Rail approach

Timby

Timby

Member
Is it recommended to approach a rail / box from an angle? I was trying to hit a rail at my park and one of the guys park crew lads said that it is easier to take it at angle, rather that straddling it. He said something about the shock of it being lessened because you're moreso easing onto it, instead of a full jump. I might just be overthinking it but I figured I would ask, thanks.

**This thread was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:11:56pm
 
Really it just depends on who you ask, imo it’s easier to carve on from the side, but whatever works best for you
 
rails where the height is equivalent to or only slightly above the lip, i prefer to straddle. it reinforces being very centered on the rail.

down bars/rails, hand rails, dfds, and all boxes i prefer the side. less consequence to coming up short and also easier to land in a scissor on the rail/box.
 
I deadass go suicide every rail I can. It’s just how I learned. I feel like I stay on longer Bcs I know I’m landing dead center (or dying)
 
If you hip onto the rail from the center you’re a certified jerry in my books

hop

**This post was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:49:35pm
 
If you don’t have good pop and lock, easier to straddle.

Learn to lock on the side of box, easiest way to feel if you’re doing it right. Essential to learning other tricks
 
I wouldn’t say from an angle because you risking going over the rail. But yeah, I think it’s easier to approach from the side where you’re next to the rail. Street style. It’s a very natural 90 degree turn and you’re on the rail
 
If the lip is just a ride on then straddling is fine but don’t get in the habit of straddling to get on every rail. Carving into a rail with a lower lip will work better
 
personally i hit every rail from the side. I use to straddle rails than last season, i started hitting rails from the side and it's natural to me and I find straddling rails very awkward
 
Do whatever you want. Eventually, you'll want to learn urban on but if the rail isn't high you're fine straddling for now. I even straddle from time to time if the rail is lower than the lip, just do what makes you comfortable.
 
Doesn't matter. The more sideways you come to it the more you should try and kick it with your heel, which makes your ski slide upwards.
 
Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.
 
14405002:ski_salmon69 said:
Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.
Click to expand...

I think that last part is super important. Approaching from the side helps to see the whole rail, which I believe helps you slide more complicated rails like dfds and other kinked ones. Also gets your tiny foot movements more controlled
 
a lot of bigger features require you to hit it from the side, so doing it on smaller features is only gonna help. eventually you’ll reach a point where straddling will limit your progression

topic:Timby said:
Is it recommended to approach a rail / box from an angle? I was trying to hit a rail at my park and one of the guys park crew lads said that it is easier to take it at angle, rather that straddling it. He said something about the shock of it being lessened because you're moreso easing onto it, instead of a full jump. I might just be overthinking it but I figured I would ask, thanks.

**This thread was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:11:56pm
Click to expand...
 
carving 100% i used to straddle till last spring when i sacked a flat up rail so hard my ass and thighs were literally purple
 
i second this. i was straddling rails and getting a ton of taint slides, took me like a couple hours to learn an urban entry and it’s the move. significantly less impact when you land on the rail among other things.

14405002:ski_salmon69 said:
Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.
Click to expand...
 
I think straddling is easier for beginners

once you get some awareness of balancing yourself w heels and toes urban takes less effort
 
As people have already stated, I'd say straddling rails is for when you are just learning how to actually slide rails. Would really only work with a ride-on approach or at least a low-risk feature. Same thing when you're learning 270s on it's going to be easier to straddle.

After you get the hang of it though i think urban on becomes easier as you're going to have to learn it to get onto higher rails that aren't ride ons.

Urban on also looks better imo.
 
14405665:ScootSkiLyfe said:
As people have already stated, I'd say straddling rails is for when you are just learning how to actually slide rails. Would really only work with a ride-on approach or at least a low-risk feature. Same thing when you're learning 270s on it's going to be easier to straddle.

After you get the hang of it though i think urban on becomes easier as you're going to have to learn it to get onto higher rails that aren't ride ons.

Urban on also looks better imo.
Click to expand...

who tf learns to 270 on by straddling
 
14405757:ski_salmon69 said:
who tf learns to 270 on by straddling
Click to expand...

I learned 2s on by coming at a ride on / level feature straight. Helped me cuz I could have a wider stance off the lip than I could urban
 
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