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May, 2025

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Tips on how to do rails on skis?

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BigBangOofSkier
Posts: 8 - Karma: 35
Hi, Ive been skiing for 15 years and I still cant do rails. So i think its time to actually learn them.

Everytime I try to slide a tube I always fall forwards of the rail and I cant seem to ever land correctly on it any tips?
4 years ago
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7548 - Karma: 67,078
Are your edges detuned? And do you have any speed?
4 years ago
4 0
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BigBangOofSkier
Posts: 8 - Karma: 35
No, My edges arent catching or anything, but when I jump and rotate 90 I fll pf the rail on the pther side.
BradFiAusNzCoCaAre your edges detuned? And do you have any speed?
4 years ago
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lilnoid666
Posts: 379 - Karma: 738
you might be popping to much to where you land really hard on the rail
4 years ago
6 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7548 - Karma: 67,078
If I’m understanding correctly, that sounds like maybe you are coming at too much of an angle. Try getting closer to the rail when you approach it and just turning 90 degrees. You want to be way close to the rail
BigBangOofSkierNo, My edges arent catching or anything, but when I jump and rotate 90 I fll pf the rail on the pther side.
4 years ago
5 0
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Railslayer69
Posts: 92 - Karma: 824
Try not to turn your upper body all the way to 90, turn more at the waist and look towards the end of the rail and point your shoulders towards it too. That will keep you from slipping off and landing switch which I see a lot at my hill with people trying to learn and once I tell them that they usually get it pretty quick.
4 years ago
5 0
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Schoess
Posts: 2133 - Karma: 25,542
Uploading a few short clips of your attempts would be infinitely helpful in giving you direction on what to try next
4 years ago
7 0
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Young_patty
Posts: 3347 - Karma: 39,318
A good way to get comfortable when you’re first starting out on rails is to go up to a ride on rail, stop at the start of the rail and then just put one foot on and push off on the other and try to ski slide it as far as you can before falling off the side (helps if the rail is at a lil but of a down angle but flat will do).


some older dude at hyland showed me that when I was a wee lad and still learning rails too- it really does help get you comfortable with sliding a rail before doing it full speed and it’ll help you dial in the balance
4 years ago
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BigBangOofSkier
Posts: 8 - Karma: 35
Railslayer69Try not to turn your upper body all the way to 90, turn more at the waist and look towards the end of the rail and point your shoulders towards it too. That will keep you from slipping off and landing switch which I see a lot at my hill with people trying to learn and once I tell them that they usually get it pretty quick.

Im gonna try that, I didnt know I had to turn my upper body aswell, I just knew I had to focus at the end of the rail.
4 years ago
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Railslayer69
Posts: 92 - Karma: 824
BigBangOofSkierIm gonna try that, I didnt know I had to turn my upper body aswell, I just knew I had to focus at the end of the rail.


Nah nah nah, turn at the waist leave your upper body mostly aiming towards the end of the rail. Also the more speed the better. The slower you go the harder the rail becomes.
4 years ago
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xiaolongbao
Posts: 60 - Karma: 1,261
yo railslayer how do spin onto the rail? I am comfortable switch and spinning but feel scared spinning onto it, never tried, help
4 years ago
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Jems
Posts: 7757 - Karma: 101,483
try learning to ride rails both ways as soon as your start getting them, it would be a massive flex to be able to slide rails both ways real good
4 years ago
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BigBangOofSkier
Posts: 8 - Karma: 35
@Railslayer69 How do I find my natural side I rail on, cuz it feels better to rail right foot forward, however Im a leftie so I spin to the right, I even skate with my left foot forward, however on skis I find it more comfortable to learn how to rail right foot forward
4 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13237 - Karma: 20,479
Can you ride narrow boxes? If yes, imagine the rail being a box instead, then Go for it.
If not, ride more boxes until ya feeling it.
4 years ago
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Railslayer69
Posts: 92 - Karma: 824
I’m the same way I’m left foot forward on rails but I spin to my left. It’s just whatever feels natural.
4 years ago
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BigBangOofSkier
Posts: 8 - Karma: 35
Railslayer69I’m the same way I’m left foot forward on rails but I spin to my left. It’s just whatever feels natural.


@Railslayer69 Alright, just wondering as you spin to the left, when you skid to come to a complete stop do skid right foot forward or left foot forward?
4 years ago
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Obama_care
Posts: 581 - Karma: 2,759
we need a video
4 years ago
1 0
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Cyanicenine
Posts: 966 - Karma: 2,292
Hard to know what your issue is without a video, but out of every how to slide a rail video I've ever watched (and I've viewed a ton) this has been the most helpful
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/857590/How-grind-on-skis
I feel like staying squared up (not counter rotating your upper body) like he talks about is a huge issue a lot of new park skiers struggle with, that and understanding how to pedal / scissor.
4 years ago
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