What do you think about a traction pad setup like this?

[John_R]

I never used a traction pad much on my own boards, but I really like my friends. Do you think I could get away with using no wax at all if I set my board up like the picture I made? (Sorry about the poor editing skills!)

I see a lot of pepople have the arch pad, but I just feel like its a waste if you have to use wax too. If you need to aim, just draw a big X on there and wax over it. Anyways, I'd love to hear some opinions!

http://imageserver4.textamerica.com/user.images.x/45/IMG_405145/_0527/TZ200527115438594.jpg

[MaloSkimmer]

you'll need more traction than that if you plan on going waxless. Look at this jackass set up. He's got it right. A little over board, but 100% waxless

http://www.skimonline2.com/scripts/mediacenter/showphoto.php?photo=1377&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=2

[Simonster]

i dont like it..i dont like those pads nexty to the archbar just use wax

[skimnczach]

the arch will be bigger than that, just so you know (as wide as the back pad)

use an arch in the middle then just wax around it

[flskimboarder]

back pad, arch bar, and wax...just do it!

[KrisStone]

That would probably work but you need to make sure you put your foot in the same spot everytime which is pretty hard

[John_R]

I know your right. I just like to hear people's opinions because I see a lot of boards with like a million pads on them, but wax too. Just didn't seem to make sense. I always skimmed with a plain board.

I guess this was just curiousity more than anything.

Also, the pads are not accurate in size, just a rough guessimate. The wings are bigger than that as well as the arch.

[727bryon]

If you get the X-Trak "X-Ray" pad set for the front you should be OK. It has a 3"x13" Arch Bar, and 10 1"x13" strips. That's if you want to go through and strategically(sp?) stick all of them to get the most outta them. If not pick up the X-Ray set, and the Striper pads also from X-Trak. The Striper set is the same 10 strips as the X-Ray set. If you felt like it get 2 X-Ray sets and get the arch bars too. Whatever.

[ZeroSkim:::Bernardo]

I have a board with a 16" Xtrak arch strippers and back pad and I don't need too much wax

[Walruz996]

All I use on my vic is an arch and backpad, no wax, I don't have a problem.

[Boyschoir]

get the x trac strips and cut them into little pieces and place them all over the board and around your arch bar

[Chrith]

haha sick name justin

[727bryon]

Ditto. I like it better than the last one.

[OtotheZ]

i have a textured board with astrodeck beaker tailpad and astrodeck beaker archbar, never use wax.. don't need it.

[Teddy Parker]

How much does it matter?

[didj prophet]

my buddy got a slot and had a poorboy pad on the tail with a beaker arch, then he threw some of extra padding around the arch so he could minimize his wax, at the time it seemed like a good idea and i considered it myself, but once i rode it i didnt like it at all, i have high arches and i need the area around the arch bar to be lower so that my foot will feel comfortable on it

obviously people with flat feet would have the opposite problem so it varies, just something to consider

[BullDawg]

I hate wax if you can't tell by this pic..... Oh, and the traction job above doesn't look bad at all.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/SofloSkimSurf/Quiver/OGX.jpg

[OtotheZ]

that checkered design looks sick

[cbskimer_gma]

i would always use wax. but i would use an arch bar.

[Walruz996]

What about all of your other crazy tractioned boards Matt? and that slot thats your brothers.

[727bryon]

I hate wax if you can't tell by this pic..... Oh, and the traction job above doesn't look bad at all.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/SofloSkimSurf/Quiver/OGX.jpg

First, I don't like quoting pics, but it is just easier for my up coming question.

What kind of tail pad is that? I saw a similar one in SURFER and it was a "Famous" pad. I like it a lot, and just wanted to know. Thanks.

[AerialSkimmerBrad]

Yeah, I completly hate wax, none of my local surf shops have any of the X Trak Stripper pads in but I ordered some from Skimcity, I say thats the way to go, Beaker Arch and back and the X Trak strippers around the arch and so on...

[Teddy Hartford]

i dont have any wax. I just have a backpad, archbar and stripper pad. It covers every area i would possibly have to put my foot and i dont use wax mostly because it used to get all over my trunk and fuck up the carpeting. I would say whether you use wax or front pads makes no difference.

[BullDawg]

haha, yeah David, I have a lot of boards w/ different traction designs.

Byron--you're right it's famous.

[727bryon]

cool. Those look so sick.

[Derek Makekau]

i use the backpad, archbar and wax setup. you'll notice that the large majority of pros do this too, and that should be a pretty good indication that it's what works.

but you really don't just use those little sections of your board. paulo asked me one time why i didn't wax behind my archbar, between it and the backpad. i told him it was because my foot never went there.

a few rides later i noticed that it did. experienced skimboarders know what they're talking about, and like i said, they usually use the backpad, archbar wax method. it's not about aesthetics, it's about what works.

but paulo sucks at skimboard riding, just to clear that up.

[Pack A Bowl]

people care about their boards looks more than preformance sometimes.. i have mine all waxed so no matter how bad i screw up i still got the grip...

[727bryon]

i use the backpad, archbar and wax setup. you'll notice that the large majority of pros do this too, and that should be a pretty good indication that it's what works.

but you really don't just use those little sections of your board. paulo asked me one time why i didn't wax behind my archbar, between it and the backpad. i told him it was because my foot never went there.

a few rides later i noticed that it did. experienced skimboarders know what they're talking about, and like i said, they usually use the backpad, archbar wax method. it's not about aesthetics, it's about what works.

but paulo sucks at skimboard riding, just to clear that up.

I like the backpad/arch/wax too, like most. I used to do just wax on either side of the arch, but then i noticed it's kinda nice to move your back foot above the back pad to balance out and distribute weight better on the way to waves. That's what it's like to me, but somone may say I'm totally wrong.

[thatsmyword]

everyone use the archbar backpad and wax because paulo does it!