Member of the Month

theabortionator
April, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Needs advice on sliding rails and 540s

profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
Ki ora lads and lady

We have an indoor ski park here in New Zealand that my buddy and I like to go to every week 1 or 2 times on freestyle night.

(2 jumps one is about 10 foot other 15 to 20. lots of rails and boxes)

We have both been skiing most of our life and are decent downhill ski blacks etc (not super stars but pretty good) but have only started free skiing for about 2 years. It felt like we weren't getting any better for like 8 odd months (180s, sometimes and 360, sometimes slide a box or ez rail) we were happy to go on jump up tp 40 50 feet at the mt but had no tricks in the bag lol

so the other week we went and everything sorta just clicked we both got 6 or so 3s in a row. 3s with grabs (both never done that b4) slid a couple down rails and a cannon rails etc super exciting stuff we are pretty much over the moon feels like all the hard work is pay off.
any way so with our rails we both found it 100x easier to slide a rail or box etc and come to to switch. when we try to slide then go back to forwards we are ither doing it really ugly or falling (normally we have our weight to fat back and will fall back)

any tips for that or any reason u think we are finding it easier to come out switch??

2nd we both started trying 5s and we can get our 3s around really easy now but even we we throw it hard we pretty much get 380 to 400 around lol

any tips from going from a 3 to a 5?

and also i noticed alot of the people there that are much better then us (not taht hard to do :P) throw most of there spins carving from 540 up. any reason there or advantage or just looking cool?














All Blacks rugby world cup champions 2015
10 years ago
26 2
profile picture
JimmyRecard
Posts: 242 - Karma: 2,552
Congrats on the new tricks man. For taking rails back to forward, drop your front heel a bit so you can dig into the rail. This grip should give you more control, and help you land forward. This is also the key to doing any switch up or front spin off a rail. Hope this helps and good luck!!
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
cakeshredshardCongrats on the new tricks man. For taking rails back to forward, drop your front heel a bit so you can dig into the rail. This grip should give you more control, and help you land forward. This is also the key to doing any switch up or front spin off a rail. Hope this helps and good luck!!


Thanks you bro really appreciate it I will 1005 try that next time

existed :D
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
To set a 540, you simply pop harder and keep looking until you complete the rotation.

I had the same problem when I first started sliding rails. I found out that I was setting the 90 on too hard, and not looking at the end of the rail all the way through.
10 years ago
4 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
THEDIRTYBUBBLETo set a 540, you simply pop harder and keep looking until you complete the rotation.

I had the same problem when I first started sliding rails. I found out that I was setting the 90 on too hard, and not looking at the end of the rail all the way through.


sounds good to me. thank you so much.

What size jump would u recommend learning 5s on? biger? smaller??

also adding a safter grab make a 5 easier or harder?
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
BungHole.
Posts: 698 - Karma: 1,422
Just ask some of the better guys. They're all nice dude. Callum taught me switch lips so maybe try him or one of his mates.

I'll be up on the 13th possibly just pm me if you're gonna be there then and I'll help with some basic stuff
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
yu.pang.12
Posts: 39 - Karma: 173
I felt the same. when you first start to slide, it's super easy to land switch, cuz you don't know how to stop the rotation. When you realize it, you start using your body to counter the rotation, then you failed a lot. Later, you feel that you should always spot the landing, so looking at the end of the rail will help a lot if you want to land forward, though ugly still.
Finally, when you get more and more comfortable, you start to use the edge of the feature, you can feel the scissor grinding, which will stop the rotation immediately. That's when sliding becomes smooth.

I'm also struggling with 5s now. Need tips on that as well.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
willie2020sounds good to me. thank you so much.

What size jump would u recommend learning 5s on? biger? smaller??

also adding a safter grab make a 5 easier or harder?


The size depends on how fast you can spin a 3. If you can huck them off rollers, then you shouldn't have a problem doing them on small jumps.

I wouldn't reccomend grabbing unless it helps you
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
BungHole.Just ask some of the better guys. They're all nice dude. Callum taught me switch lips so maybe try him or one of his mates.

