RIKT stands for Ramped Interchangeable Kick Tail. It is a patented, high-performance surfboard traction system engineered with precise geometry and a rigid core to maximize power transfer, increase turning projection, and protect your joints from injury while surfing.

Traditional traction pads force you to surf completely flat-footed standing on soft foam that acts like a shock absorber and absorbs your energy. The kick tails aren't designed to stand on and function more like a heel stop. The RIKT system introduces an angled, structural ramp built on a rigid core. This gives you a massive mechanical advantage by stacking your leg drive perpendicularly against a rock-solid platform that transfers 100% of your power directly into your fins.

Traditional traction pads compress under pressure, acting like a shock absorber that soaks up your leg force during hard turns. In contrast, RIKT Interchangeable Kick Tails feature a rigid-core design that completely eliminates this "foam lag." 100% of the force you push into a RIKT goes straight into your fins, resulting in an instantaneous increase in speed and projection that you can feel on your very first wave.

When leaning into a turn on a traditional flat pad, your back leg angles inward at about 57 degrees relative to the deck. Pushing down while your foot sits flat creates a damaging sideways force against your joint—pushing with 100 lbs of force slams 54 lbs of pure shear force straight into your ankle. The RIKT 33-degree ramp matches that 57-degree leg drive perfectly, keeping your leg, ankle, and foot stacked in a straight, perpendicular line when pressing into the ramp of the kick for a turn. Shear force drops to zero, drastically reducing ankle fatigue and increasing power.

Traditional premium foam traction pads cost anywhere from $64 to $77 and have to be replaced every time you get a new board. They're definitly not interchangeable. With a RIKT system, after you have your first kick tail, new boards require a only RIKT Stingray mounting plate for just $29. Since all the kick tails are interchangeable you can swap them between boards. So istead of spending $60+ for a new traction pad, you only need to spend $29 for a new mounting plate.

Instead of buying ten separate $60+ traditional pads over the lifespan of your quiver (costing you $600+), you start by buying one RIKT Stingray Complete Package for $39 which has a Stingray mounting plate and the kick tail of your choice. Then you would buy nine additional $29 Stingray plates. Total cost is $300 compared with spending $600+ for typical traction pads.  You keep $300 in your wallet and get a massive performance upgrade on every board you ride.

Yes, but after a little practice you learn to pop up and over the kick effortlessly when taking off. If you kick while paddling, simply spread your legs slightly. Most surfers adapt quickly. These kicks feel completely invisible once you adapt to them. 

Quite the contrary. For a deep duck dive you can use the kick to stand on and push the back of the board waaaaay down a lot easier than with a foam pad. The rigid-core plastic kick don't compress so they offer a super stable platform for nailing a deep dive.

The base of the system—the RIKT Stingray mounting plate—attaches permanently (although you can remove it at any time) to your surfboard deck using the same high-strength, 3M marine-grade adhesive you're used to using with traction pads. Once the plate is bonded to your board, your high-performance rigid-core kick tail simply screws down securely on top of it using the supplied 316 stainless steel screws.

Since a RIKT supports your entire back foot, you can literally stand on the kick and push the tail down deep into the water. The board naturally goes to twelve noon and then you whip it around to complete the maneuver. Our vertical rise kick tails and the Chris Ward Pro kick work the best for this. The Chris Ward Pro kick tail has arch support built into the kick tail. This allows you to comfortably "cup" the support with your back foot, locking your foot in place to maintain total, hands-free board control while going completely vertical into the lip.

The hands-on installation takes only about 5 minutes. Lightly scuff the surfboard deck with 80-grit sandpaper, peel and firmly press the Stingray plate into position, and compress it with a 5-pound weight (this can be a dumbbell, a water jug, or a couple of cans of soup). Leave the weight in place during the 72 hour cure period with an ambient temperature at or above 72˚F before taking it into seawater. The adhesive forms a chemical bond between the surfboard deck and the mounting plate which takes 72 hours to arrive at full strength - necessary for the amount of force the plate needs to withstand when you're pushing against the kick during a powerful maneuver, and if for some reason your leash gets caught under the kick when your board is flying away during a wipeout and pulls against the kick which is screwed into the plate.

