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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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Scared to hit rails *_* (not sure if this is where this goes)

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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
so i've done boxes and 50/50's before when i was little i had ballz or something cuz i would try 360's on boxes and stuff but I haven't in a while, and i'm scared i'll slip and and bash my head on the rail. any advice?
5 years ago
10 0
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BigTexas
Posts: 78 - Karma: 525
Wear a helmet
5 years ago
44 0
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skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
Look at the end of the rail, feet shoulder width apart, commit, and get the full 90 degree rotation in.

Commitment is honestly the biggest part as with most tricks. If you come in scared or somewhat hesitant at all chances are you will have issues.

Slide some boxes to get the hang of it and then just go for it. It’s mostly a mental sport.
5 years ago
21 0
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skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
Also you would have probably been better off in Ski Gabber
5 years ago
9 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
aight thanks, sry for putting this in the wrong forum I didn't know
5 years ago
6 0
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skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
skrrtskrrtaight thanks, sry for putting this in the wrong forum I didn't know


No worries
5 years ago
3 0
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9736 - Karma: 65,753
SkylineGTR_R32Look at the end of the rail, feet shoulder width apart, commit, and get the full 90 degree rotation in.*

Commitment is honestly the biggest part as with most tricks. If you come in scared or somewhat hesitant at all chances are you will have issues.

Slide some boxes to get the hang of it and then just go for it. It’s mostly a mental sport.


this and LEAN FORWARD. 9/10 rail beginners slip out and fall backwards. you aren't turning your skis and doing a stop, you're sliding over the box/rail so you can't lean back like you can while stopping

if you're scared i suggest trying first on a small little pvc rail that's basically just plopped on the ground

or, you can find the lowest flat box available and first just ride straight over it, and then start pivoting your feet sideways partway through to slowly get used to that sliding position. then you can move to sliding the whole thing that way and then graduate to trying it on a slightly bigger feature

be safe, have fun, wear a helmet, flex your core, LEAN FORWARD! the line of your center of gravity should go through your shoulders straight down through your thighs/knees and then through the balls of your feet

(also yeah this thread should be in Ski Gabber, this is gear talk, like equipment discussion. but no worries at all and a moderator might move in when they see it)
5 years ago
12 0
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skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
SofaKingSickthis and LEAN FORWARD. 9/10 rail beginners slip out and fall backwards. you aren't turning your skis and doing a stop, you're sliding over the box/rail so you can't lean back like you can while stopping

if you're scared i suggest trying first on a small little pvc rail that's basically just plopped on the ground

or, you can find the lowest flat box available and first just ride straight over it, and then start pivoting your feet sideways partway through to slowly get used to that sliding position. then you can move to sliding the whole thing that way and then graduate to trying it on a slightly bigger feature

be safe, have fun, wear a helmet, flex your core, LEAN FORWARD! the line of your center of gravity should go through your shoulders straight down through your thighs/knees and then through the balls of your feet

(also yeah this thread should be in Ski Gabber, this is gear talk, like equipment discussion. but no worries at all and a moderator might move in when they see it)


Yeah I agree here. Most of your weight should be on your front foot setting that edge and controlling your slide. Your back foot is really just a safety net/balance assist
5 years ago
5 0
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BackWoods420
Posts: 251 - Karma: 496
One of the things that helped me was knowing that even if I didn't get to full 90, as long as I got to at least 70 I could still slide the rail If I kept looking at the end of the rail.
5 years ago
6 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
great! thanks for the advice. I'll try it this weekend.
5 years ago
6 0
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petro
Posts: 657 - Karma: 456
learning to shifty off a small jump helps. you'll be more comfortable with your skis at 90 while looking at the end of the rail
5 years ago
7 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
i tried to shifty but i cant seem to turn my skis enough there a lil to big ( over my head) or i might just not have confidence
5 years ago
3 0
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skierman_jack
Posts: 1671 - Karma: 17,558
skrrtskrrti tried to shifty but i cant seem to turn my skis enough there a lil to big ( over my head) or i might just not have confidence


You don’t have the confidence. Turn your shoulders with your skis but keep looking at the end of the rail
5 years ago
5 0
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J_Nyk22
Posts: 16 - Karma: 73
Try doing 180’s flat, if you can get it around then you’re good
Try doing a 180 but with less juice to 90 onto a nice wide box, just make sure to lean perpendicular to the angle of the box, and you’ll have your confidence soon enough. That’s all it really boils down to, is confidence. It’s all mental.
5 years ago
5 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
great thanks 🙏
5 years ago
2 0
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jgg
Posts: 259 - Karma: 1,506
Wide stance on rail, don’t lean back, you might have to fall a couple times before you can actually slide it however you won’t hit your head on rail most likely. It’s easier than sliding a box
5 years ago
5 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52617 - Karma: 174,486
Start small. Slide some boxes, get a feel, get the confidence. Then start on a baby rail thats short. The shorter it is the less consequence and even if you slip a little you can still land a lot of times

Then just repetition. Some music and friends goes a long way for motivation too.

Getting the first one out of the way can be acary but you'll likely reallize that you're better than you thought and the rail isn't as hard as you made it out to be.

