How to Add a Surfboard Traction Pad

Traction pads for the tail of your surfboard provide a firm surface that can help you make sharper cutbacks and attempt bigger aerial maneuvers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Traction pad
• Paper towel
• Pencil

1. Using the paper towel, clean off the deck of your surfboard. You want it to be completely free of any debris so that the traction pad will stay adhered to the board.

2. Place your traction pad with the adhesive backing still on onto the surfboard. This will allow you to get a good idea of where you want to place it before you stick it onto the surfboard permanently.

3. Trace the outline of the traction pad with the pencil. Doing this will allow you to make sure that it's centered on the surfboard deck, and that it's as far forward or back as you want it.

4. Remove the adhesive backing, and place the traction pad onto the surfboard deck within the outline that you've drawn.

5. Press down firmly across the entire traction pad. You want to make sure that there aren't any spaces in between the pad and the surfboard deck for water to get in while you're surfing.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you place the traction pad exactly how you want it because once it's installed it's very difficult to remove.