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June, 2025

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How long did it take you to hit rails?

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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
Its my first year trying park and i can hit boxes and jumps, but for whatever reason i cant hit rails. Maybe its a mental thing idk. How long did it take you guys to learn to successfully hit rails?
9 years ago
150 13
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morse
Posts: 121 - Karma: 226
how old are you?
9 years ago
9 0
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skitheleast
Posts: 105 - Karma: 143
I consider my progression in park slow. I didn't hit rails until the end of my second year. But I have friends who have learned switch ups and 2 outs after of couple weeks of skiing
9 years ago
10 0
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,199
This is my second year skiing park, and I just started hitting rails this year, I had the biggest issue with the whole "metal part of a rail vs plastic on a box " and every time I would go up to them I would pussy out, it was bad no matter what I tried I couldn't do them , until the first day this year, after watching videos all summer and thinking my way through it 1000 times I just committed and went for it once, one time on a flat bar is all it took for me, now I can hit almost every rail in the park no problem,

Basically op, commit one time and you will get rid of your fear, and as long as you can comfortably slide boxes sideways you won't fall, actually imo rails are easier than boxes
9 years ago
22 0
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cb27.
Posts: 128 - Karma: 629
If you can hit a box you can hit a rail
9 years ago
30 1
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Pachankz
Posts: 729 - Karma: 837
Start slowly approaching a box , keep your feet flat and lean foward a touch , put your shoulder downhill, don't lean back and you should be good . I was slayin rails first try , 270 on first try , a lot is mental . If you have confidence you will get it . If your timid you'll get spanked .
9 years ago
1 1
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Mr.noodle
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 4,655
after skiing for 12 years I started skiing park, my first year of park I learned spins up to 540 and pretty much every box, I just had a mental block against rails. Then I realized I was a pussy and the first day of the next season I just started hitting rails and could hit a dfd by the end of the day. By the end of that season I could super Ellen, sw 2 on and kfed and both way 4 out.
9 years ago
9 0
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musclehamster
Posts: 252 - Karma: 1,257
ive been trying to hit rails since vietnam. not a whole lot of improvement
9 years ago
9 1
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fries
Posts: 2979 - Karma: 7,527
Its my 3rd season skiing park and I got them the summer after my first season at hood.
Its just a mental thing. Worst case is you bruise your hip a little bit. Just look around and use the information in some of the other threads on this site and you'll find some great tips.


Good luck!!
9 years ago
1 0
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270on420out
Posts: 7525 - Karma: 51,354
Took me 4-5 years to learn how to slide properly. Didn't really start doing rail tricks until this season
9 years ago
3 0
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-Robert
Posts: 2000 - Karma: 1,492
Still don't do rails after 5ish years haha. Did like 3 low flat bars about 2 or 3 years ago but that's it. Boxes are where it's at! Jumps are more fun anyway
9 years ago
2 3
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,673
THEDIRTYBUBBLETook me 4-5 years to learn how to slide properly. Didn't really start doing rail tricks until this season


Yup this pretty much
9 years ago
3 1
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,029
I could hit tubes a few weeks into my first season and towards the end could front and blind 2 off small rails. Just started getting the hang of down rails this season but I haven't spun out of a rail all season. Yay for regression lol.
9 years ago
0 0
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
PachankzStart slowly approaching a box


Going slow makes it so much harder to balance and you're more likely to come off early. Also, this thread is about rails.
9 years ago
10 0
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elm.
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 13,606
depends how long the rail is but usually a few seconds
9 years ago
6 0
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,997
2nd season in park and I learned rails opening day cause I was salty that I never tried them the year before. I did break my arm on the 4th day of the season from an urban on down rail but the rail was sticky and I wasnt prepared for that.
9 years ago
0 0
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Ricky420
Posts: 162 - Karma: 615
cb27.If you can hit a box you can hit a rail


