Member of the Month

weastcoat
April, 2022

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Tips on how to do rails on skis?

profile picture
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?
Mar 11 2021 8:30AM 7 0
profile picture
BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 3714 - Karma: 28,598
Are your edges detuned? And do you have any speed?
Mar 11 2021 8:36AM 3 0
profile picture
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?
Mar 11 2021 8:47AM 2 0
profile picture
ButteryStix69
Posts: 352 - Karma: 594
you might be popping to much to where you land really hard on the rail
Mar 11 2021 8:53AM 6 0
profile picture
BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 3714 - Karma: 28,598
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.
Mar 11 2021 8:58AM 5 0
profile picture
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.
Mar 11 2021 11:44AM 5 0
profile picture
Schoess
Posts: 1452 - Karma: 17,284
Uploading a few short clips of your attempts would be infinitely helpful in giving you direction on what to try next
Mar 11 2021 12:09PM 7 0
profile picture
Young_patty
Posts: 2674 - Karma: 24,655
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
Mar 11 2021 12:14PM 2 0
profile picture
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.
Mar 11 2021 4:01PM 0 0
profile picture
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.
Mar 11 2021 4:10PM 3 0
profile picture
xiaolongbao
Posts: 59 - Karma: 1,216
yo railslayer how do spin onto the rail? I am comfortable switch and spinning but feel scared spinning onto it, never tried, help
Mar 11 2021 8:27PM 1 0
profile picture
Jems
Posts: 4275 - Karma: 42,440
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
Mar 11 2021 8:29PM 3 0
profile picture
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
Mar 13 2021 8:31AM 0 0
profile picture
freestyler540
Posts: 12614 - Karma: 13,762
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.
Mar 13 2021 8:39AM 1 0
profile picture
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.
Mar 13 2021 9:46AM 1 0
profile picture
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?
Mar 16 2021 12:21PM 0 0
profile picture
Obama_care
Posts: 581 - Karma: 2,729
we need a video
Mar 16 2021 12:43PM 1 0
profile picture
Cyanicenine
Posts: 947 - Karma: 2,083
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.
Mar 16 2021 1:37PM 1 0
All times are Eastern (-4)