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Help a newbie out!

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Slush
Posts: 1905 - Karma: 12,901
Hello! I'm a newbie to Freeskiing, just started at the end of last season. I've been having some problems :/

So I got this summer setup with a 15 foot rail, and i'm kinda hating rails. I cannot lock onto the rail some days and get extremely frustrated at myself, I have been trying to practice every day and recently tried a switch-up, and failed multiple times. I know to stay low an shit, but it's not helping.

I stay out on my setup for hours trying to get better, but it's hard for me to focus on the fun of skiing when I don't find it. I know being good isn't what freeskiing is all about, but I don't want to suck!

Anyone else feel this way when they were a newbie? Please, if you've got any tips for locking on to rails, or doing switch-ups, or ANYTHING, please help!
Aug 24 2013 10:03PM
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Cleapster
Posts: 622 - Karma: 1,402
Well before I went for switchups I would want to be able to slide the whole thing every time so focus on that first. But for switchups scissor a little and make sure to get a good pop and keep lokking at the end of the rail.
Aug 24 2013 10:06PM
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Stpat98
Posts: 102 - Karma: 215
Stick with it. I always find it easier to progress in the winter, when you can pick up more speed and are pressured by your friends to try new things.
Aug 24 2013 10:07PM
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Slush
Posts: 1905 - Karma: 12,901
Uhm, can you explain the whole scissor thing a bit more?
Aug 24 2013 10:16PM
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TopherRitz
Posts: 239 - Karma: 1,322
Try making the rail wider. Everything is easier on a wider rail/box. Then 50/50 it to get used to sliding a feature, much easier to start sliding head on than sideways. Practice tho! I know its hard i was in the same boat just a few months ago, but it will come eventually and its real fun once you get it! Good luck!
Aug 24 2013 10:28PM
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casey_cope
Posts: 675 - Karma: 3,398
what i do to lock on the rails or at least grease them is i look at the end of the rail or past that. if that doesnt work take a video of yourself and look at what your doing wrong
Aug 25 2013 12:35AM
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Amarino
Posts: 218 - Karma: 2,417
Keep you eyes locked on the end of the rail, Promise you slide the whole rail and the technique will help you when you switch up or hit multiple kink rails.
Aug 25 2013 1:22AM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
look and lean towards the end of the rail.

post a vid of yourself sliding it straight, then we can better critique you.
Aug 25 2013 1:44AM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,627
Rails and boxes are actually easier if you have a bit of speed. It's far harder to balance when you're going slowly. I know it's scary, and you'll fall quite a lot, but you should get it quite soon.

I know it's been suggested, but make the rail wider.
Aug 25 2013 6:24AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7098 - Karma: 17,031
Yeah start on a box if if can. You need to get te feel and balance of sliding down first. Really moving on from a box to a rail is really easy once you have the tech down, but it will take you much longer of you try to learn on a rail. You can certainly do it but it will take longer and be more frustrating. Try to get a box an learn on that.
Aug 25 2013 7:29AM
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
I am fairly new to rails too, and I find that even when I nail the rail completely with decent form, I never feel 'locked in' and that is just due to the nature of what you are doing. You are sliding across something 3 inches wide at speed on skis its not like how you can lock in a good turn on snow, its always going to feel a little sketchy.
Aug 25 2013 9:14AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7098 - Karma: 17,031
^ no once you get your technique down you feel feel as confident sliding a rail as you do laying a turn down. It's all about getting the technique though just like any other aspect of skiing. Like turns start out on easy stuff like a box. You would not start learning to carve on a steep icy black run. You start on a mellow green. Same with rails. Start with a wide box and when you have that down move on to narrow boxes and eventually rails.
Aug 25 2013 9:21AM
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Slush
Posts: 1905 - Karma: 12,901
Thanks for all the advice! I'll see if I can post a video later
Aug 25 2013 4:14PM
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elm.
Posts: 1474 - Karma: 13,337
I also made a dryslope this year to practice rails. I was crap at rails before the dryslope. I started by learning lip slides both right and left, then I went to 270's off, and now i'm practicing switch ups with 270's off. It depends on your rail and how sloped it is downwards. I found it almost impossible to do a switchup on a flat rail because i don't have enough speed on my dry slope. The problem may be your rail slope or what your using as a rail.
Aug 25 2013 11:48PM
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JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 460
Take that rail and set it aside for a while. Build a 15 foot box about 1ft+ wide and practice on that. Learn to always look at the END of the rail and never your feet or directly in front of your feet. Keep low, feet shoulder width apart, bend your knees, and keep your feet completely parallel. And practice, a lot.
Aug 27 2013 3:05AM
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Japaneezy
Posts: 1039 - Karma: 4,267
I know that rails can be frustrating in the beginning but you'll get it with time, no worries.
Aug 27 2013 4:31AM
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@nonymous
Posts: 521 - Karma: 1,364
When approaching the rail, you want to be balanced. If you want to do things like single switch ups and slides, then jump right next to the rail, so you don't slide off the side (especially on down rails). When switching up or spinning off, it is important to look over your shoulder to start with, or you won't spin the whole way around. Accompany this with the scissor technique. Flicking the toe of your front foot up for frontside spins, and pressing the toe down for backside spins

Rails take heaps of practise, and I am yet to master them myself...
Aug 27 2013 5:43AM
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East_ski
Posts: 67 - Karma: 233
once you get past the fear factor you will have the courage to try new tricks.
Sep 8 2013 6:10PM
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Wolfgang.
Posts: 807 - Karma: 866
Dude, time is what you need! Just keep givin'er. Like when I started out, day in day out I sucked major dick. I broke so many poles out of frustration. But after a while it all starts paying off! Stay dedicated.
Sep 8 2013 8:08PM
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bnewbs6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,462
Don't be too hard on yourself. Concerned you're not having fun it gets much harder. Just laugh things off. Bring some friends to shred it with you and progress together.

Oh and my last name is Newby. Somewhat relevant.
Sep 8 2013 9:06PM
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Slush
Posts: 1905 - Karma: 12,901
Thanks for the info, I just wanted to learn some tricks on a rail so I didn't look stupid just doing nothing, and I thought a switch up would be easier, but I gess 270 would be a better first trick
Sep 8 2013 9:22PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
wow OP, ive been "freeskiing" for like 4 years and I can't lock onto rails 50% of the time

just take it easy and have fun
Sep 8 2013 9:22PM
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WU-sconsin
Posts: 565 - Karma: 1,301
I think you should make sure you can slide the whole rail both natural and unatural sidel that helped me. And don't slow down speed helps out.
Sep 8 2013 11:11PM
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