Tail Pad

A tail pad isn't for everyone but we know some people just cant surf without them, so they are an accessory that you should try a on a few different boards as they could enhance your surfing drastically.

So what is a tail pad? It is a traction pad (also known as a deck grip) made from a high quality EVA Foam. Each deck grip is moulded in a certain way to create maximum comfort on your foot and more importantly outstanding Grip and traction.
There are a huge variety of tail pads out there these days and a few of the leading brands to look out for are Dakine, Kommunity Project, Gorilla Grip, OAM and Creatures of Leisure.
Each of these brands produce the highest quality deck grips and have a number of different designs to suit everyone’s tastes. We are not just talking about different colours but also the way in which a tail pad is moulded.
Some have high arch bars for people with high foot arches, others don’t have any arch bar at all for people with really flat feet. Also the steepness and height on the kicks (very back) of the deck grips vary considerably for each person’s personnel preference.

Benefits of a Tail Pad or Deck Grip

It is highly recommended that you give a number of deck grips a go in surfing as it can improve your surfing ability ten fold! Having a tail pad will allow you to push each turn that little bit more than if you were just using wax and add a massive amount of confidence to your surfing. Another great thing a tail pad is good for is when you are learning you can make sure your back foot is in the right place on your board by just feeling that is on the tail pad therefore knowing that your foot is placed at the back of your board like it should be. If you are just using wax and you are leaning you wont be able to tell if its in the right place and you will need to check and physically look down to see if it is which might throw you off balance and you will fall.

If you look at videos of guys doing really high performance surfing you will notice that 98% of them will be using a tail pad on their board, they really do work!!

Applying a Tail Pad

When applying a tail pad it is always better to do it on a brand new board that has never been used before but if you have got a second hand board and that just isn’t an option then make sure the surface of the board is completely free of wax, dirt and grease. Use a wax comb to get all the wax off then use an old rag to rub the remaining wax off the board, we find this better than white spirit because when you use acetones it leaves an invisible film over the surface of your board. Really rub your board hard and thoroughly so that there is no wax or dirt left and then give the surface a light sand to key up the area so that the deck grip can bond better.
Make sure the surface is completely dry and clean, now grab your tail pad and place it on the board (don’t stick) and mark out with a pencil where you want the tail pad to go. Most people put it as far back as possible so butt it up pretty close to the leash plug, as when your foot is that far back your board will turn a lot better! So mark out with pencil where the surfboard grip is going, use the stringer of your board as a guide for the center. Depending on whether your deck grip is a one piece or split into segments do the following. If it is a one piece then peel back 1/3 of the backing paper starting with the kick (very back) place the kick of the tail pad on the board and make your way up the deck grip sticking it to your board so there are no air bubbles trapped. Start with the center and push down the sides as you go. Keep peeling the backing paper back as you go up the tail pad.
With a tail pad that has a number of segments like 3 or 5 start with the kick or the center piece and then work your way out towards the rails.