Cork Traction Pads
I just stumbled across these new Cork track pads from Wavetribe. It’s a pretty cool approach to unconventional materials in an conventional product. Some other traction companies are using recycled content in their pads, which is cool as well, to minimize the production waste from their own process, but it’s even cooler to rely on a sustainable material from the get go. Cork is a highly sustainable product which has taken a hit in the last decade from wine producers going from cork to synthetic cork for their bottles. Check out the Wikipedia entry for cork, some interesting facts on cork such as:
- Once the trees are about 25 years old the cork is stripped from the trunks every nine years. The trees live for about 200 years.
- The cork industry is generally regarded as environmentally friendly.
- The sustainability of production and the easy recycling of cork products and by-products are two of its most distinctive aspects.
- Cork oak forests also prevent desertification and are the home of various endangered species.
- Cork’s low density makes it a suitable material for fishing floats and buoys, as well as handles for fishing rods (as an alternative to neoprene).
I’ve been using one of Wavetribe’s 6′ comp leashes and one of their hemp board bags both for over a year now, and their products are as good as any out there on the market. I suspect their Cork track pads will perform similarly. I just got a new board and already put a track pad on it from the local boys at Xtrak, but if anyone gets one of these and tries it out and wants to do a write-up on it, send it our way and we’ll post it.
Yeah, I know, we said Buy Less Shit but I’ve always put trackpads on my boards, so I’d consider it one of the essential items for surfing for me personally.
They just sent out a press release about these pads, if you want to read the official version.