Good luck man!
5 years ago
7 0
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J_Christoph
Posts: 2519 - Karma: 8,755
theabortionatorStart small. Slide some boxes, get a feel, get the confidence. Then start on a baby rail thats short. The shorter it is the less consequence and even if you slip a little you can still land a lot of times

Then just repetition. Some music and friends goes a long way for motivation too.

Getting the first one out of the way can be acary but you'll likely reallize that you're better than you thought and the rail isn't as hard as you made it out to be.

Good luck man!

This + make sure there’s weight on your front foot. One of the things I see the most is no commitment coupled with all the weight on the back foot. It may feel awkward, but your body needs to be level with the angle of the rail and not with level ground. More weight on your front foot than you think is necessary may just help you build confidence quicker than expected.
5 years ago
5 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12705 - Karma: 120,044
bash your head on the rail to show dominance
5 years ago
11 1
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
sound legit to me
TRVP_ANGELbash your head on the rail to show dominance
5 years ago
0 0
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2659 - Karma: 34,214
You got it op.
5 years ago
1 0
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3652 - Karma: 8,892
Getting a few bruised hips is a rite of passage
5 years ago
10 0
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tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,195
Get more than enough speed, have a wide stance, LEAN FORWARD, and go for it. I was scared of rails for years and when I finally got over the mental block, I actually started to look at rails as fun instead of scary. Started learning tricks, etc... sometimes you just gotta risk it for the biscuit
5 years ago
3 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
kay so i did attempt alot of rails today but i thought i was 90 degrees but i saw a video of me and saw i was turning like 60 degrees how do i turn more
5 years ago
3 0
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9736 - Karma: 65,753
skrrtskrrtkay so i did attempt alot of rails today but i thought i was 90 degrees but i saw a video of me and saw i was turning like 60 degrees how do i turn more


You just have to commit to it and it will start to feel natural. Were you hitting a rail or box?
5 years ago
4 0
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nmwninjart
Posts: 3098 - Karma: 15,893
Did the rails you tried have a lip or were they ride on? I find I have to work harder to get to that 90 when its a ride on. I saw this little guy who was 8 out with his dad today. He had no fear at all . He was better than everyone in the progression park.
5 years ago
1 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
all the boxes were skinny and fairly high (the progression park kinda sucks) so i had to try to commit to a flat rail with a jump to get on
5 years ago
3 0
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jgg
Posts: 259 - Karma: 1,506
DirtYStylEGetting a few bruised hips is a rite of passage


Can't agree more
5 years ago
2 0
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CalumSKI
Posts: 4379 - Karma: 26,123
stand stationary and practice jumping to 90 degrees and putting your skis shoulder-width apart
5 years ago
3 0
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WisconsinDogfart
Posts: 675 - Karma: 5,529
Tell everybody you can hit rails
5 years ago
2 1
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saucy+steve
Posts: 146 - Karma: 420
This thread applies to people trying unnatural slides as well
5 years ago
3 0
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b0ss
Posts: 822 - Karma: 6,373
Is cause u dont know how to hit rails. Its a skill u have to learn
5 years ago
2 0
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beckums
Posts: 342 - Karma: 631
Get comfortable sliding boxes and dirting them like you would a rail. when it's time, find a nice flatbar and try it out. remember to LEAN FORWARD!! Put pressure on your leading leg!
5 years ago
1 0
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J_Nyk22
Posts: 16 - Karma: 73
DirtYStylEGetting a few bruised hips is a rite of passage

Just got back from slamming myself into rails yesterday. Fun times. Not so fun today.
5 years ago
5 0
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
i just got back from practicing and i finally got it
5 years ago
7 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
skrrtskrrti just got back from practicing and i finally got it

I see I am way late here. Congratulations!



You might try this.....................;-)

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/851717/Deep-Meditation-For-Riding-Boxes--amp--Rails
5 years ago
4 1
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
after reviewing that video i now feel the power to slide rails like henrik. I thank you
5 years ago
4 0
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JmckR
Posts: 1332 - Karma: 6,085
Okay pretty simple stuff.

1. Find suitable rail, ideally the gnarliest in the park
2. Gather friends to film
3. Hike up approx twice as far as you'd ideally need to
4. Bomb it towards the rail, full french fry.
5. Clear the rail entirely, but get a sneaky tail tap on the end of the rail
6. Claim you did the rail
5 years ago
5 1
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skrrtskrrt
Posts: 125 - Karma: 542
seems sketchier then hitting a rail normally
5 years ago
3 0
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CalumSKI
Posts: 4379 - Karma: 26,123
TheMailManOkay pretty simple stuff.

1. Find suitable rail, ideally the gnarliest in the park
2. Gather friends to film
3. Hike up approx twice as far as you'd ideally need to
4. Bomb it towards the rail, full french fry.
5. Clear the rail entirely, but get a sneaky tail tap on the end of the rail
6. Claim you did the rail


or pull up, smack the rail with ur pole and say u technically hit the rail
5 years ago
7 1
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
skrrtskrrtafter reviewing that video i now feel the power to slide rails like henrik. I thank you

Ha ha! Some said it actually really helped them! You are welcome.
5 years ago
2 0
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Mixy
Posts: 8355 - Karma: 50,399
CalumSKIor pull up, smack the rail with ur pole and say u technically hit the rail


lip on blind 2 with your poles
5 years ago
2 0
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