This ^ is all you need to know
9 years ago
0 0
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Pac2
Posts: 800 - Karma: 3,042
the second day i was on skiing i built a little rail in by back yard using the zero rail i have for skateboarding and i got used to that and just gradually kept progressing. Just start small, once you get the hang of it its easy in fact id say i prefer rails over boxes.
9 years ago
0 0
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Gavin_Newcomer
Posts: 102 - Karma: 265
It's my first year of park as well and honestly the thing I've learned is its all in your head sliding a rail is easy it's just the mentality of committing just turn and you'll get it if you commit
9 years ago
0 0
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Ian_Fitz
Posts: 826 - Karma: 6,509
MinggI could hit tubes a few weeks into my first season and towards the end could front and blind 2 off small rails. Just started getting the hang of down rails this season but I haven't spun out of a rail all season. Yay for regression lol.


Try learning swaps and 2s on! get sendyy!!? I was trying to throw fours on before i could back 2 off good lol
9 years ago
0 3
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CarsonDaSkier
Posts: 146 - Karma: 1,403
Its probs a mental thing, its almost easier to start off on down rails, but they are pretty scary at first
9 years ago
0 0
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,029
EbolaTry learning swaps and 2s on! get sendyy!!? I was trying to throw fours on before i could back 2 off good lol


Nah, I'm not good enough
9 years ago
0 0
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,029
CarsonDaSkierIts probs a mental thing, its almost easier to start off on down rails, but they are pretty scary at first


Truuuu the thing I've found about down rails, is theres like more room for error I guess you could say. You have to hit flat rails faster cause you're gonna slow down on them which was intimidating for me, idk about other people. But down rails you can come in at a pretty easy speed and still stay on the whole way. Also jumping up/urban on to a flat rail is a lot sketchier than urban on to a down rail in my opinion. Like most times down rails you can just ride onto/barely pop onto even though they look like you have to pop a lot. It's not as bad as it looks.

The part I was most scared of for down rails was slipping out, but as long as you come in from the side and keep your shoulders parallel to the rail, you're fine. It's definitely all mental as everyone else has been saying.
9 years ago
0 0
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Aharrelson358
Posts: 356 - Karma: 478
I really struggle getting on the any form of urban on rail. It's all mental but I haven't slid anything other than ride on. Ride on rails are just as easy as any box if not easier.
9 years ago
0 0
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Huck_Fin
Posts: 355 - Karma: 968
cb27.If you can hit a box you can hit a rail


If you can dodge a ball you can dodge a wrench.
9 years ago
9 0
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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,919
It took me about 3 months, man up and do it
9 years ago
1 0
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Gryllz
Posts: 483 - Karma: 1,205
.otto.It took me about 3 months, man up and do it


word to this within the first season of park I could hit just about every rail consistently
9 years ago
0 0
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.otto.
Posts: 3495 - Karma: 12,919
DROPCLIFFNOTBOMBword to this within the first season of park I could hit just about every rail consistently


seriously, i know kids who started park skiing just a year and a half ago and can already 4 on, 2on pretz 2 lip 2, 3 swap on a dfd and more.. practice and balls are key.. its not that hard
9 years ago
1 0
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Mikael13
Posts: 40 - Karma: 60
Try tubes imo they are easier then boxes
9 years ago
0 0
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BianKarrett
Posts: 360 - Karma: 2,110
Rails are way easier than boxes because you can grip them
9 years ago
2 0
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skiznuts
Posts: 462 - Karma: 785
It took me less than a year. If you can hit a pipe of some sort, then find a short, small rail and hit it. It's the same thing.
9 years ago
0 0
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skiznuts
Posts: 462 - Karma: 785
.otto.seriously, i know kids who started park skiing just a year and a half ago and can already 4 on, 2on pretz 2 lip 2, 3 swap on a dfd and more.. practice and balls are key.. its not that hard


