Hi all,

I need your your help with some issue, I got a Gong Sup which is pretty good and radical sup. But I do have a small problem which I try to fix - the traction pad is slippery.
The top finish of the pad is smooth which make the pad a bit slippery and sometimes makes me fall from the sup when I surf. Never had this kind of problem before.

Does anyone have any solution?
Does anyone know how to fix it or ever had this kind of problem?

I really don't want to wax the pad, it's not logical.

Thanks!

I had the same issue with my Jimmy Lewis Stun Gun, just throw some wax on there that'll fix it up.

Hi thanks!

Do you mean to wax it like waxing a board or is there a special way to wax the pad?

Is there any otger solution?

Have you tried contacting Gong about the problem?

Wax it or run some sandpaper over it…easy to fix. New pads need time to bed in you can just hurry the process along.

Yeah, just sent an email. I will wait for an answer tomorrow.
The problem is that I live too far, so even if they will offer to replace it, it can't be done.

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burleighlocal said...
Wax it or run some sandpaper over it…easy to fix. New pads need time to bed in you can just hurry the process along.

I thought about sanding it instead of waxing it.
What kind of sand paper should I use?

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Maor404 said..

burleighlocal said...
Wax it or run some sandpaper over it…easy to fix. New pads need time to bed in you can just hurry the process along.

I thought about sanding it instead of waxing it.
What kind of sand paper should I use?

You can start buy rubbing it with some beach sand next time you go for a surf - depending on the coarseness of the sand it might just do the trick for you.

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HumanCartoon said...

Maor404 said..

burleighlocal said...
Wax it or run some sandpaper over it…easy to fix. New pads need time to bed in you can just hurry the process along.

I thought about sanding it instead of waxing it.
What kind of sand paper should I use?

You can start buy rubbing it with some beach sand next time you go for a surf - depending on the coarseness of the sand it might just do the trick for you.

Thanks mate, I'll give it a try!

First thing to try is just to wash it.
Brush it with some detergent and water.
Sometimes, new pads have some dust or oily residues from the factory environment that makes them slippery.

I always wash my new pads, and re-do it from time to time, especially if surfing in muddy waters (rivermouths).

Is it all the pad which is slippery, or some specific places?

Ive run into this with new pads before. Just a little time to wear it in has cleared it up for me, but the suggested washing and rubbing down with wet sand could help speed the process. Anything more than a light sanding with a very fine grit will probably be overkill.

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colas said..
First thing to try is just to wash it.
Brush it with some detergent and water.
Sometimes, new pads have some dust or oily residues from the factory environment that makes them slippery.

I always wash my new pads, and re-do it from time to time, especially if surfing in muddy waters (rivermouths).

Is it all the pad which is slippery, or some specific places?

Thank you, i will give it a try as well.
The problem is that the white part top is smooth.
The picture is not of the Gong Sup but only for example. As you see the top surface is rough, in my sup is smooth which make it slippery. Also, the top deck is a bit curved and not flat which make it even more slippery.
curved deck don't bother be but the mix of this 2 make it's hard.
Smooth top will always make it slippery, my JP has rough top.
Anyway, I'll give the washing a try but the i don't think it will help.

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exiled said..
Ive run into this with new pads before. Just a little time to wear it in has cleared it up for me, but the suggested washing and rubbing down with wet sand could help speed the process. Anything more than a light sanding with a very fine grit will probably be overkill.

Do you mean that a wet light sand paper will overkill it?
My last option is to try and sand the top surface point by point slowly to make it rough.

I was referring to the suggestion to just rub the deck with wet beach sand by HumanCartoon and a detergent wash like colas mentioned. If neither worked I might try a little steel wool to gently abrade the deck before going to sandpaper. Just a little bit can go a long way. Deck pads are really soft and tend to get rougher over time due to use and UV exposure. Even a light sanding can take off a lot if you aren't careful. I wouldn't trust myself but you might have steadier hands than I do.

I just asked Patrice, the Gong shaper, he advised to wash, and if not sufficient, a light sanding with a coarse sandpaper or a metal brush.
You should take care not to dull the edges of the raised parts, sharp edges are important for the grip.

If you are not used to domed decks, maybe you have your feet too close to the rail when paddling. Try to keep your feet more towards the center, on the flat part. It will both improve balance and reduce slippage, as your feet will not be on the outwards slope anymore...
Since you are the first one to complain of these pads, maybe that is the problem? (although, of course, production defects can always happen)

And this is where foot depressions help :-)

I found 1 piece deck pads slippery when the board was pitched up on a steep face, so started carving them up. Good for grip and numb feet.

