NSI Introduces New Surf Gear: DuckClaws Duck Dive Grips

Grips improve duck diving in shallow reef, cold-water, and big-wave surf.

North Shore Inc, of Hood River Oregon, has introduced a unique new type of surf traction pad called DuckClaws duck dive grips.

"DuckClaws were originally made for cold-water surfing," says Lee Butler, who designed and patented the grips after a long winter surf session off the Pacific Northwest's remote Olympic Peninsula.

"My grip was weak from the cold. I was getting blown to bits on crucial duck dives. While resting up outside the break a buddy tells me he has grab dents in one of his surfboards that make for a solid grip in any conditions. It got me thinking about different ways to create the perfect grip."

The result, DuckClaws, are made of hex-cut EVA foam and have a teardrop shape. Protruding from the center is a low-profile curved wedge designed to land snug in the pocket of the grip. The aggressive grip DuckClaws provide serves well in many surf scenarios:

• Cold-water surfers maintain a solid grip to the bitter end.
• Shallow reef surfers can easily perform flat-palmed duck dive (with no finger wrap) to save knuckles from reef grind.
• Experienced surfers can throw more weight into the board to get short boards deeper and make a larger range of surfboards dive-able
• The wedged grip simplifies the longboard duckdive technique of slicing the board sidelong into a dive.
• New surfers learn to duck dive more quickly by locking into a perfectly aligned bombproof grip every time.

To help introduce DuckClaws on local breaks NSI is offering surf schools and new retailers a rental fleet promo for 50% off wholesale for up to 10 pairs to outfit rental surfboards. Interested surfers and retailers can find out more at www.duckclaws.com.

media kit | rental fleet promo |

DuckClaws™ are patent pending and are a trademark of Blue Lab LLC, Portland OR, USA,
Produced by North Shore Inc, makers of surf, kite, and stand up paddle board traction technologies.