When it comes to elite athletes who are seeking every possible option to give themselves an edge over the competition, secrecy is often the name of the game. In today’s rampant media age, that’s not easy and , in some sports, espionage is common.
Well, 3x World Champ John John Florence may have just thrown everyone a bone with the release of his signature trackpad from his accessory brand, Veia. As far as we know, other surfers may have custom pads designed for their needs so this may not necessarily be the first one ever made like this–but the release and breakdown surely feels like it is the first-of-its-kind, meet the “Power Pocket”; a new feature of the JJF Pro Traction Pad which is available in both round tail and squash tail.
WTF is the Power Pocket? As the story goes, as Veia was about to launch, a final meeting with John focused on traction. Not wanting to simply adhere to the status quo, they set out to radically improve what is a core piece of gear for performance surfing. Who better than to lead that discussion than the man who lays down turns that are heard around the world, JJF.
After many prototypes, they finally stomped the perfect formula of feel, weight, grip, and fit. But when it comes to gear, John is notorious for his precision in performance and detailed feedback. Hence the birth of the Power Pocket.
According to Veia this pocket is, “the space between your tail block and arch, where your back foot naturally locks in for ultra high-performance surfing.”
“The key to JJF’s ‘World Title Winning Turn’ at the WSL Finals in 2024.”
Veia
“The Power Pocket term was thrown around somewhat jokingly, but much like its purpose, it stuck. We chopped 6mm off the arch bar and moved it up, creating a 74mm gap between the tail block and arch, a space that provides a naturally locked in feel for your back foot.”
Related: John John Florence & The Surfboard Behind World Title No. 3