SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

Just received a new shipment of SUP traction pads...with thermoform microdot embossing...universal template outline utilizing 7 individual, spreadable pieces to fit a large variety of boards...the pieces have a CNC routed bevel around the outer edge to give a finished look and feel...long proven PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive)...ultra-lightweight and they bead H20...will allow you to leap over tall buildings in a single bound...yada...yada...yada...;-)

Seriously though, they really are nice...we use them exclusively on all of our North Pacific customs and offer them to our Starboard "StarTouch" clients...





Some of you guys/gals may remember way back in the day before traction pads became standard issue on most production SUP's...we used surfwax, pieces of sailboard pads, and/or longboard pads...and, "El Gripo"...

El Gripo was developed by Tom Morey and was an evolution of "Slipcheck" which sold over 100000 units in the 60's and 70's to longboard noseriders...fast forward to the late 2000's and we have "Monster Paint"...and, Starboard's new "StarTouch"...

Pre-production Sean Ordonez "Big Red"...longboard pad with clear "El Gripo" sprayed...



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Since we were the first ones in the world to manufacture epoxy molded SUP's...this was before Jimmy Lewis, Surftech Lairds, Starboard, Naish, PSH and the dozens and dozens that came later...back when Pohaku made only paddles before becoming C4...

We were the first SUP retail entity to develop die-cut pads for our standup paddle boards...before we opened the first fully dedicated SUP store in the Americas...
matter of fact, I remember contacting a windsurfing/kiteboarding pad manufacturer now trying to pose as a premiere SUP accessory manufacturer, about getting some bigger pads die cut for standup paddleboards...and, they asked "what's a standup paddleboard?"...that's not too bad because a lot of people asked the question back in the day...it's when they asked in a snobby wind fiend tone, "why would you want to do THAT?"...that I hung up and found another source for EVA pads...our shop logo pads are still in use...



Other firsts include being the first production epoxy SUP manufacturer with provisions for a handle...go figure...some manufacturers are just getting around to that small detail...;-)

We were the first to manufacture SUP's with mast tracks...and, the first to install double leash plugs...something that I developed on my surfboard guns from surfing in Humboldt back in the big wave pioneering days...



We were also the first to stock SUP bags that fit...and, are reasonably priced...



Stay tuned...we have some kewl new SUP bags on the way...

Not all of our early ideas and efforts were good...we've abandoned the coiled leash...we did them in every iteration...OK for distance paddling...but, they sucked in the surf...think about old telephone cords...;-)



Click link for other kewl SUP accessories...we are a true ONE STOP SUP SHOP...

Labels: standup paddleboard pads, SUP accessories, SUP bags, SUP pads, SUP traction