I'll be up on the 13th possibly just pm me if you're gonna be there then and I'll help with some basic stuff


Cheers bro that would be great we will defs be up on the 13th will pm you :) thanks bro :)
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
yu.pang.12I felt the same. when you first start to slide, it's super easy to land switch, cuz you don't know how to stop the rotation. When you realize it, you start using your body to counter the rotation, then you failed a lot. Later, you feel that you should always spot the landing, so looking at the end of the rail will help a lot if you want to land forward, though ugly still.
Finally, when you get more and more comfortable, you start to use the edge of the feature, you can feel the scissor grinding, which will stop the rotation immediately. That's when sliding becomes smooth.

I'm also struggling with 5s now. Need tips on that as well.



thanks man that makes alot on sense excited to try it :)
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Plankton
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 6,840
willie2020All Blacks rugby world cup champions 2015


what is this
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
SkiSurveywhat is this


the only thing that matters in life

all black everything

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73564359/rugby-world-cup-all-blacks-make-history-as-first-backtoback-world-champions
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
BungHole.
Posts: 698 - Karma: 1,422
willie2020the only thing that matters in life

all black everything

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73564359/rugby-world-cup-all-blacks-make-history-as-first-backtoback-world-champions


Hahahaha I'll give you karma for that one
10 years ago
2 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
BungHole.Hahahaha I'll give you karma for that one


lol cheers brother :P
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Plankton
Posts: 3226 - Karma: 6,840
willie2020the only thing that matters in life

all black everything

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73564359/rugby-world-cup-all-blacks-make-history-as-first-backtoback-world-champions


word
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
CHORIZO
Posts: 2003 - Karma: 10,039
for the 540, spin like your gonna do a 720 but stop rotating at 540
10 years ago
1 2
profile picture
Bamjam
Posts: 200 - Karma: 129
If you can 360, you can 540. You don't really even need to rotate any more. Spot your landing for the 3, then simply turn your legs an extra 180. If you try to keep your head turned you're just gonna land blind and sketchy. Also biggest tip I can give for rails is reference points. Keep your eyes fixed on the end of the rail and your body will balance itself and get you there.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
BreakfastPenguin
Posts: 27 - Karma: -76
To do a 540 spin I just do a 360 and then a 180 when I can see the knuckle of the jump. That way I can keep it at 360 if I don't have enough air time. Plus the stall in between the 360 and 180 looks so dope for a 540.
10 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Deepskier
Posts: 3269 - Karma: 4,864
CHORIZOfor the 540, spin like your gonna do a 720 but stop rotating at 540


lollll
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
BamjamIf you can 360, you can 540. You don't really even need to rotate any more. Spot your landing for the 3, then simply turn your legs an extra 180. If you try to keep your head turned you're just gonna land blind and sketchy. Also biggest tip I can give for rails is reference points. Keep your eyes fixed on the end of the rail and your body will balance itself and get you there.


cheers guys keep the advice coming i need all i can get :p

love it :)
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Lbird
Posts: 401 - Karma: 2,190
I would definitely invest in some padded shorts before learning rails
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
EClay46
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 69
willie2020the only thing that matters in life

all black everything

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73564359/rugby-world-cup-all-blacks-make-history-as-first-backtoback-world-champions


Holy shit, McCaw and carter are retiring!? Damn!

Check my posts in this thread for some 5 tips:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/816617/540---getting-frustrated

And on rails/boxes, your front foot is everything, majority of your weight should be there and it is what you will use to control your spins for the most part, especially when starting out. Angle that front ski on the edge of the box/rail to create an anchor to start your spin. You can rock the outside of your front foot up a bit to prevent catching edges
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Powerchamp
Posts: 10 - Karma: 35
I've probably seen you guys there. I ride in a dc hoodie and purple pants, hit me up if you see me. Sounds like I'm about your level, trying to nail the 540 right now too.
10 years ago
0 0
profile picture
willie2020
Posts: 40 - Karma: 84
LbirdI would definitely invest in some padded shorts before learning rails


dw my gf already thort of that at got me some last year for xmas lol
10 years ago
1 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 9:06AM