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May, 2025

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Sliding rails and boxes

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GoonThug
Posts: 324 - Karma: 16
So ive been skiing for a while now. i mainly ski backcountry out west and such. but with recently moving to the EC i have gotten into park skiing. im pretty good on the jumps and pipe but i cant slide a rail for the life of me. are there any tips i need to know or tricks to help learn. because in whatching vids and shit it looks so efort less for some.

Thanks
17 years ago
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
if you are real good skier it will become effortless. the main thing i would say is important to do is stay centered and have your legs spread alittle more than shoulder with. when your just starting out you dont need much speed for a rail or box.
17 years ago
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pat_in_the_hat
Posts: 3019 - Karma: 2,695
is arvin your first name????
17 years ago
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GoonThug
Posts: 324 - Karma: 16
yea...why?
17 years ago
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T_orageskiier
Posts: 580 - Karma: 13
alot of people are afraid of catching an edge or falling on their ass so they don't commit the just try and slide part of the rail then fall off. If your gonna do a rail come in shoulder width stance with the rail in between your legs unless its urban lip POP and rotate the full 90 degrees when your on the rail keep your wait centered or even slightly forward with your bases flat. The entire time look at the end of the rail. Keep practicing and commit and it becomes very easy.
17 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7973 - Karma: 23,277

keep a decent amount of speed going up to the rail/box,  make sure you get your skis at a good 90 degree angle with the rail so your edges lock in, keep a centered stance with weight biased more on your front foot and keep your eyes on the end of the rail.

17 years ago
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JTL
Posts: 2275 - Karma: 338
widen your stance and stay over your skis. don't lean back too much
17 years ago
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iluvBread
Posts: 1519 - Karma: 38
when i 1st started out on rails i always remembered 3 things right before i hit the rail...
1) speed (u don't want to go too slow or else youll fall back or split the rail or just simply fall off early)
2) lean forward  (no matter what it takes lean forward or else youll be getting some nasty bruises on your thigh and trust me  after a couple of times falling backwards and getting those fat brusises youll def. be leaning forward)
3) confidence ( just tell yourself that your going to grease this rail and don't get intimidated by it)...

there's probably a whole bunch of technical stuff you should know but this is what really helped me
17 years ago
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
you will fall. idk.  just try wearing hcky pants for that 1 day and then dont worry about falling, just go for it!
17 years ago
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
stare at the end of the rail
17 years ago
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Owen.
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 13
okay so I'll give you a step by step:

- before you start your run in, make sure you're at a place that will give you enough, but not too much speed, for the rail.
- start heading towards the rail, and set it up so that the rail is in between the tips of your skiis when you're coming in (as long as its not an urban-style set-up)
- pop as much as you feel you need to get onto the rail, keep your weight centered
- when you land on the rail, make sure you land with your feet about shoulder width apart, knees bent (until you can steeze it up a little more), with the rail under your boots
- keep your eyes on the end of the rail, weight centered or even a little forward, and slide that mo-fo like none other
17 years ago
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BvK
Posts: 868 - Karma: 11
Look at the end of the rail, thats all i think about when sliding a rail, and most often times i grease it
17 years ago
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-dAvE-
Posts: 677 - Karma: 74
yea this is good.. and add look at the end of the rail and stay centered on your skis... not too muhc back seat.. and defenilty not leaning forward or else ull cut an edge
17 years ago
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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
Dude i just started doin rails this year so take it from someone like yourself.. All you have to do is find a good flat box.. Go STRAIGHT at it.. and when you land on it, make sure your legs are spread and your arms are cocked and low, like a gorilla.. Its called gorilla stance and it will save your life.. Really its all you need to know.. I would put up a nice steezy gorilla stance pic for you but im too lazy
17 years ago
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WhoWantIt
Posts: 395 - Karma: 26
Tell yourself you are a boss, not a pussy and just go for it. It's a much higher reward factor to slide a rail and clean it, than to do it and fall and know the people on the chair can't say shit because you tried it and they probably didn't. Instead of riding up to the lip and stopping or just staring at it as you ride by.
17 years ago
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PEJibber31
Posts: 358 - Karma: 11
This was what helped me the most when I first started nailing rails. Before I would always get about three quarters the way and slide off, then I focused on the end more and I was fine.
17 years ago
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three6steeze
Posts: 484 - Karma: -3
YOUR A BOSS

when your first starting make sure you pop and THEN turn 90, dont try to carve/slide it around it will not get you centered on the rail. Also come into the rail with a wide stance and put that rail/box right inbetween your legs, smack dab in the middle like your going to nut it, then just hop that 90 keep your weight on your front foot and look to the end.
17 years ago
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Twig
Posts: 6469 - Karma: 62,621
im new to rails this year but i'm picking it up pretty quick.. i got two seperate tips here that helped me get regular slides on my first day on boxes
1: Start with boxes.. For the first attempt.. go on straight then drop off.. second attempt.. on straight and then 90 switchup so you are sideways (whichever way feels right to you).. remember to lean forward.. third try.. get some speed and just go for it.. having been through the other two you will have some idea of how sliding feels and you'll stomp it no problem..
2: I found up boxes easier to start with but that might be just me..
17 years ago
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skiblandford
Posts: 1503 - Karma: 2
if you just try it will come naturaly
17 years ago
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