Member of the Month

GayWolf420
June, 2025

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!

Early rail progression.

profile picture
twisticles
Posts: 1 - Karma: 27
Usual disclaimer: I did have a look for a similar thread but couldn't find one, if anyone knows of one do shoot me that way


So I'm pretty terrible at rails, the idea of slamming on metal is just less appealing to me then on the snow landing of a kicker but I was wondering if some of you slidey wizards could lend me some knowledge about your early days of progression.

Trying to learn 2s on and switch ups etc. but I feel very uncomfortable sliding unnatural I'm alright when it comes to natty sliding but sliding the dirty way just feels so uncomfortable, so obviously when I spin natty onto the rail for a 2 on it feels weird and after I've switched up I also feel pretty unstable.

So my question is did you guys learn to do the basics (sliding, fs 2s off, bs 2s off, switch off, switch on) both ways before moving onto 2s on and switch ups or did you just go straight into 2s on and switch ups and eventually with enough practice it started feeling more natural?

Any thoughts/advice appreciated thank you NS!
4 years ago
7 0
profile picture
ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,211
I never did this but I've heard of people wearing padded compression shorts like in hockey or football that helps a ton with falling on them.
4 years ago
6 1
profile picture
yessirskiii_
Posts: 245 - Karma: 1,684
ReturnToMonkeyI never did this but I've heard of people wearing padded compression shorts like in hockey or football that helps a ton with falling on them.


can confirm as a shitty park skier, padded shorts help boost confidence and reduce the amount of shitty bruises and hip smoke shots , keeping you on the hill longer. highly recommended
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,211
And as far as learning tricks goes, I dont really think very hard about it. Sometimes I'll be on the lift and think "oh let's try this next run." Front 2 outs are probably the easiest thing to learn but otherwise, don't stress it, just do what you want at whatever pace you want
4 years ago
6 0
profile picture
skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7983 - Karma: 23,369
I recommend learning front and backside 270s out with both feet forward before doing a 270 on. Once you get those, doing the four different switch ups is pretty attainable too. Also being comfortable going switch on will help with confidence for spinning on.
Everyone's progression is going to be a little different though, so ski as much as possible to figure out what works for you. For example, I know people who find a lip 2 on feels better than non lip. People who spin left and slide left foot forward or vice versa usually have an easy time spinning onto rails.
If you don't have a backyard setup, make one. It's the best way to get rail fundamentals locked in. Most of us need a LOT of mileage to get good at rails.
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
twisticles
Posts: 1 - Karma: 27
skiP.E.I.I recommend learning front and backside 270s out with both feet forward before doing a 270 on. Once you get those, doing the four different switch ups is pretty attainable too. Also being comfortable going switch on will help with confidence for spinning on.
Everyone's progression is going to be a little different though, so ski as much as possible to figure out what works for you. For example, I know people who find a lip 2 on feels better than non lip. People who spin left and slide left foot forward or vice versa usually have an easy time spinning onto rails.
If you don't have a backyard setup, make one. It's the best way to get rail fundamentals locked in. Most of us need a LOT of mileage to get good at rails.


Yea a backyard setup would be dope, unfortunately don't think my balcony was built for a setup city apartment life is peak. :(
4 years ago
3 0
profile picture
skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7983 - Karma: 23,369
twisticlesYea a backyard setup would be dope, unfortunately don't think my balcony was built for a setup city apartment life is peak. :(

If there's a hockey rink near you, build a pvc rail and stash it nearby, use the snow from the ice resurfacing for drop in/run out
4 years ago
4 0
profile picture
theabortionator
Posts: 52710 - Karma: 175,327
If your parents will let you look into building a summer drop in setup and some pvc rails. This will send you into the season with some confidence and locked on some basic tricks.
4 years ago
2 0
profile picture
armchair_skier
Posts: 2724 - Karma: 34,936
The way I got over the fear of eating shit on rails is by eating shit on rails.

If you can't do fs to forward or bs to switch on a rail, then trying a 2 on is probably bad idea.
4 years ago
8 1
profile picture
_brrett
Posts: 1741 - Karma: 28,993
ski rials
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
deadhead420
Posts: 2166 - Karma: 18,955
I say next season only do unnatural slides/tricks at the beginning of the season. Try and trick your brain to forget you have an opposite way. That's what I'm gonna do to get over my fear of hopping onto high rails oppo, just only do unnatural for a few weeks when the mountain opens


And yea hip pads are dope, especially in icy parks. and for hip drags on groomers
ReturnToMonkeyI never did this but I've heard of people wearing padded compression shorts like in hockey or football that helps a ton with falling on them.
4 years ago
4 0
profile picture
BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,216
Man just spend a week sliding unnatty, you'll have it down on day 2.

I don't understand why people post online about shit like this, you know what you need to do you just don't want to do it. So shut the fuck up and start sliding unaturally or fuck off.
4 years ago
6 2
profile picture
mynameisgiovanni
Posts: 82 - Karma: 750
How has your year been OP
3 years ago
6 0
profile picture
BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
ReturnToMonkeyI never did this but I've heard of people wearing padded compression shorts like in hockey or football that helps a ton with falling on them.


wear a dummy thick hoodie
3 years ago
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 8:35PM