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July, 2025

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Rail Help

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dyer
Posts: 619 - Karma: 965
Im kinda new to park skiing and I'm having so much trouble on just sliding the whole rail. I always come off early about halfway through the rail. I slide out and land on my skis every time but want to learn how to slide em without popin off early. Thanks
10 years ago
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,991
dyerIm kinda new to park skiing and I'm having so much trouble on just sliding the whole rail. I always come off early about halfway through the rail. I slide out and land on my skis every time but want to learn how to slide em without popin off early. Thanks


Ar you hitting the rail with the rail inbetween your legs? If you are, try a balance board.
10 years ago
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dyer
Posts: 619 - Karma: 965
icedAr you hitting the rail with the rail inbetween your legs? If you are, try a balance board.


I can do that with the rail inbetween my legs but i always fall off when i try it urban style.
10 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13239 - Karma: 20,496
Its because you are not popping correctly. At the lip of the jump on the rail, have your shoulders in line with the rail while extending your knees. When you leave the jump completly, then pivot your hips and skis 90 degrees.

Just remember to delay your 90o. What happens is you alter your trajectory into the rail with a slight off angle that directs you off the rail. Try to compensate your in run to correct the vector.
10 years ago
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dyer
Posts: 619 - Karma: 965
freestyler540Its because you are not popping correctly. At the lip of the jump on the rail, have your shoulders in line with the rail while extending your knees. When you leave the jump completly, then pivot your hips and skis 90 degrees.

Just remember to delay your 90o. What happens is you alter your trajectory into the rail with a slight off angle that directs you off the rail. Try to compensate your in run to correct the vector.


So i need to have more of a straighter inrun and turn a full 90 once im in the air and not halfway on the lip?
10 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13239 - Karma: 20,496
dyerSo i need to have more of a straighter inrun and turn a full 90 once im in the air and not halfway on the lip?

Spot on man. Patience and timing is key, the longer you wait for the 90 in the air, the better. But not too long, you dont want to nut it either.
10 years ago
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,890
Dont worry when you get them it will become super easy. Going fast helps (maybe start learning slow until you are uncomfortable) and looking at the end of rail to lock on. When you jump on the rail its natural for people to jump over it because they dont fully commit, try to drop this habit and angle your front skis tips up when you make contact. Be perpendicular to the rail when you slide it and have your bindings center mounted. Additionally, try watching some of jake mullers videos, they help a lot in my opinion http://skitutorials.com/index.php/project/how-grind-on-skis/
10 years ago
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,200
I'm pretty new to rails too, what helped me a lot while learning is making sure the rail is centered under your feet, having your skis shoulder width apart and making sure you are completely side ways, also when going urban on make sure you look at the end of the rail and just focus on a big pop and getting completely sideways the actual sliding of the rail will come naturally, I also find it easier to learn rails urban on , I originally started by straddling them and was always intimidated at the thought of going urban on but all it takes is one time being fully committed and now I find it easier to slide the whole rail when going urban on
10 years ago
2 0
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mike759
Posts: 887 - Karma: 1,990
I had the same problem and just fixed it the other day. You have to crouch down for more balance and get a little bit more speed so that you have enough to finish
10 years ago
2 0
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e~b
Posts: 861 - Karma: 2,737
mike759I had the same problem and just fixed it the other day. You have to crouch down for more balance and get a little bit more speed so that you have enough to finish


this might be a temporary fix, but when you go to do more advanced tricks such as k feds and shit, you're gonna want to go slower. what freestyler540 said is spot on and that's gonna help you slide the rail as fast or slow as you want
10 years ago
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BianKarrett
Posts: 360 - Karma: 2,111
What I see a lot of people who are just learning rails doing is not turning the full 90 degrees on the rail. They only turn like 45 which will make you fall off immediately. Definitely try going on with more speed and stare down to the end of the rail. Also your approach is key, you want to be close to the rail but not so close that your tips will hit when you try to spin on. But if you're too far out you'll just be gapping over the rail. Hopefully that helps!
10 years ago
2 0
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fries
Posts: 2979 - Karma: 7,528
Straight approach, pop and turn 90°, then land on the rail with your knees bent looking towards the end of the rail
10 years ago
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,999
KianBarrettWhat I see a lot of people who are just learning rails doing is not turning the full 90 degrees on the rail. They only turn like 45 which will make you fall off immediately. Definitely try going on with more speed and stare down to the end of the rail. Also your approach is key, you want to be close to the rail but not so close that your tips will hit when you try to spin on. But if you're too far out you'll just be gapping over the rail. Hopefully that helps!


I used to be this kid last season who would go 45 onto a box and spin to 90 but I found myself not being able to lock the box or rail and always land switch. It turned out to be a commitment issue. I thought last season that it was just that I can't spin or pop at all but this season I have a lot more confidence and I find myself over rotating the 90 from time to time lol. Only think I can't do it hit rails with a tiny kicker that is like 4 to 6 inches below the rail. I caught my tips and just "nutted" the rail my first 10 hits and then i caught my edge on the front of the rail and I called it a night. Any tips on getting onto these things if you have not much speed or kicker to assist in popping?
10 years ago
1 0
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,200
The.FishI used to be this kid last season who would go 45 onto a box and spin to 90 but I found myself not being able to lock the box or rail and always land switch. It turned out to be a commitment issue. I thought last season that it was just that I can't spin or pop at all but this season I have a lot more confidence and I find myself over rotating the 90 from time to time lol. Only think I can't do it hit rails with a tiny kicker that is like 4 to 6 inches below the rail. I caught my tips and just "nutted" the rail my first 10 hits and then i caught my edge on the front of the rail and I called it a night. Any tips on getting onto these things if you have not much speed or kicker to assist in popping?

Are you going urban on or are you straddling it? For both a good solid pop is key as well as being 100% committed the first down rail I hit, I wasn't full committed and fell right off on my side, the second time it hit it I slid the whole thing with ease the onky thing I did differently between the two tries was I committed more the second time
10 years ago
0 0
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,890
The.FishI used to be this kid last season who would go 45 onto a box and spin to 90 but I found myself not being able to lock the box or rail and always land switch. It turned out to be a commitment issue. I thought last season that it was just that I can't spin or pop at all but this season I have a lot more confidence and I find myself over rotating the 90 from time to time lol. Only think I can't do it hit rails with a tiny kicker that is like 4 to 6 inches below the rail. I caught my tips and just "nutted" the rail my first 10 hits and then i caught my edge on the front of the rail and I called it a night. Any tips on getting onto these things if you have not much speed or kicker to assist in popping?


Some of the rails that have a ridiculously small jump on are more snowboard rails. They can ollie easier. Really focusing on bending your knees, popping your whole body and then rotating 90 might help. Going faster if it is a down rail might also make it easier to get your tips above the rail. You can also start by just jumping over the rail a couple times from the jump on to not be scared
10 years ago
4 0
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*DOG
Posts: 242 - Karma: 471
yeah my biggest problem learning rails was probably having a not good pop and not turning 90 onto it i would slide it kinda diagonally. Im still not amazing but it helped alot.
10 years ago
1 0
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asdfpijeoafsdsk
Posts: 29 - Karma: 118
Is the rail a ride on? If it is not, people tend to go at the rail across at an angle. Go straight at the rail just like a ride on, and hop over.
10 years ago
1 0
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22739 - Karma: 77,027
schjflooking towards the end of the rail


This should read "Stare at the end of the rail like your life depended on it."

It can correct a lot of your body position if you just lock your eyes onto the very end. Even if you feel yourself slipping off the side, stare that fucker down and know its your only exit point.

Loads of other good pointers here too - but really staring at the end of the rail does a ton.
10 years ago
4 0
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,999
dissregard all that advice. Fractured my wrist today
10 years ago
0 0
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