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exiled said..
I was referring to the suggestion to just rub the deck with wet beach sand by HumanCartoon and a detergent wash like colas mentioned. If neither worked I might try a little steel wool to gently abrade the deck before going to sandpaper. Just a little bit can go a long way. Deck pads are really soft and tend to get rougher over time due to use and UV exposure. Even a light sanding can take off a lot if you aren't careful. I wouldn't trust myself but you might have steadier hands than I do.

Thanks for your help.
I have tried sanding it a little bit, but it makes it smoother. Might a steel wool do the trick.
I will wash it tomorrow and test it later.

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Brenno said..
I found 1 piece deck pads slippery when the board was pitched up on a steep face, so started carving them up. Good for grip and numb feet.

This is amazing, how did you do that?

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colas said..
I just asked Patrice, the Gong shaper, he advised to wash, and if not sufficient, a light sanding with a coarse sandpaper or a metal brush.
You should take care not to dull the edges of the raised parts, sharp edges are important for the grip.

If you are not used to domed decks, maybe you have your feet too close to the rail when paddling. Try to keep your feet more towards the center, on the flat part. It will both improve balance and reduce slippage, as your feet will not be on the outwards slope anymore...
Since you are the first one to complain of these pads, maybe that is the problem? (although, of course, production defects can always happen)

And this is where foot depressions help :-)

As i said to Exiled, I have tried sanding it a little bit with a light wet send paper but it makes it smoother.
I will wash it tomorrow and rub it with wet sand first. Then will try the coarse sandpaper if nothing will help.
Metal brush is too much, it will ruin the pad.

About the domed deck, well at first it was strange but after a couple of minutes i realised it much more stable and easier if the feets are centered.
The sup is well built and very stable, so stability is not the problem but the smothness is.

I took a picture of the pad ( 3D texture), the white smooth diamonds are actually the top surface. The 3D texture make it looks otherwise.
As you see, they are pretty smooth which effect the grip.

Use very course sand paper, and just give it a few swipes, the courser the better.
I used a very course sanding belt on my belt sander, but I didn't turn on the belt sander, I just dragged it across the pad a couple of times, it worked perfectly.

Car wash soap and a scrub brush worked for me. Sick board by the way.

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Maor404 said..
The problem is that the white part top is smooth.
The picture is not of the Gong Sup but only for example. As you see the top surface is rough, in my sup is smooth which make it slippery.

I checked, all my Gong SUPs have the top surface smooth, so your board is not different form the others as far as I can tell.
And this is the first time I hear of somebody having this problem... I don't have it... strange.

In my experience, the most important factor is the stiffness of the pad. A stiff pad will make the edges of the diamonds keep their "sharpness" under the foot pressure, and this is what makes the most traction.

I am just thinking: if you do not get used to the pad, you should try to use anti-skid clear spray paints, like the ones used on boats, or the "monster paint", on top of the pad. less messy than wax, and less risk of damaging the diamond edges with sandpaper.

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Mastbender said..
Use very course sand paper, and just give it a few swipes, the courser the better.
I used a very course sanding belt on my belt sander, but I didn't turn on the belt sander, I just dragged it across the pad a couple of times, it worked perfectly.

Thanks mate.

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JKimbler said..
Car wash soap and a scrub brush worked for me. Sick board by the way.

Thanks, i will try to wash it today, i have similar soap. Yeah, the board is beautiful.

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colas said..

I am just thinking: if you do not get used to the pad, you should try to use anti-skid clear spray paints, like the ones used on boats, or the "monster paint", on top of the pad. less messy than wax, and less risk of damaging the diamond edges with sandpaper.

I will wash it today, and then try it again before i will use the Monster paint spray.
By the way, the spray is safe to use on the pad?
Will not damage it?

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Maor404 said..
By the way, the spray is safe to use on the pad?
Will not damage it?

I didnt do it personally, just read others doing it with no issues.
To be safe, you may want to try on a small surface on a non-strategic area (or on a spare bit of another pad if you have one)

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colas said..

I didnt do it personally, just read others doing it with no issues.
To be safe, you may want to try on a small surface on a non-strategic area (or on a spare bit of another pad if you have one)

Thanks