Rail Approach?

F

frig0018

Member
I was wondering what is the best way to approach a rail? Nothing seems really natural (especially straight on) and I really want to get it down... Every skier I ask for help says they're not hitting it and go for the box instead. Help?
 
Can you slide boxes already? Is it an urban-on rail (the rail is a down rail but the takeoff is lower than the rail)?
 
i think its easier to go from the left cos otherwise its blind ive only just started going from the right

and i always pop too security i think lol
 
more the question is i guess is do i pop from center or the side? the rail starts on the top of the little kicker ramp and is about a foot tall. i'll try and draw a picture after my tuba lesson...
 
you only need to pop and come from the side if the rail is like the one mentioned before.

The easiest rail to learn on is a down rail thats level with the lip of the kicker. (imo)
 
either from the side or straight on depending on the rail. You should learn on one that you can hit straight on though.
 
alright lemme give you a legit answer.

definitly for your first rail ride up to it as if you were gana stradle it. Its the easyest way your going to get well centered on it and not catch an edge of fall off early and crash bad. So ride off the lip, knees slightly bend for the pop, at top of the lip pop straight up looking down at the rail in the direction your gana be going and when your skis definitly clear the rail turn completely 90 degrees. For some reason girls never like to actually turn 90 all the way and they turn like 30 and eventually you will catch an edge and crash if you do that. Once on the rail stay relaxed try to think about keeping your shoulders imbetween your 2 feet and balance. At end of rail twist back to riding position and repeat if you get it. Best thing you can do. goodluck
 
Tuba lesson? Ok then.

Sounds like you want to be coming from the side for sure. Which side depends on which foot you have forwards whilst you are sliding. If you are left forward, approach from the left, right forward, from the right. It is possible to go from either side and still slide it natural, but a lipslide (tails over first) is harder.

If you have any easier down features (flat downs, down boxes) around, maybe practice on those first, urban style rails are not the easiest.

 
you can hit it from the side if its like a down rail and stuff or straight on if you want if its a box flat rail ect..
 
thanks for the advice. i can't make the picture work but i think my question was answered. there is a rail jam at my school thurs and i really want to enter but i feel like i need to hit a rail first... the only two at the jib park that's open at the mountain are urban rails, meaning i will have just have to hit them from the side then? thanks. i'm gonna practice tomorrow and hopefully all goes okay on thursday...
 
when your just learing, you want the rail to approach you. Its key that the rail be comfortalbe around you before you mount
 
one more thing, sorry about all the questions, but how important are the skis themselves? are armada ar6 center mounts okay? or would it be easier on armada jjs (centered and wider) or some shitty old non-shaped k2 usa (not centered) none of my friends ride rails or jib at all and its my second year so i'm really grateful for all the advice... boots stiffer or looser too? thanks guys... plus K to all!
 
It doesn't matter what kind skis you use, center mounted is best though. I don't like hitting rails with pow skis just because they are so big and heavy but I know a kid that loves to ride the park with his hellbents. As long as you keep at it I'm sure you will get used to whatever you decide to use.
 
take the ar6's with out a doubt.reason being you have equal amounts of ski in front and behind you, being mounted like that will help with balancing. flex(stiffness) of the boot is going to come down to personal preference.
 
Whoa... Definitely do not go with the JJ's for rails--although they have rocker and will be easier to clear your tips when getting on urban I still wouldn't use them considering how wide and large they are--plus, they're pow skis! I wouldn't use the K2's at all either, they sound like race skis... The AR6's should be more than fine.
As far as boots go, you're pretty much stuck with whatever your boot's stiffness rating is, so they'll flex however they're made to flex, and unless you're looking for mad shinbang I'd definitely tighten those boots up. Not so they're uncomfortable, you just don't want any room for your shin to move back and forth (having too much space between your shin and your boot's tongue is part of what will give you shinbang).
Overall the skis don't have THAT much to do with your performance, what's important is the effort you put into it and your commitment to the sport.
Good luck!
 
i find it the most successful especially for people who are just learning to come on straight. Theres a much better chance you will stay on the rail and not slide off to the left if you approach from the right
 
whenever im hiking a rail i always notice my tracks come in at the harshest angle, i find it easier to catch and get locked into anything like that.
 
Just go for it! The easiest way is straight on, then try hopping on from the side, just remember to keep the pressure on your leading foot and not to lean back, and it's easy peasy! BOOM!
 
the way i learned it, ride towards it from your preferred side, L or R, then as you approach the lip, lift your inside leg (leg closest to the rail) and hop onto the rail, placing that leg first...
its a 1-2 movement you simply step onto the rail with a little hop, later on you can perfect it to hopping on with both feet simultaneous, or doing an ollie or nollie or a butter or whatever....
 
also something very fun, but rather difficult on a rail, easier on street configured boxes, you ride towards the box/rail, slightly to your preferred side, then lift the inside leg and step onto the beginning of the box/rail, on the very tip, then you push/hop on and spin 90°(or 270 if you can) and place both skis, it looks ill and is super easy !
you can see these quite often in travelling circus episodes :)
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned the importance of prebang. Especially if you're doing the rail jam, ride in like it ain't no thang and it doesn't matter if you fuck up, just prebang and afterbang, everything else will work itself out.
 
The rail jam was awesome and I did it! I just signed up and realized that I had to do it in front of all those people so I did. Thanks for all the advice!
 
don't think anybody has said this yet, but if u approach from the side go as close to the rail as possible, don't go wide. If u go wide it will make u slide off on the other side way way easier. So come in really close even if u hit it from the side.
 
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