Insane traction upgrade for the OW

[Polle]

You just put them on top of the existing footpads? Not taking anything off?

[r1alvin]

@GoneProBro Do the traction pads affect the activation of the footpad sensors underneath?

Like the idea,,,but I like to ride with my rear foot up almost against the fender on my OW,,,so I would probably move that kickpad slightly more towards center of pad on the OW,,,,

[thegreck]

@GoneProBro This is rad! I'd totally consider doing it, but I'm waiting for your reply to the sensor issue. Does it or does it not affect the sensitivity of the sensors?

[GoneProBro]

@thegreck sorry getting a few repeat questions. (& was camping overnight) Absolutely no noticeable effect of front foot sensor. Only thing you will notice is your foot feels stuck to the new pad.

[GoneProBro]

@r1alvin no not at all. Works brilliantly.

[GoneProBro]

@Polle yes peel off stock grip tape & replace with deck pad.

[LidPhones]

Found this option on Amazon. Might be enough to do both decks on the OW....

link

[akraut]

I'm over the hill in San Mateo. If you guys go riding, I'd love to join, too. See this craziness in person. :D

[GoneProBro]

Yes, let's all get togather & #oneshred. I just added a front kick stop and it feels amazing in driveway. Trail testing tomorrow. (Dinner obligations) let me know who's in fir a ride out this way & what works best for those interested. #blownaway #keepsgettingbetter

[akraut]

I'm probably good most anytime Friday on.

[GoneProBro]

@akraut if your heading out to half moon bay. I will meet you any time that works for you just let me know. I have 2 Ow chargers in the van & willride ad long as you would like. I have 3 favorite single track loops. Helmet & wrist guards are a bonus.

[thegreck]

@GoneProBro You guys have just successfully knocked this shit up a notch.

[wr420]

I'd like to try and make it. I'll be tethered but around, might be able to break free. Also in San Mateo near @akraut

[drew]

I'm just waiting for this to happen so I can hear the hiveminds' thoughts!

[akraut]

I think the only other local who hasn't yet weighed in is @jim :)

I'm thinking sometime Friday afternoon sounds ideal for me. Looking at the weather, Saturday and Sunday look wet. And Friday that won't start until later in the evening.

[wr420]

@akraut OK I'll see if I can swing it. I might go out tonight. Just ride to a school and mess around there for a bit then take up ride up in the hills. Prob leave around 9:30.

[No]

I'll be free this weekend, you can try my snow tire OW too... It's interesting, especially off-road

[jim]

I'm up for riding tonight!! @wr420 meet at your place again? 9:30pm

[kbman]

I'm jelly of yall having this luxury of calling upon fellow riders. I'm the only one for miles around with one of these things. Had for near a year and have only seen one other board and two owners at a free concert downtown Baltimore. By the time I went and got mine, they had left. Dying for my buddy to get one but where I'm from the price tag is just too scary.
Have a great ride everybody. Be safe
I'm thankful today for Kyle and his baby =]

[GoneProBro]

Well mixed review on front kick pad. Traction and foot lock is out of this world.. However at the expense of a slight delay in front foot sensor shut off. Its around a tenth of a second. I did not experience this with the grey sup traction pad that i initially tried. This could be a result of the new traction heel kick or possibly I warped the plastic plate covering the sensor when I slightly warmed it to install the trac top. My take away.. Rear trac pad with heel kick is a huge improvement in foot lock, traction and noticeable drive to the back foot. Front is even better, but I am reluctant to reccomend until I find a solution that has zero effect on front sensor. I will continue to tinker and will solve this. That being said, who's in for a single track session or two tomorrow. Im game.

[GoneProBro]

This is that coastal loop that I have been riding. Lots of trees, single track and berms.

[carvewell]

I'm in Santa Cruz over Thanksgiving would love to get in on this shredfest! Y'all can check out my concave deck concept as well. Also planning on adding this mod alongside my concave platform for dreampad!