Yes. Environmental temperature directly affects chemical curing. If you live in a cold climate, do not install the mounting plate outside in a cold environment or leave it to cure in a cold garage. The ambient temperature needs to be at or above 72˚F during the 72 hour cure period for the adhesive bond to reach maximum strength.

Yes, absolutely. Once a RIKT Stingray mounting plate is attached to your surfboard deck, you can swap out different interchangeable rigid-core kick tail models in seconds using our standard screw system to match changing wave conditions or your performance needs.

Snug is perfect. Hand-tighten the screws with the RIKT L key. Because the system is engineered with exact tolerances, do not over-torque the screws; a firm, snug fit is all that is required to lock it in place securely.

Yes. If you don't follow the instructions in the video we provide explaining how to install a mounting plate. 72 hour curing period needed with an ambient temperature at or above 72˚F weighted.

A mounting plate and any one of the  interchangeable kick tails. A Grip 1 front deck pad is available to install if you want the familiar feel of EVA foam traction under your feet.

Our RIKT Grip 2 and 3 traction pads are premium EVA foam pads built for surfers who want structural foot support in a high ramped kick tail but are reluctant to switch immediately to a hard rigid-core kick. While traditional foam pads are completely flat, the Grip 2 lineup features an integrated, angled ramp designed specifically for you to stand on, offering significantly more turning leverage and control than a traditional pad.

The Grip 2 40mm pad features a lower-profile, 27-degree ramp tailored for surfers who prefer back foot support without a super high kick. The Grip 2 50mm pad (10mm higher) features a 33-degree ramp that perfectly mirrors the exact height and angle of our high-performance rigid-core interchangeable system.

These patented pads have a ramped kick designed to stand on, but because they are made entirely of premium EVA foam, they will compress slightly under extreme loads and won't offer the instantaneous energy transfer of our rigid core kicks. However, because they are structurally ramped for you to stand on, they deliver significantly more control and turning power than any traditional foam pad on the market.

Both our 40mm and 50mm Grip 2 foam pads feature integrated arch support directly on the ramp. This allows you to comfortably "cup" the arch support with your back foot, locking your foot in place to maintain total, hands-free board control while going completely vertical into the lip during a critical snap.

The 40mm patented pad is ideal for surfers looking for a smooth, lower-profile kick tail. It provides an excellent entry point into structural foot support without feeling like a drastic change from a traditional traction pad layout. Higher than what you're used to but not so high that it feels like a huge change. This pad offers far better performance than any traditional pad  on the market, but not as much as our 50mm pad since the ramp is at a more gentle angle.

The 50mm pad is perfect for high-performance power surfers who want maximum mechanical foot support and a steeper ramp, but still prefer the familiar, soft feel of a full EVA foam traction layout underfoot.

No. All RIKT traction pads feature traditional-style EVA foam traction with our patented ramp geometry built directly into it. These pads attach straight to your board like every traction pad you've ever installed using 3M adhesive backing, requiring no plates or hardware.

Surf it, push it, and test it hard. We want you to feel the power increase firsthand. If for any reason you are not completely stoked with your RIKT kick tail or traction pad, you can return it—used or brand new—within 30 days for a full refund or an exchange.

Yes, absolutely. We mean it when we say "Surf it and push it." We know you cannot experience the biomechanical and physical power advantages of a RIKT without properly installing it and taking it out into the ocean. If you aren't stoked after riding it, send it right back.

Unlike traditional EVA foam pads that inevitably discolor, break down, absorb water, and start looking completely ratty after a season in the sun, under normal use our premium rigid-core wax for grip kick tails and mounting plates should last for decades showing little or no signs of wear. The kicks that have EVA traction material on the ramp WILL show signs of wear, but only in the foam area. Nothing lasts forever but these products come close.