Gifting has never been easier
Perfect if you're short on time or are unable to deliver your gift yourself. Enter your message and select when to send it.
Short answer: Mark the centre of the trick ski with electrical tape. Put your foot in the front boot to find where your ankle bone sits, then set the boot so the ankle bone is on that centre line or just marginally forward of it. Mount the rear toe plate as close behind the front boot as possible, with your back foot centred across the ski or slightly toward the toe side. Hand-tighten everything, stand on it to check comfort, then peel the plate's adhesive backing and press it down.
Les Walters runs through the whole mount below — front binding and rear toe plate, on the bench, start to finish. The written steps follow underneath.
Les Walters mounts a front boot and rear toe plate on a trick ski. 3 min 43 sec.
What you'll need
- Your trick ski — not sure of your size? Use the trick ski size calculator
- Front binding (boot)
- Rear toe plate
- Mounting screws
- Electrical tape or masking tape
- Tape measure
- Screwdriver
- A beach towel or similar to stand the ski on
The tape is only there to mark the centre of the ski. As Les puts it, that mark is the reference for where the front boot goes — and everything flows on from there.
Step-by-step: mounting a trick ski
Step 1 — Find the centre and mark it
Find the midpoint of the ski and mark it with a strip of tape. That's your centre line.
You need it because, for a beginner tricker, the ankle bone wants to be basically at that line or just marginally forward — as close to the line as practical.
Step 2 — Position the front boot
Put your foot in the boot to work out where your ankle bone actually sits. Remember that position, line it up against the centre line, put the boot down on the ski and look for a matching hole.
That's your front boot location for starting out.
Step 3 — Set the rear toe plate
The video shows a left-foot-forward skier, meaning the right foot is at the back.
Position the plate so your back foot is centred across the ski, or slightly closer to your toe side. Les is explicit that this pays off down the track as your tricking progresses. Line the holes up with the plate.
Step 4 — Screws in, hand-tight
Put the screws in and hand-tighten, making sure everything is in the right location. Nothing is final yet.
Step 5 — Stand on it
Put the ski down on the ground — a beach towel works — and stick your feet in the boots. Check it's comfortable for you.
Step 6 — Final position for the rear toe plate
The rear toe plate wants to be as close to the front boot as possible. With your foot in it, your toes should be closer to the edge of the ski than your heel is to the other edge. Again, the benefit becomes more obvious as your tricking progresses.
Get the screws in through the plate, hand-tightening first.
Don't use a screw gun. Les's words: always hand-tighten first, don't use your screw gun, don't be lazy. Stripped inserts are one of the repair jobs we see on the bench, and they're avoidable.
Step 7 — Stick the plate down
Check it once more for positioning and comfort. Trick ski toe plates have a self-adhesive underneath — once you're happy with the final position, peel the protective paper off the back and press the plate down onto the ski. It's then semi-permanently affixed and ready to use.
Trick ski setup FAQs
Where should the front boot sit on a trick ski?
For a beginner tricker, set it so your ankle bone is basically on the ski's centre line, or just marginally forward of it — as close to that line as practical. You find where your ankle bone sits by putting your foot in the boot before you mount anything.
How far back should the rear toe plate go?
As close to the front boot as possible. Your back foot should be centred across the ski, or slightly toward the toe side, with your toes closer to the ski's edge than your heel is to the opposite edge.
Can I set a trick ski up right-foot-forward?
Yes. The video demonstrates a left-foot-forward setup with the right foot at the back, and the setup mirrors for the opposite stance. Trick ski rear toe plates are made with inserts that allow the ski to be mounted to suit either left or right foot forward skiers.
Do trick skis have a fin?
No — trick skis run without fins. That's part of why they're so manoeuvrable and agile, and part of why they have a steeper learning curve than a slalom ski.
Is the rear toe plate screwed on or glued on?
Both. It's screwed through the plate into the ski's inserts, and it also has a self-adhesive backing underneath. Leave the adhesive paper on until you've settled on the final position, then peel and press it down.
Should I use a power screwdriver?
No. Hand-tighten first — a screw gun is how inserts get stripped.
What size trick ski do I need?
Trick skis come in three sizes and are matched to rider weight: 41" (102.5 cm) up to 59 kg, 42" (105 cm) for 60–74 kg, and 43" (107.5 cm) for 75 kg and up. If you're between sizes, go up rather than down. Work it out on the trick ski size calculator.
Related guides
- Trick ski size calculator
- How to set up your slalom ski
- How to put your bindings on properly
- How to get up on two water skis for the first time — Learning with Les
- How to shorten your ski or wakeboard rope
Shop the gear
About this guide. Written from the video demonstration by Les Walters and produced by Waterskiers World — Australia's dedicated towed water sports retailer, family-run for over 20 years from our Brisbane store and online. Not sure about your setup? Talk to our team — we ride this gear.