A surfboard tail pad, also known as a traction pad, can give a surfer numerous benefits when it comes to their overall surfing experience. It gives a surfer a better back foot grip, locking it in to prevent slipping, acts as a guideline on where their back foot should land and provides extra grip for their knee or foot when sinking the back of their surfboard below the water during a duck dive.
Ultimately, a tail pad can improve a surfer’s ability to ride waves, giving them the support they need to make more responsive turns full of drive and power and feel more in control of their board. But that’s not all - it also saves time and money as you won’t have to wax the tail of your surfboard!
WHERE TO PUT A TAIL PAD ON A SURFBOARD
This might seem pretty straightforward, but let’s run through it in case you’re unsure. A tail pad should be applied towards the back of the deck of your surfboard in alignment with the fins, ending at the middle fin. When putting a tail pad on your board, it’s best to look at your board sideways to give you a better idea of where it should go. Make sure you don’t put it over the leash plug, though, as you need to allow space for the leash to move freely.
HOW TO PUT A TAIL PAD ON A SURFBOARD
Now, let’s go through each step of installing a tail pad - so you can start shredding better!
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TAIL PAD FOR YOUR SURFBOARD
First things first, you need to choose the right tail pad. At Wetsuit Centre, we stock a range of tail pads from top brands such as FCS, Gorilla, Futures, Mystic, and more. Browse our collection now to find the perfect tail pad for you.
STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR SURFBOARD
Before sticking your tail pad onto your surfboard, you must clean the surface of the board. This means removing any wax on the tail of your board and cleaning off any sand, grit, or excess glue if you’re replacing the traction pad.
You can use an alcohol or spirit solution to ensure the deck on your board is clean - something like white spirit will do the trick. Wearing a mask and gloves is always a good idea due to its strong smell and irritability.
STEP 2: PLACE THE TAIL PAD WHERE YOU WANT IT
Once your surfboard is clean, you want to figure out exactly where you want the tail pad to go. Tail pads often come in different parts that you can break away; place them as close together or as far apart as you’d like. The centrepiece of the tail pad needs to align with the board's stringer, ensuring it is central. Remember, don’t cover the leash plug.
PEEL THE STICK OFF THE TAIL PAD
Now that you’ve positioned it where you want, carefully peel off the back sticker of the tail pad. Gently place it in position, but don’t push down too hard until you’re sure all parts are in the right place.
PRESS DOWN FIRMLY
Once the centrepiece and all other parts are in the correct position, press down firmly to prevent air pockets from forming and to ensure the tail pad sticks to the surface. And voila! You’re done.
It’s often best to leave it to sit overnight, so if the surf forecast is looking good and you’re keen to get in, we recommend applying your tail pad at least 24 hours before the swell hits so you don’t risk the glue becoming damaged and the tail pad falling off.
Some surfers like to put a tail pad on their longboards, but it’s more common to place them on shortboards due to foot placement. If you’re making the switch from a longboard to a shortboard, sticking a tail pad on your board can significantly benefit your foot placement, as it’ll give you a solid benchmark on where your back foot should land - helping you aim for that. Our guide on transitioning from a longboard to a shortboard can help.