The real question is, can they lip on blind two? (If the answer is yes, reply with a tru)
9 years ago
0 0
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mike759
Posts: 887 - Karma: 1,989
a long time
9 years ago
0 0
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gperry1
Posts: 377 - Karma: 818
It took me until the middle of my second year to start hitting them properly. You just really have to remember to pop the entire 90 degrees, keep your shoulders parallel to the rail, keep your feet wide, and go relatively fast. This will all help you keep your balance wile on the rail.
9 years ago
0 0
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poonis
Posts: 255 - Karma: 1,461
I started skiing park last season and I really didn't start hitting rails until like February of last year, but now I can hit a lot of rails and do front/blind 2 outs. It really just takes that "hey I'm just gonna go hit that rail" and just hit it before you have time to think about the consequences. Also remember that speed is your friend in the park
9 years ago
0 0
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
I've been trying this park stuff for 4 years and I still suck at almost all of it (and it aint for a lack of trying). It's just never came easy to me as it has for others. I can ski CO standard double blacks without thinking twice about it but when it comes to rails I feel like a toddler who can't walk.
9 years ago
2 0
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Pac2
Posts: 800 - Karma: 3,042
took me 2 days to slide my first box and probably like 4 days before i actually slid a rail, i didnt get them good until like 1 week or so in to skiing
9 years ago
0 0
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,034
About half way into my first season (this was my second) I started to hit some rails, but really the start of this season I was the most comfortable. Down rails are easiest but scarier to hit at first. Once you can hit a rail and front 270 you can do like any rail trick imo. I did my first front 270s ending last season, now I can 4 out both ways, swap both ways, and even lip on blind 2. Starting 2s on but my season ended so its summer time. Take advantage of your summer and make a setup. I learned swaps and swaps 270 out combos and it was really helpful.
9 years ago
1 0
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BonusNo413
Posts: 342 - Karma: 2,478
Isaac.Its my first year trying park and i can hit boxes and jumps, but for whatever reason i cant hit rails. Maybe its a mental thing idk. How long did it take you guys to learn to successfully hit rails?


I'll tell you some serious advice here. When you say things like "i can't hit rails" that just adds an extra layer to your mental barrier. A huge part in overcoming the mental barrier is changing the way you speak about yourself. Language determines reality. You are YET to hit a rail. It's not that you can't.
9 years ago
0 0
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7986 - Karma: 23,372
Years. But once you start to get them down, it's very easy.
9 years ago
0 0
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Gavin_Newcomer
Posts: 102 - Karma: 265
A few days it's all about the head and commuting to everything
9 years ago
0 0
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maxstr
Posts: 1336 - Karma: 1,706
I learned rails in my backyard, I just made a really small pvc tube that was about half a foot tall an about 6 feet long. Once I got confortable on it and built up my confidence I starting hitting small rails at the mountain. Just keep taking baby steps and work your way up to larger more complexe rails. The biggest thing is to keep practicing and dont give up.
9 years ago
2 0
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BushDid9-11
Posts: 134 - Karma: 588
Cant do rails for shit cause i ski at revelstoke and they didn't have a park till this year
9 years ago
0 0
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Skates_skis
Posts: 210 - Karma: 684
I would say about a week. Try finding a down tube rail that is bigger in diameter it will be easier to lock on to it, just kind of huck yourself on to it and land 60/40 weight on the front and back ski and go reasonably fast of course jump and turn 90 degrees. If you slip out the momentum will carry you off the rail and you won't be to hurt just maybe a sore hip. Idk if this helps but from what I remember that's how Griffin Cummings taught me, hopes this helps rails are super fun.
9 years ago
0 0
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Thegratefulskier
Posts: 338 - Karma: 918
Build a Summer setup
9 years ago
0 0
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tris10radeka
Posts: 267 - Karma: 665
it was able to do boxes first try but rails took me like 3 days. as soon as you do it, and aren't scared anymore, you'll be shocked how fast you progress
9 years ago
0 0
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Colby_eubanks
Posts: 72 - Karma: 647
Took me bout a week of hitting boxes before I did my first bar
9 years ago
0 0
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413Crew
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 5,612
EbolaTry learning swaps and 2s on! get sendyy!!? I was trying to throw fours on before i could back 2 off good lol


i cant stand people that say sendy it just sounds so gay, but anyway basically i was hitting rails a week or two into my second year of park flat bars are a good starting point once you do it a handful of times you can gauge speed and run up alot more and its like nothing.
9 years ago
2 0
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