Aerial Backstab

Hi boaters,

Learning to do any move backwards requires
confidence and control in the back surf. I recommend that
anyone wanting to do backstabs, aerial backstabs, or especially
the McNasty start off doing some old fashioned backsurfing.
I do almost every-time. For example, when I take my tips off
the Transformer and paddle with just the bumpers, I need to
do some backsurfing because the ends want to catch easier
than with the tips, and you can’t commit if you are
worried about just backsurfing.

Let’s do one:

1. As with
any move you want to get air on, you need to first get
to the top of the wave so you are already up high, and
you have potential energy. You can get there by surfing
to the edge and then spinning backwards, doing a blunt
which usually puts you back up top, or carving out backwards
to the edge which will put you up on top too. I will let
you decided and practice this skill on your own.

 
 

2. Let’s assume
you want to turn to the right.

 
 

3. Get on top of the
wave, keeping your body neutral over the boat and straight
up. Your paddle is just controlling the boat.

 
 

4. When you feel yourself
falling into the wave drop your right edge down about
15 degrees with a slight hip tilt, also pull your body
forward so you are weighting the bow. Your left blade
should be in the water and ready to sweep.

 
 

5. You should be looking
at the stern and the over your right shoulder (always
lead with your body. Hard to do? Get my Strokes and Concepts
DVD or book and learn it!)

 
 

6. As your stern lifts
up because your bow is digging into the wave, quickly
transfer your boat from the right to left edge. This motion
will cause the bow to pop out of the water, and since
your stern is already up in the air, the end result will
be that your entire boat will be aerial.

 
 

7. Keep your weight forward
as you do a hard forward sweep to throw your bow up in
the air and upstream.

 
 

8. Keep your weight forward
as your bow lands in a front surf, flatten the boat out
if you want to surf, keep the edge dropped if you want
another end after the backstab.
 

 
 

9. Do a hard stroke on
the right side to assure you stay on the wave.
 

This is a little simplistic but if you
are doing air blunts you will find the necessary ingredients
to get your aerial backstab here.

Good luck with it, and see you one the
river!

EJ