I destroyed the nose of my ski on a backflip to sandbar. The front rail was so mangled I just cut it off also. I wanted to make a surf bomber strong repair also. I thought it was easier to run the cloth from top to bottom without the rail there, similiar to x2addict's build thread.
I did a quickie glass job in/out so I could ride the surf next day. I thought it might also be a nice mod for the surf.
It makes the nose ride looser when you are surfing a wave in. It is kind of hard to describe but I can slide the nose more while carving a wave now. The nose of the ski is looser in the water. Also you can drive the nose deeper before pearling. I can pull the nose out of a pearl easier also, but at times it seems to pearl easier. Finally, it is easier to pull out of a nose stab or slightly under rotated backie now. Drawback is more spray over the bow.
I have been thinking about a deflector or something to stop this.