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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Minimum summer rail length for learning tricks

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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
Basically I’m building a summer setup on a slope that’s 30-35 feet long. At the end of the runout is a very steep slope that I really don’t want to fall down so I’ll be leaving at least 8 feet of space at the end.

What I need to know: what’s the shortest rail I can learn tricks on. I’ll be cleaning up my all 8, learning spins on and the hardest thing I want to be able to land is 270 on, swap, 270 off. Also it’ll be a downrail so I can’t just slide it mega slow.
4 years ago
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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,137
for a down rail your gonna want like 16-20 feet at least
4 years ago
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,168
Two 10ft rails that can be linked together makes things fun
4 years ago
16 0
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h3nry.
Posts: 216 - Karma: 3,500
Most pvc is sold in 8 ft lengths I think. I would just double up 2 8 ft rails and call it good
4 years ago
12 1
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sqeellicbic
Posts: 421 - Karma: 3,357
I would say the absolute minimum is like 12-14ish feet but you're gonna want longer than the absolute minimum. I recommend 20 ft. I built an 8 ft rail a few years ago and it was way too short to do anything on.
4 years ago
10 0
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theabortionator
Posts: 52560 - Karma: 173,819
Hiw big is your ramp, 30-35' is pretty long. Could make it steeper and shorten it up a bunch. Also it doesnt need to be super tall to hit a down rail honestly.
4 years ago
6 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12696 - Karma: 119,778
0ft. Hit it like a jump
4 years ago
7 1
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270on420out
Posts: 7522 - Karma: 51,280
My summer setup only had a 10’ rail and it sucked. I did not learn a single thing on it and it became a treehouse for the neighbors kids a year later
4 years ago
10 0
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,168
h3nry.Most pvc is sold in 8 ft lengths I think. I would just double up 2 8 ft rails and call it good


correct, but replace 8ft with 10ft.

now your post is my post
4 years ago
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druppin_jibs
Posts: 183 - Karma: 1,108
other people already said it but having one 10' sucks. I can get a kfed on a 10 foot but I have to go really fast and I don't have down rails. 20' rails (2 10' rails) are great
4 years ago
3 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6447 - Karma: 70,192
100 feet at least
4 years ago
10 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
After lots of thinking I’ve decided gonna try a 16 foot down tube like 1 1/2 feet off the ground and I’m gonna hit it slow so I don’t pick up speed too quick.
4 years ago
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mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
How was your setup in the end OP did you go ahead with it or did I miss that thread?
3 years ago
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
mynameisgiovanniHow was your setup in the end OP did you go ahead with it or did I miss that thread?

Didn’t end up building the set up I described in this thread but found more convenient ways to train in the summer. Did end up building a winter set up though.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fWAv6KnMhMQ&feature=youtu.be

The rail in the vid is 2 5-foot pvc tubes on a slight decline. Hit it mega slow and cleaned up my all 8.

Built another that combines the tubes and a flat shotgun rail and would say the ideal down rail length is 20 feet (mine was 18).


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1048282/trim-F934150E-42B2-4122-9B8A-DAA274C71465-MOV

In the summer I lay the tubes on a grass slope and step into it with a step ladder. Not ideal that’s how I originally learned 270s out and switch ups.
3 years ago
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mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
Super sick progression man on route to mastery
3 years ago
3 0
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nmwninjart
Posts: 3090 - Karma: 15,857
asparagusDidn’t end up building the set up I described in this thread but found more convenient ways to train in the summer.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1048282/trim-F934150E-42B2-4122-9B8A-DAA274C71465-MOV

In the summer I lay the tubes on a grass slope and step into it with a step ladder.


What were your more convenient summer training methods?
Do you have video or a picture of you using the tubes on the grass slope?
3 years ago
1 0
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mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
OP How many hours roughly would you say it took you to learn all 8? I know we all progress at different rates but it’s such a big achievement to get all those down, especially unnatty, massive props to your hard work
3 years ago
1 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
mynameisgiovanniOP How many hours roughly would you say it took you to learn all 8? I know we all progress at different rates but it’s such a big achievement to get all those down, especially unnatty, massive props to your hard work

I started two seasons ago only knowing how to slide rails, and throughout the season I ALMOST learned all 8 (couldn’t backswap very well). Ended up spending an hour or more practicing off hill several times a week (almost daily practice). Cleaned them up last season after a dozen or so hours of practice. Overall I think I a season and a half is fast to learn all 8 but for the amount of hours I invested I learned pretty slow.
3 years ago
4 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
nmwninjartWhat were your more convenient summer training methods?
Do you have video or a picture of you using the tubes on the grass slope?

Don’t have a photo of the grass slope atm but I used a similar setup 2 years ago when I was first learning edge control.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1048325/trim-E749E92E-E762-44AD-9A00-7115B82511F7-MOV

^^ My first back 270 ^^

The summer version is twice as long because I cut the tube down the middle. Step on rails are amazing for learning basic edge control because you get a lot repetitions and it’s not scary at all.

Ill send a video next time I use the grass one.
3 years ago
3 0
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nmwninjart
Posts: 3090 - Karma: 15,857
asparagusDon’t have a photo of the grass slope atm but I used a similar setup 2 years ago when I was first learning edge control.


