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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Tell me how much I suck

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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
So, I am opening myself up to a world of hurt here probably, but I would love it if you guys could give me some tips on what I am doing wrong on my rail technique here. Im not really sure which forum this belongs in, but the build-a-jib one is awful slow, and it doesn't seem to fit anything else. I always seem to be way too upright, but when I try to land with my feet wider apart, all my shit falls apart. Id prefer it if you could keep the criticism constructive. +K to all helpful hints! I also managed to slam my face into my rail in this video a couple times, so that adds some humor to the mix. Thanks alot guys!


12 years ago
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Mainah
Posts: 730 - Karma: 1,115
1) definitely put the rail closer to the jump.
2) commit to the 90 on more with your upper body instead of just your hips and legs
3) try coming off switch when learning instead of forcing it back forward that will be easier once you can slide better and use your edges to do that
4) widen your stance a little bit
5) bend your knees and relax a little
6) get your weight over your front foot more. When I learned, I was told to look at the end of the rail until you come off.

hope that helps
12 years ago
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Splice.
Posts: 1381 - Karma: -192
At least your being honest about this. It takes some guts to do that.
12 years ago
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LittleGiurk
Posts: 88 - Karma: 110
*front side... not trying to be a dick, just hate when people say they can pretzel when its just 90 on one way 270 out the other.
12 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
just weight your front foot...that's it! You're thinking you'll catch and fall forward, but you won't. You are almost baseball sliding out every try. Also..I mean this in a positive, constructive way...stop being a pussy! You're movements look incredibly timid and scared, thus the leaning back, hesitation to land switch, etc. You're sliding a pvc pipe a foot off the ground, on soft grass, with a tarp...you are NOT going to hurt yourself! You could pop off the lip, spin as hard as yu can, land totally wrong on the rail, have a ridiculous Joe Pesci in Home Alone pratfall, and be totally 100% fine! Go try that, fall, see it doesn't hurt, than let the fear thing go to bed.

Also, let go of the gear shit. I know you've grown up a traditional skier who probably agonizes over every little top sheet chip or base gouge, but if you're serious about skiing park, you need to let that shit totally go.

Also, coming on NS and claiming being an instructor and telling everyone how great a skier you are and what a good jumper you are not only shows a lack of humility, but a disconnect from reality. Ease off that shit. You're tendency to lean back, even upon landing, tells a different story.

Just practice a lot. There are literally only maybe 3 "tips" you can get that are worthwhile, the rest is on you to apply them and build confidence and muscle memory. Straight sliding a rail isn't complicated or rocket science, just do it over and over again!
12 years ago
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1773 - Karma: 2,969
Put that rail way closer to the lip and build a longer rail. You seem to be leaning back with your feet a bit too close together. Think of it like running up and jumping on a skateboard, weight pretty close to center maybe a tiny bit more on the back foot, feet totally sideways and about shoulder width apart or a little wider. Keep practicing!
12 years ago
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coreyroy
Posts: 144 - Karma: 180
practice my friend, practice. id make the gap smaller because it deff seems that youre struggling for speed. And remember once winter comes around it will be much easier on snow than a make-shit dry slope
12 years ago
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 6004 - Karma: 3,696
Lots of good advice here. KeeP practicing.

Most importantly don't be a tard. Why are you listing the camera you filmed on and your skis brand? Do they sponsor you? didn't think so.
12 years ago
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JWoods
Posts: 2369 - Karma: 2,635
It would be easier if you were going faster too
12 years ago
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
One tip that really help is too be a lot lower, lowers your center of gravity and makes it easier to stay on that rail all the way to the end
12 years ago
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,683
Every time I see this thread title it makes me mad. You're fine, progress at your own level
12 years ago
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Benson.
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 3,787
10/10. Your primary motivation should be having fun, not caring what others think of your tricking ability.

But, since you want advice, commit more to the 90 turn and move the rail closer to the lip. Both have been said already, I'm just reiterating for emphasis.
12 years ago
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Titus69
Posts: 9332 - Karma: 17,963
try making a wider rail maybe to be comfortable with a wide stance
get snow from an ice arena for speed and its a bit more realistic keep practicing and youll get better and better idk how long youve been park skiing but dont take it to serious just have with it
12 years ago
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schism
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 389
I see that you slide off the rail at times.

