FNT about Freeride

So our aim is to try a grow and promote this exciting aspect within the UK and the Jetsking fraternity.

We have competed at events all over the world, and know that freeriding is addictive - the more you see someone do something bigger or better than you can do, the more you want to try it yourself. That will become self-fulfilling, the more people around our shores going big in the surf, the more other riders will see it and want to have a go.

So where do we start? - The sea first.

Without stating the obvious, we need waves! Not just any waves though, we need "surfable" waves, with good wave faces and nice spaces between them - not that easy to find around our UK shores, and weather dependent. A tip to finding a good place is if there are surfers there...

For freeriding, we want to be in the impact zone, or the area that the waves are breaking. Often around the UK, riders tend to ride in swell which can roll in and be very large with 20 foot rolling hills and valleys. If you are in these waves, you are are too far out. Yes the waves are big and you will get some big air, but there are no vertical wave faces, no powerful lips to slash - move inshore to shallower waters and feel the power of the breaking wave. Using the surfing analogy, you couldn't surf rolling swell as there is no wave face.

Waves are generated by winds out at sea, forming swell. The longer the distance the wind can blow over the water, or the "fetch", the bigger the wave and the larger the space between them or the "period".

As the wave reaches the beach, the shallowing of the sea bed and its features, reefs/rocks etc, known as the seabed topography, "push" or force the wave up into the air until the wave can take no more and it falls over or "breaks". Different beaches, tides, wind directions all effect the break, whether the wave "peels" from one side to the other or "closes out" and breaks across its length all at once.

In shore, past the impact zone, you will find the "mush", the white water of a broken wave. Here again you are in the wrong place, too far inshore. Once the wave has broken into white water, it has lost much of its power and its interest to us. The aerated white water plays havoc with traction in your pump, and there is no clean ramp to launch off.

One unfortunate feature of UK surf, especially on the South Coast is shore break, where the wave just breaks straight on the beach. These conditions are not ideal, as the wave face is only useable for a very short time, and is very dangerous as it usually "dumps" in very shallow water - not nice! Try to avoid these waves, again, look for surfers.

Of course, different conditions have to be balanced against your skill level, we're not advocating that a newbie should wander into a "green room" of 3m waves, but that is where you need be aspiring to.

What do we need? - We are mainly focussed on standups, but Blasters and Sitdowns can still be loads of fun. I have seen a Blaster rolled and flipped no problem!

You can ride any stand-up. We wouldn't recommend using a 4 stroke though, in case of water ingress in the engine. The engine can be stock upwards, big power is not necessary. Stock hulls are perfect, good and strong, and in fact a heavier hull is easier to control in the air over a light weight hull.

Foot holds are an advantage of course for jumping, with some riders having a foot strap mounted forward for surf-riding. A shortened pole is also more comfortable. Make sure everything is securely fastened, battery, fuel tank, HT leads and a cable tie around the plug caps as there is a lot of crashing and banging going on as you land. Ensure electrical connections are good due to the salt water and bring several cans of WD40 or the like, it can't do any harm!!!

An electric bilge pump is important, as is a loop on the bow eye in case you need a tow. I recommend wrapping a short length of rope or webbing around the pole so you have a rope in case of emergency. A good buoyancy aid or impact vest is important as is a helmet, although not mandatory.

Flares for this event are not necessary, at the risk of incurring the wrath of seasoned seafarers, because we are not going "out to sea" and there are plenty of us watching.

So now what do we do? You've got a ski and the surf is up right? Lets go ski...

Experience and practice is the key. Don't be afraid of the waves, but respect them, learn to use them, predict the speed and its breaking pattern. Whilst everyone says a rough sea is unpredictable, to an extent it isn't - you know that in a few seconds time another wave will roll in so allow for it and don't be surprised if you're swimming after you ski for instance!!!. There are no main aspects to freeride, you have the out-going jumping off the waves, and the in-coming surfing of the waves.

Wave Riding.

I'll start with this as its the most "alien" aspect to most UK riders. You are going to riding with 1 foot forward, either side doesn't matter, and the other foot back in the foothold.

Your pole is going to be flat on the hood with your weight shifted forward over it. You need to try and keep your weight forward as you need to engage the length of the ski in the water.

You need very little power for wave riding, in fact too much makes it harder as the "hit" of the engine can upset your balance.

Tubbies can help here helping the ski grip the wave. The also make the nose wider helping land the ski during nose first landings.

Practice surfing the waves in, catching the wave on the outside as it begins to build and lip, and then surfing the wave to which ever side isn't breaking. You want to stay on the wave face for as long as possible until it breaks. In bigger seas, be aware of when the wave will break as you don't want it crashing over you.

As you get more confident, start moving up and down the face, try some slashing turns and spray turns, just like you were pump washing your mates on the lake. Keep it fluid, keep your knees bent and centre of gravity low.

Remember, surf riding is not just riding straight down the wave towards the beach, you going sideways to the beach, "feeling" the wave.

One word of caution, when going down steep waves, and this applies to swell as well, don't let the nose catch or "dig in" as it will forward roll you and the ski.

Wave Jumping.

This is perhaps the most dramatic aspect of the sport. You're going to start with straight jumps of the wave. You want to experiment with when you let off the throttle as to how you land. If you ease off a little before take-off, you will land tail first, full throttle to the end and it will be nose first. Try and avoid flat, for your ankles and engine mounts sake! As you get more confidence, you can take your hands off in the air, either extended up or a rail grab, or take a foot out quickly before you land.

Then try turning as you go up the wave, this will result in a nose stab, landing nose first.

The 2 big aerial tricks are Barrel Rolls and Back Flips, with their associated variations. The Barrel Roll is a relatively difficult trick to learn involving timing and co-ordination. I'm not going to cover that here at this stage, get out there and have a go, or come along to an event and get some advice.

The back Flip is the big one, the most dramatic and exhillarating.

For more info on how to do a backy, click here...

So that's a whirlwind tour around the basics of freeriding, get out there and have a go!

Thankyou to Ludo at Fullgaz for the use of some of his photos - http://www.fullgaz.com/

The Sport Of Jetski Freeride

Just what is jetski freeride? You often see dramatic and action packed pictures on websites and in magazines of jetskis 20 odd foot up in the air, upside down with various combinations of limbs dangling .... well that's the pinnacle of extreme Freeriding.

Its riding your ski in waves, in the impact zone, jumping off wave faces, and surf riding waves in. Using the power of Mother Nature's awesome force in the sea, playing and attacking, yet always respectful.