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How do i start hitting rails?

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DC_Steeze
Posts: 185 - Karma: 114
So i pretty much decided i wanted to do park this season and now that the east coast is finally cold enough for snow making im ready to go. So ive never really kid park features before and was wondering what peoples advice is on the best way to get started. Like should i star on boxes or rails? Should i just choose one rail and start hitting it over and over? Also so far ive been hitting boxes but whenever i turn the 90 degrees in order to slide down it my feet just wash out from under me. So any tips on the very basic beginnings of park? and also ive seen the sections on the trick cult and they describe the technique but not how to learn it.
Jan 8 2012 11:17PM
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TheBlueMtSkier
Posts: 909 - Karma: 42
Weight distribution is key to rails. Even though it may seem awkward at first, your weight on your front foot should be very close to the same your back foot.

Someone else gave this example of staying on a rail earlier. Think of jumping into a skateboard. You wouldn't land with most of your weight leaning back.

Just try all this shit on boxes first. After that take it too some thick rails and learn from there.
Jan 8 2012 11:22PM
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3-6-steeze
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 146
Start out by hitting boxes. when you slide them sideways make sure you have more weight on your front foot. then move on to small rails. when you're sliding rails,Pop (jump) and land 90 degrees on the rail, then make sure you look at the end of the rail until you come off. Work your way up with front 270s out and switch ups
Jan 8 2012 11:22PM
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d00d
Posts: 2686 - Karma: 7,067
a big thing that i learned when hitting boxes especially when you jump on and go 90 degrees make sure you spread your feet around shoulder length so you don't slip out.... and don't worry about falling cuz the only kids that laugh are usually douche bag snowboarders. Just get back up and hike the rail to hit it again. Good luck man you'll have fun this year.
Jan 9 2012 12:41AM
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alexg1687
Posts: 1505 - Karma: 1,581
You'll get a lot of good advice on NS but that's just it....you'll get a LOT of advice...

Keep it simple: Hit the rail with both feet at the same time, shoulder width apart. Don't think about anything else. The rest will come.
Jan 9 2012 12:56AM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
lean your feet back the tiniest bit so you don't catch an edge
Jan 9 2012 8:42AM
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,846
start small
Jan 9 2012 9:16AM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
look at the end of the rail/box no matter what. it will help you balance so much, because generally wherever you look when your sliding on a rail or box is where your gonna go.
Jan 9 2012 10:11AM
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northeast
Posts: 2119 - Karma: 254
one of the key things that helped me when learning rails, but it might not apply to everybody, but i always tried to get a little more speed than i thought i'd need. speed can be your best friend or your worst enemy. for instance, yesterday i had too little of it on the big battleship at mount snow and fell like six feet straight to my tailbone. don't hit them slow, i always found that it makes falling off a lot easier. also, ride on boxes are easy, but don't be afraid of urban rails. the first rail i learned on was an urban down bar. just have fun though!
Jan 9 2012 10:36AM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
This so much. I was scared as hell to hit rails especially single barrels but I skied with people that did so it just made me nut up and hit them. Now I prefer a single barrel over any other feature in the park.
Jan 9 2012 12:15PM
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aj_everly
Posts: 563 - Karma: 213
whatever you do dont fight the box (set it and forget it) or youll end up on your ass. look down the feature and make sure you skis are stright when you land. COMMIT thats whats worked for me
Jan 23 2012 1:52AM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
keep your shoulders square over your hips and stay even on the feature.  look at the end of the feature to clean it.  start on boxes.  have fun.
Jan 23 2012 2:14AM
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nevetsw18
Posts: 268 - Karma: 26
In the same boat as you OP, but this is golden, and practice makes perfect
Jan 23 2012 2:29AM
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Nikkekoivisto
Posts: 602 - Karma: 1,233
All these ^

And big part for me was to notice i had super sharp edges. your not gonna rail a metal with store sharp edges bro. Dull them, and your ready to go!
Jan 23 2012 4:49AM
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