Try and keep your eyes on the end of the rail and slide to it. Then pop off the rail.

I like how you have the rail far from the ramp, means you to commit, but bring it closer if you want it to be easier to get on it.

Otherwise you're doing great dude!
12 years ago
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SamtheEagle
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 713
you suck
12 years ago
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JDUBSki22
Posts: 173 - Karma: 175
I think your doing good man. Just try and land switch at the end of the rail that will help with committing to the 90* . then step to a back 2 once you feel the edge ya know? keep it up dogg!
12 years ago
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000000000000
Posts: 843 - Karma: 1,552
Lots more speed, and bend those damn knees!
12 years ago
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
Id say I am not exactly lacking humility or a disconnect from reality, when I really am an instructor. My park skills are still weak sure, but I can ski anything you can throw at me outside of the park. I never /claimed to be a park instructor. Its also hardly a claim when the first picture I have ever uploaded to NS is me in my instructors jacket.

Click for larger image

Everything else you said was great help though. Thanks.

Hemlockjibbber8, The reason I list the camera is a holdover from some of my other videos (non-skiing), I would get people asking what I shot the video with so I just started including it at the end.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread, I got way more responses than I ever figured I would!
12 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
Brother...hilarious. My point was that you being an instructor means next to nothing, and you claiming that like a merit badge just isn't impressive. You literally called yourself something like an "extremely good skier", I'm paraphrasing, but that's the arrogant part I was referring to. Like, for real? You just posted a pic of you in a ski school jacket? C'mon, guy.
12 years ago
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homedinger
Posts: 70 - Karma: 255
I guess I've seen the goodside of NS today.
12 years ago
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rasta_bry29
Posts: 30 - Karma: 570
Dude you just need to either lower the poles or even get rid of them, and you will need to make a steeper run in cause you arent getting enough speed, you have the right idea just dont boner so hard when you get on the rail, you have to relax a bit more and bend your knees, but keep workin at it man, the more practice the better you will get
12 years ago
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TripleBlack
Posts: 87 - Karma: 73
A good trick for learning rails is to focus on landing on the rail as "quietly" as possible (as in not making noise when your skis hit the rail). To do this you will have to absorb the rail a bit with your legs when you land on it.

If you can smoothly put your skis on the rail without any impact, you will easily be able get on the rail with a well-balanced stance (knees bent, feet shoulder/hip width apart).

Also, it looks like you're looking at your feet a lot of the time - you should be looking at the end of the rail even before you jump onto it.


12 years ago
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AJ.S
Posts: 35 - Karma: 167
Try not to lean back so much... Also with terf it would definitly help to move the rail closer to the jib
12 years ago
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mafs
Posts: 47 - Karma: 43
You're doing great man. I started skiing at the start of this year and went straight to the rails because I felt that it was necessary. I found the main things you want to think about going into rails is:

-Make sure you get that full 90 degrees onto the rail (I know it's hard to commit!)

-Lean forwards a bit more (it feels weird at first, but it is a lot more natural than it feels)

-This might be a problem for you, but try to get more speed into the rail. It's a lot easier to get that speed when there is snow on the ground but rails are so much easier and you will look cleaner if you have a bit more speed



12 years ago
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munpro
Posts: 585 - Karma: 636
Can't think of any advice on the skiing that hasn't been said. But don't put K2 at the end of your credits. You're not sponsored by them so it just kinda sends the wrong message. Also if this is like your first year or so getting into skiing, and u just jumped right into park, Don't. You don't neccessarily need to join a race or mogul team, but definitely get really comfortable in all aspects of skiing before jumping into the park. It's hard to judge on a dryslope but you just don't look too comfortable on skis. And that is the biggest problem towards progression in young jib kids nowadays. Best of luck bud.
12 years ago
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DaneKirk
Posts: 366 - Karma: 2,056
i like your pool.
12 years ago
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