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1048325/trim-E749E92E-E762-44AD-9A00-7115B82511F7-MOV

^^ My first back 270 ^^

The summer version is twice as long because I cut the tube down the middle. Step on rails are amazing for learning basic edge control because you get a lot repetitions and it’s not scary at all.

Ill send a video next time I use the grass one.

I don't know why I didn't think of this. Thanks. I have a small yard and tried building a setup last winter but it didn't work well because I didn't make the drop-in tall enough and had too much space at the bottom.
Its at least something to use to get some practice in at the beginning level!
3 years ago
3 0
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Farmville420
Posts: 5138 - Karma: 66,823
Remind me in 12 hours to reply to this thread I got u
3 years ago
0 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
Farmville420Remind me in 12 hours to reply to this thread I got u

ding ding
3 years ago
1 0
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Farmville420
Posts: 5138 - Karma: 66,823
asparagusding ding


Where do you live I have two pieces of construction grade steel at my parents both of them roughly 15-2 feet in length
3 years ago
3 0
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
Honestly, just set out like a couple 2x4s on a 20-10 degree slope. Puckboard the top and ur sliding. When it drops below zero u don't even need the puckboard... just ice it up and get 2 ripping big fella.
3 years ago
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sullivano*b
Posts: 1234 - Karma: 8,139
ive since tore my summer setup apart but i had a 14 footer as the main rail and a 6 footer you could add on. i kinds sucked when i did use it but it worked pretty well, no 2s on tho
3 years ago
1 0
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kung_powpow
Posts: 1990 - Karma: 3,671
back in highschool, i had originally built a 10ft rail which really sucked. only enough room to do 270s out, maybe a little front swap tap if I went slow. I then built a 15 ft and it was ok, i could do switch up 270s out like Kfeds and brittneys. Then i built a 20ft which was perfect. the 20ft was long enough to double swap and 270 out which allows for nearly unlimited trick combos, especially if you have the ability to both 270 on and drop in switch if your drop in allows for it. the 20ft rail won't hold you back at all in terms of progression.
3 years ago
4 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
nmwninjartI don't know why I didn't think of this. Thanks. I have a small yard and tried building a setup last winter but it didn't work well because I didn't make the drop-in tall enough and had too much space at the bottom.
Its at least something to use to get some practice in at the beginning level!

here’s the summer version



3 years ago
1 0
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mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
Any chance you can post a video op?
3 years ago
0 0
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nmwninjart
Posts: 3090 - Karma: 15,857
Thanks for taking the picture. Looks very simple. My tubes are smaller and whole , It should still work as I still have the wood on the bottoms of them.
3 years ago
1 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
mynameisgiovanniAny chance you can post a video op?

yeah I’ll send you one next time I use it
3 years ago
1 0
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fdWEARer
Posts: 313 - Karma: 398
All these people are lying fr
My winter setup I have a ten foot Long rail that I did frontswap frontswap front 2 off of
Speed and ability to balance at low speeds on rails Is key
Longer rails for sure if on a somewhat steep slope
3 years ago
0 1
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,215
EBrookskiAll these people are lying fr
My winter setup I have a ten foot Long rail that I did frontswap frontswap front 2 off of
Speed and ability to balance at low speeds on rails Is key
Longer rails for sure if on a somewhat steep slope


Bro being able to swap while standing still on a rail is not an accomplishment. Ideally you should be going a bit faster if you wanna improve at all.
Ide say standing still and swapping on rails is like baby step 1 for Learning how to do your first swap or swap swap.
I think everyone should start with, stand on the rail, find the balance, swap, engage pretzel, swap back the other way or off. Best way to learn proper backswaps.
3 years ago
1 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
EBrookskiAll these people are lying fr
My winter setup I have a ten foot Long rail that I did frontswap frontswap front 2 off of
Speed and ability to balance at low speeds on rails Is key
Longer rails for sure if on a somewhat steep slope


ReformedBBro being able to swap while standing still on a rail is not an accomplishment. Ideally you should be going a bit faster if you wanna improve at all.
Ide say standing still and swapping on rails is like baby step 1 for Learning how to do your first swap or swap swap.
I think everyone should start with, stand on the rail, find the balance, swap, engage pretzel, swap back the other way or off. Best way to learn proper backswaps.

I learned all 8 on a 10 foot rail and while it teaches the basic edge control, it does not reflect the difficulty of doing it with speed on a longer rail.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1029443/All-Eight-on-a-10-Foot-Rail

Its alright to start learning on a short rail but eventually you need to try it on something longer because it’s not the same.

edit: link because embedded broke

**This post was edited on Aug 30th 2022 at 1:45:48pm

**This post was edited on Aug 30th 2022 at 1:46:47pm
3 years ago
1 0
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asparagus
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,453
mynameisgiovanniAny chance you can post a video op?


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1049429/trim-36106E5F-4376-484B-A122-A3A45481AF10-MOV


bad lighting but gives you an idea
3 years ago
1 0
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mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
Nice work man
3 years ago
0 0
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