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April, 2025

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Knees bent on rails or not?

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NarrowGlint
Posts: 41 - Karma: 502
I have been skiing rails for a while, I can do some basic stuff like f2, b2, fs, small backslides and stuff. The thing I struggle with most is staying on rails, I feel like if i dont hop on perfect I cant ever adjust or do that shoulder-ski rock stuff. I see some people say knees bent, some say not. What is the best for balance? I dont have centermounted bindings cause I ski outside the park, but they arent far just a couple cm back. Any other tips besides obviously centermounting?
3 years ago
8 0
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Dan-Man
Posts: 7488 - Karma: 3,630
there is a fine line between stiff and bent legs that u have to find for yourself.
3 years ago
17 0
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FruitBootPro
Posts: 3176 - Karma: 14,523
Knees loose
3 years ago
12 0
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grantn_
Posts: 297 - Karma: 3,320
My advice would be to bend your knees a tad. Don’t be doing a lupe slide or anything just a little bend because the closer you are to the rail the better balance you get from my experience.
3 years ago
1 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7520 - Karma: 66,809
Athletic stance with comfortable knee bend
3 years ago
17 0
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Carter_Meyer
Posts: 32 - Karma: 295
Also look at the end of the rail the whole time rather than off the side of it
3 years ago
9 0
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tri_photo
Posts: 1530 - Karma: 7,195
I've thought about this many times and I eventually came to the realization that every skier slides rails naturally, how their brain tells them to, if that makes sense. I'm not sure if I bend my knees much or not (probably don't), but I'm able to slide rails just fine.

As far as the centermounted skis or not, doesn't affect rail slides much. I've hit rails on my Pettitors for the heck of it, which aren't center at all, and all I noticed was having a 118mm waist ski on a rail as opposed to a 90mm waist Lol
3 years ago
4 0
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Casey
Posts: 8017 - Karma: 26,893
tri_photoI've thought about this many times and I eventually came to the realization that every skier slides rails naturally, how their brain tells them to, if that makes sense. I'm not sure if I bend my knees much or not (probably don't), but I'm able to slide rails just fine.

As far as the centermounted skis or not, doesn't affect rail slides much. I've hit rails on my Pettitors for the heck of it, which aren't center at all, and all I noticed was having a 118mm waist ski on a rail as opposed to a 90mm waist Lol

100 percent, like the moral of the story is that there isn’t a magic trick to make a person better at balancing rails. When you see people dip their tips and balance on a rail that is a pretty elite move, look around at your local park not that many people can do that on a rail because it’s hard AF and takes a shit ton of practice.
3 years ago
4 0
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2784 - Karma: 12,650
I had issues both seapping and staying on. Got the tip to stand more up right and both of them came instantly. Definetly have a small bend but not like down low ankilla style
3 years ago
2 0
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 3158 - Karma: 28,612
gorilla steeze is the way
3 years ago
4 0
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FruitBootPro
Posts: 3176 - Karma: 14,523
Carter_MeyerAlso look at the end of the rail the whole time rather than off the side of it


Yep, imagine you're surfing on the rail
3 years ago
1 0
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Chrischi69
Posts: 652 - Karma: 5,064
I look at the end of the rail constantly even on the run up
3 years ago
2 0
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Jugs.jug
Posts: 17 - Karma: 110
Both are fine over time you’ll see u do both of them w out thinking based on the rail. I personally like a slight bend so I can grip and pedal a little easier but it does put more stress on my legs and will tire them out faster
3 years ago
1 0
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