[GoneProBro]

Anyone up for a ride tomorrow? Thinking starting with a semi casual double track ocean side then work into some trails, banks and backwood runs. Have a favorite spot right here on the coast in moss beach. My three favorite rides are only a few miles apart. If you want to try the kick pad/s,l your welcome...you can Meet fellow geeks, shred OW, then chase it all down with beer. Let's do this. Thinking of meeting at the Moss Beach distillery at 12pm. The trails are less than 3 blocks away. Anyone interested in riding? I'm flexible. How about a 12pm round up. At the distillery? I can charge if your want to go big. Pleaese chime in if your interested. Helmet strongly suggested. Wrist protection is brilliant. Moss beach distillery 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach, CA 94038

[eeg]

Count me in

[akraut]

Ya, me too.

[GoneProBro]

Sweet look forward to seeing you guys tomorrow.

[wr420]

Not looking good for me. I'll have to wait til it comes out on DVD.

[Polle]

Officially jealous!

[fabuz]

@GoneProBro WoW! Awesome pic and spot!

[GoneProBro]

@eeg if you get this bring your charger. I have two but looks like there might be 3 of us😃

[GoneProBro]

@akraut if you get this bring your charger. I have two but looks like there might be 3 of us😃

[carvewell]

Any chance of this happening again tomorrow @GoneProBro and everybody else. We will be travelling up the coast from SC

[GoneProBro]

@ashewheeler weather dependent. Sure. Fir me at least. What time will you be in the area?

[No]

I'm down, been looking for some good trails for months

[akraut]

@GoneProBro At the Distillery. Parked next to a suspiciously well kitted van.

[eeg]

After trying @GoneProBro's board, I can 100% attest the to massive improvement in control. He was a mega boss and threw a kickpad on my back deck for me. I honestly can't imagine riding without it now.. crucial for going off-road imo. Thanks agin man! It was awesome meeting you and @akraut we definitely gotta link up and ride again

[akraut]

Yeah, it's definitely a different ride. I feel like you can carve way more aggressively compared to the stock board, but with the amount of street riding I do on my commute, probably not right for me.

Regardless, had great fun with @eeg and @GoneProBro today. New areas to ride and new people to ride with. 😀

[GoneProBro]

The only thing more fun than taking the OW to another level.... is doing so with new friends. Akraut & Eeg great to meet you both! You guys rip. I think this is something we should do again/continue. Thanks again for taking the time & making this happen.

[GoneProBro]

@ashewheeler little rainy but allegedly clears later this afternoon. Let's me know if you want to try to sneak in a run or two. I'm always game.

[carvewell]

Yo @GoneProBro we are just leaving SC headed up the 1. Sorry so last minute but if weather is good let's shred if not let's drink beers and have some wheel talk. We should be in half moon bay in about an hour or so.

[Zen.Potatoes]

@GoneProBro Great idea dude... Only done the back end today but so far feels great and the back foot feels so much lot more planted...

[GoneProBro]

@Zen.Potatoes Thank you. Huge difference. The front is even more rad!

[Zluz]

This post interested me enough to do some research and see what I could come up with. I thought I'd share what I found.

The idea to add a textured traction pad seemed to make sense if the board may be bouncing around beneath you. I found some good stock on ebay and two companies that looked promising.

The two manufacturers were:

• Hydro-Turf: http://hydroturf.com/pwc_matcolors.php
  Decent groove-cut options, decent patterns.
  

• SeaDek: http://www.seadek.com/
  Seemed promising, great buying options, but the imprinted texture is just too fine.
  
  They both sent samples.

I ordered a sheet off ebay also. I tried it out and I was happy with how it felt if I was barefoot. It also softened landing on the board when jumping etc.
These would be the foot pads I put on if I take my OW to a beach.
In the big picture though, I did not feel like this improved foot traction.

I really wanted to try some real surfboard/SUP traction pads but they have not arrived. I am sure they would work better. I am not sure how they would feel barefoot.
These might be best for a rough trail.

The last change was simply to go back to grip tape. I had no problem removing the original OW pad and adding some basic skateboard grip tape. This stuff normally comes in about 3'x9", sometimes larger. 9" is fine if the tape is applied vertically. I used a leather hole punch to cut out the holes for the screws. It went on without any problem. I plan to seal the front foot pad first to waterproof the switch.

(I hope all those pictures uploaded .. forum newb, here..)

[Zluz]

Forum seems to require some JavaScript that is blocked. Interferes with images.
I'll re-post images here..

Hydro-Turf product:

SeaDek product:

Traction pad material off ebay, test-installed:

Grip tape installation, showing leather punch:

Grip tape installed: