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July, 2025

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Down Rails

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Wattyyy
Posts: 159 - Karma: 310
The last two days I've been working on some down rails and let's just say it didn't go in my favor... I can't seem to not slip out and the worse part is my commitment is there so after I slip out I end up fucking myself up on the rail. I'm battered, I'm bruised, and I need some tips on locking on before I huck myself down anymore down rails. Any help NSers?
9 years ago
14 1
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Criloh
Posts: 348 - Karma: 2,091
make sure that you are completely 90 degrees on the rail. Alot of times when learning down rails people are only 45 degrees on the rail because they are not commiting fully to the trick
9 years ago
0 0
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Rparr
Posts: 5786 - Karma: 49,466
Your feet may not be wide enough while sliding, that's an easy way to slip out. They should at least be shoulder width apart imo, but even that is a bit narrow
9 years ago
2 1
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Denise_Reynolds
Posts: 56 - Karma: 112
More pressure on front foot
9 years ago
5 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52783 - Karma: 175,271
Fully commit. that will save you a ton of pain on many tricks. your brain will tell you to lean back but your brain is useless. dont listen to your brain square up get on top of the rail and dont lean back.

try smaller rails first to get your confidence. low to the ground and short. even if you're falling back you can save it.then move onto bigger feature
9 years ago
0 0
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SkierFromOhio
Posts: 193 - Karma: 469
Commit
Full 90 on
Wide stance
Get low
Look/reach towards the end of the rail
9 years ago
0 0
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Gr0mo
Posts: 707 - Karma: 3,663
WattyyyThe last two days I've been working on some down rails and let's just say it didn't go in my favor... I can't seem to not slip out and the worse part is my commitment is there so after I slip out I end up fucking myself up on the rail. I'm battered, I'm bruised, and I need some tips on locking on before I huck myself down anymore down rails. Any help NSers?


Ahh you sir suffer from "i hit flat rails for way too long" syndrome.

This happened to me, i had a backyard setup with one flat tube rial. I got pretty good and could even do switchups, but when it came to down rials at my local hill i would always wash out!

The problem is you are only used to sliding at one angle with your skis, when you land flat on a down rail, your body position should be perpendicular to the rail.

When i approach, i size up the degree of the down rail and try and match it with my entire body as i land. It's a little scary at first because it seems like your landing much more forward than you are used to
9 years ago
0 0
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Pac2
Posts: 800 - Karma: 3,042
come in fast, i tend to go slow so i can have more time to prepare for a 270 out or something to that extent, but if youre just looking to straight slide it to regular. come in fast but dont pop super hard, otherwise you might disaster it and thats not what youre trying to do. I find that if the rail is sticky or i go to slow it takes a lot more control. biggest tip is to come in at an angle and pop a little, fully turn, then look at the end of the rail. other than that there is really no trick to it just go for it.
9 years ago
0 0
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itzki
Posts: 444 - Karma: 1,344
Pretty good advice in this thread

I'd also recommend- cliché as it sounds- really visualize yourself riding the rail. It works for me. Also having friends around if possible to hype you up helps me.
9 years ago
0 0
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Wattyyy
Posts: 159 - Karma: 310
Gr0moAhh you sir suffer from "i hit flat rails for way too long" syndrome.

This happened to me, i had a backyard setup with one flat tube rial. I got pretty good and could even do switchups, but when it came to down rials at my local hill i would always wash out!

The problem is you are only used to sliding at one angle with your skis, when you land flat on a down rail, your body position should be perpendicular to the rail.

When i approach, i size up the degree of the down rail and try and match it with my entire body as i land. It's a little scary at first because it seems like your landing much more forward than you are used to


Dude all I ever hit is flat rails because I wanted to learn so tricks. Now I'm thinking I can take them to a down rail and I can't even slide it normal lol thanks for the advice though it seems helpful with a few other on this thread. Now just to get out there and hit it again... My last go at it ended my day early yesterday...
9 years ago
0 0
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fries
Posts: 2979 - Karma: 7,528
Make sure your form is good in general and hit it just like a flat rail, but lean with it. The reason you are falling back is most likely because you are leaning uphill
9 years ago
0 0
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WeastcoastAlex
Posts: 161 - Karma: 639
just fucking send it bro, you obvi know what youre doing so just go for it. and remember that its much better to over shoot and all forward then smash your back on a metal rail.
keep sending
9 years ago
1 0
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jdfreeski2
Posts: 210 - Karma: 439
Speed! Also keep your feet wide. Body square looking at the end! Also Head UP and Fully 90 degrees!!
9 years ago
0 0
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Wattyyy
Posts: 159 - Karma: 310
WeastcoastAlexjust fucking send it bro, you obvi know what youre doing so just go for it. and remember that its much better to over shoot and all forward then smash your back on a metal rail.
keep sending


My dude! Thanks for that!
9 years ago
1 0
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Steezymikcreeby
Posts: 70 - Karma: 126
On down rails don't be afraid to lean a little bit forward. Make sure skis are completely 90 degrees. Good luck bro
9 years ago
0 0
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Dunderflip
Posts: 535 - Karma: 2,449
think of jumping onto rails like jumping onto a skateboard, thats literally the only thing that helped me learn anything but a flat rail. just keep your body vertically perpendicular to the rail
9 years ago
0 0
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HarmfulMilkman
Posts: 30 - Karma: 75
Everybody is saying to keep perpendicular to the rail, and having a wide stance, which is very important, but i find its all in the takeoff. You don't want to leap onto the rail, and land right at the beginning of it; you wanna kinda liftoff calmly, and let your speed take you straight over the rail at which point you land in a wide stance comfortably without wipeout.
9 years ago
0 0
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,581
Shin pressure will keep you vertical
9 years ago
0 0
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