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June, 2025

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Learning rails

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ndude.k
Posts: 30 - Karma: 223
I've been doing more stuff in the park. One thing I'm still improving on is rails. I'm wondering if there is a way to improve faster and more efficiently on learning how to do rails. Have any ideas?
8 years ago
41 1
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mattybaums
Posts: 300 - Karma: 1,245
Start small and work your way up. Thats the only way!
8 years ago
5 0
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cinnabonconn
Posts: 250 - Karma: 460
i hit a tube rail that was like 20ft probably 100+ times a day when i started wanting to get good at rails. I also have a tow rope at all my hills so its not a very hard thing to do. Just try to get hot laps because the more times you do it means the more comfortable you will be. Start with rails youre more confident in hitting then move your way up and it will get easy.
8 years ago
2 0
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andrewskimaine
Posts: 35 - Karma: 357
Come to my house and send a rail 100+ times in one sesh with me
8 years ago
3 0
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Mingg
Posts: 14050 - Karma: 50,995
go fast and commit and stay 90 and dont lean back
8 years ago
5 0
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snowfinder
Posts: 2941 - Karma: 34,924
Since it it summer run full speed and jump on a skateboard and land with your feet over the bolts. Get comfy with that then start to spin on to it.
8 years ago
4 0
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2406 - Karma: 8,779
I found if you lean way more forward than you'd think towards your toes you have much better balance and a better chance of staying on the rail. Stay crouched and bent like a hidden tiger
8 years ago
3 0
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Rockhound
Posts: 3432 - Karma: 851
You're going to fall, it's going to hurt, your hip will be bruised for a while, but persevere and you will improve
8 years ago
8 0
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freestyler540
Posts: 13238 - Karma: 20,484
Session the rail with friends. Walk it up 10 times every lap.
Go unnatural; its a huge plus to be ambidextrous on rails.
Practice your new tricks on a box first to get the feel, then commit to the rail.
8 years ago
2 0
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JichelMusten
Posts: 750 - Karma: 2,889
Come at the rail, tell yourself your gonna do this shit, keep your eyes on the rail, get a solid pop, get your shoulders parallel to the rail before you land on the rail, spread your feet just a little more than shoulder width, land on the rail, angle your front heel down (pedaling) so you don't just jump over the rail, look at the end of the rail, stay relaxed with knees slightly bent, don't let skis get to close together and don't rotate shoulders forward until your very close to the end of rail.

Hope these steps help. You'll fall some and you'll land some, just keep practicing and become more comfortable. You got this!!
8 years ago
5 0
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ndude.k
Posts: 30 - Karma: 223
JichelMustenCome at the rail, tell yourself your gonna do this shit, keep your eyes on the rail, get a solid pop, get your shoulders parallel to the rail before you land on the rail, spread your feet just a little more than shoulder width, land on the rail, angle your front heel down (pedaling) so you don't just jump over the rail, look at the end of the rail, stay relaxed with knees slightly bent, don't let skis get to close together and don't rotate shoulders forward until your very close to the end of rail.

Hope these steps help. You'll fall some and you'll land some, just keep practicing and become more comfortable. You got this!!


Hey thanks! This was very helpful!
8 years ago
2 0
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,199
1.start small honestly you may feel stupid by straddle rails at first this will make you be perfectly centered every time
2. PRACTICE, hike or rope tow for a few days all day one one rail or a short line of rails this will help you get comfortable, and you will learn what you are doing right and wrong
3. Don't try crazy rails too soon, if you are just used to hitting a small 8 foot flat bar and you go for a 25 foot dfd, chances are you're gonna fall and be scared to try again, trust me if you work your way up slowly the harder rails won't be hard anymore
4. For me rails were all a mental thing once you get over your fear the first few times you won't fear them again
5. Also dick over rail ( aka don't lean back) also learn to pedal
8 years ago
2 0
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Treyladdy
Posts: 19 - Karma: 45
Look at the end of the rail
8 years ago
2 0
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ndude.k
Posts: 30 - Karma: 223
TreyladdyLook at the end of the rail


No shit ;)
8 years ago
2 0
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Treyladdy
Posts: 19 - Karma: 45
ndude.kNo shit ;)


I say this because I used to look at my skis and fall off
8 years ago
2 0
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jordanj801
Posts: 96 - Karma: 112
As always work your way up. Also just go for it. For example if you want to learn kink rails, start wilth a mini one, then get bigger and bigger
8 years ago
1 0
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Jesse_
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 3,643
ndude.kNo shit ;)


You might think this is obvious but it isn't, especially for beginners lol. Fuck when I started first hitting rails I looked at my skis until one of my friends told me to look at the end of the rail.
8 years ago
2 0
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Aparker
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,678
hike a lot
8 years ago
1 0
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linus_deboss
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 1,914
young_hawaiiYou're going to fall, it's going to hurt, your hip will be bruised for a while, but persevere and you will improve


haha so much this

just use some hip/elbow pads & a helmet if you really just got into sliding... sounds pussy style but makes you way less afraid plus you can get more day in because you wont be out due to pain
8 years ago
2 0
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