“STOP COLLABORATE AND LISTEN
ICE IS BACK WITH ANOTHER EDITION
IF YOU WANNA NOSE STAB YO HE'LL SOLVE IT 
CHECK OUT THE SKI WHILE ICEMAN REVOLVES IT”

Welcome to Freestyle Advice with Ice. For this featured trick, JS&PW visited the King George V Dock to watch freestyler Vaclav Zacek take off with the Nose Stab.

The nose stab, like any of the airborne tricks, is pretty impressive. Taking some time to perfect setting up your wake and continually hitting it just right will pay off long term. Those sea riders with an endless supply of waves can skip the next bit, but flatwater skiers read on.

WAKE UP

- Let’s begin by making a wake and getting a feel for it with some simple jumps. You shouldn’t need reminding but first up is those all-important checks. Identify the trick site and take a good look around for other riders or any obstacles. Make sure you have plenty of space, then away you go.
- In a normal riding stance, approach slowly, just below planning speed. You want as big a footprint in the water as possible. The greater the craft’s water displacement, the bigger your ramp will be.
- Stand near the back of the tray to get the back as deep in the water as possible. Take a final look around then make a slow steady turn. You are aiming to alter your course by between 90 and 140 degrees, leaving a nice clean wake behind you.

- Imagine you are riding on a huge circular clock (digital is no good). From the centre you are riding towards the number 12. At the 12 you turn left and follow the circumference towards nine o’clock.
- As you come past the nine you make another left turn inwards and steer it back towards the midday mark. Facing you, rapidly closing should be your wake.
- Look for the high point, push your feet against the sides of the tray, hold on tight and accelerate up the face of your self made ramp. Your timing and accuracy will determine just how clean and high you jump.
- Practice this until you can nail it every time, then you can easily move on to the Nose Stab

STABBIN’

- Welcome back surf riders. So we can all jump a wake or wave now, and turning and stabbing the nose of the ski into the water isn’t as tricky as you would think. You’ve done the hard work already with the preparations, so it’s just a case of modifying your jump.
- Start by making your wake or choosing your wave. With your feet towards the back of the tray, push them against the sides or get locked in under your lifters or footholds (see Top Tip).
- Brace yourself as you head up the ramp and as the nose of your ski reaches the top, crank the bars left to send the rear of the ski skidding round.
- As you get airborne let off the throttle and push on the bars to bring the nose down.
- You can now either tuck in as the ski dives nose first under the water or stretch your legs out and push on the tray to keep it on the surface.
- Maintain your balance and as you begin to slow, straighten the bars, get back on the throttle and ride it out.
- If you are struggling to turn the ski as you leave the ramp, a shallow slalom or ‘S’ timed to finish at the same time will help you on your way.

TOP TIP

Although not essential there are several options to hold your feet in position suitable for all stand up watercraft. Ranging from cheap self-adhesive wedges through stitched mat kits with inbuilt lifters to windsurf style foot straps or moulded footholds. Most popular the shaped fibreglass inserts are cut into the sidewalls, extending the tray area and providing comfortable holds for most sized feet.

WARNING

Freestyle can be dangerous!

Jet Skier&PW, CSL Publishing Ltd and Iceman accept no responsibility for damage, injury or death resulting from attempting the above instructions. Pilots undertake freestyle tricks at their own risk.