to wax, i don't really mind the extra couple of minutes to put it on and maybe just get one for the back.

yea, stick to the tail pad. A front pad will wear on your wetsuit or if your not wearing one it will wear on you.
I got a traction pad

I found Sticky Bumps useless. Not half as much grip as Sex Wax.

Haven't used a front grip so don't know but I'm just after getting a tail grip because my foot kept on slipping off the back just as I was popping up (nearly causing me to have a breakdown). -I've never had that problem with the front foot so don't see why it's necessary.

Do get rid of the Sticky Bumps wax though. Hopeless stuff

I dont use a tail pad but ive heard they are good for duck dives.
The is a little spot on the back for your foot to push down on to.

No way a taction pad smells as good as a fresh chunk of wax anyways!
;-)