Anyone ride directionals with wax(no straps)?

[TommyDuotone]

I've only been kiting 2 years but have been surfing most my life. I really enjoy kiting in waves with just a surfboard, even in light wind. I prefer to ride without straps,using just a stomp pad(back) and wax. However, sometimes I have issues with slipage on the front(never have this issue surfing). It seems like my top layer of wax is wearing off to the base coat. Does anyone use wax only, and if so, what do you do to prevent this. Or, should I put another pad in the front? Booties do help, but I prefer not to use them. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Hybridkiter]

I only ride strapless, no pad in front. I just use tons of wax and never have a problem. Does not look so good, but I never slip

[Nico]

Yep, had that problem a while back when I got into it.
Too much back foot pressure was the problem.
Never looked back.
Nico

[Chooch]

It all depends on the rider.

Some guys use just wax

Some guys use just pads

Some guys use pads and then wax them

Give em all a try and find out which works for you....there is no right or wrong setup in strapless riding.

[FredBGG]

I ride strapless and strapped depending on conditions and what I want to do.

Love both ways of riding, but strapless has a certain magic.

I too found that fromt foot slippage was a problem due to too much back foot pressure.

Regarding wax... use plenty of it.

There is a guy around here that is very very good strapless.
He has loads of wax on his boards all clumped up forming ridges etc.
Works great for him.

I find that a dommed deck is a big help.

[Peter_Frank]

I experience exactly the same as you, whenever I use a "waxed only" board - the front foot position will wear the wax away very very fast, so you need to either use a thick (ugly) layer of wax, or locally re-wax the board many times during a day of riding

Also - your balance point and central power point is on the front foot, and almost always the same point when riding a surf shortboard (every move origins around here usually), so this point is much harder loaded, than the back foot.
And the back foot is also moved a lot more, according to what glide and cutback you want - so here you dont wear the wax off nearly as fast

But eventhough I like riding on a perfectly waxed board, I dislike wax of other reasons - one is the "hot car and wax melting and running", or the "wax gets on all your other boards and kites and stuff when stoved in the car".

And as I see it, it is not "perfectly waxed" for long, because we ride so much longer and heavier than when surfriding, especially if really choppy out there - it gets "worn" out fast

So a pad is my preferred front foot anti-slippery "tool"

When riding waves, it does not matter much if front foot a bit slippery or not, as you are in "balance" on the board so to speak, and you only need back foot anti-slip. when doing flat tail slides etc.

But when going out fast and choppy, or riding the board flat, OR if choppy in general, it is really if too slippery...

Kindly, Peter Frank

[kiterMD]

I've had problems with wax sliding off, especially in the summer. If the wax gets a little melty in the car, then re-hardens, it seems to make it worse. Here's what I've found that works ok...

-clean the board and add a heavy layer of wax
-give it a quick once-over with more wax before every session
-if the wax melts at all, scrape it all off, clean the board, and start over

We stand on the wax constantly, rather than just while we're on the wave, and tend to ride with more pressure on the feet, which leads to the wax wearing off or slipping around a good bit. If I didn't surf my board as well as kite, I'd go with a front pad....

[Nico]

Kiter MD,
one cannot argue with the good basic common sense of your advice.
Over here we are a bit more stingy with the wax (or can't find any) and we learn to slip and slide on the board.
Regards
Nico

[tungsten222]

I'm not a surfer so excuse my ignorance... why do surfers prefer wax over a thin front pad?

[kiterMD]

Kiter MD,
one cannot argue with the good basic common sense of your advice.
Over here we are a bit more stingy with the wax (or can't find any) and we learn to slip and slide on the board.
Regards
Nico

If I ever make it down there, I'll bring a couple bars for you...