Key Takeaways & Tips
Focus Your Eyes Down the Line
Keep your eyes up and constantly assess the sections in front of you. If you look down at your feet, you lose your line-of-sight advantage and cannot anticipate how the wave is changing
Identify an Extended Critical Section
The ideal wave for noseriding is one where the critical part of the wave (the breaking or steepest part) is “standing up” for an extended distance. This prolonged section gives you more time to hang on the nose.
Use the “Threading the Needle” Approach
Instead of trying to insert yourself into the critical section from the tail, think about coming from *behind* the peak. The steeper section should be *in front* of you. As you approach it, you can then step onto the nose at the right time
Pre-Position with Two Cross-Steps
Take your first two cross-steps to the middle of the board early. This centers you in a highly balanced position and acts as a checkpoint. From the middle of the board, you are only two quick steps away from the nose when you hit the critical section
Commit to the Nose When the Wave Steepens
Aim to be in the top third of the wave. Your cue to take the final steps to the nose is when the wave starts to “bottom out” a little and becomes quite steep, which ensures you have maximum lift underneath the nose.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stalling to Reach a Critical Section Behind You
Do not try to stall or position yourself to access a critical section that has already passed. It is much harder to recover this way; the setup must be prepared for the section that is *ahead* of you.
Focusing on the Critical Section as the Starting Point
A common mistake is thinking the first step is getting into the critical section. Cross-stepping is more difficult in the most critical part of the wave. Instead, preparation should start early, far away from the peak, using your two cross-steps to the center of the board.