Tips on rails?

nOtyRmOm

nOtyRmOm

Member
So last year i got fairly comfortable sliding boxes at the hill and my friends' setup. this year I got an actual park setup(2017 candide 2.0 with sth 13) I got it all for free cause i work at a shop. is there any advice that I really need before I start going on actual rails in the park, and not just boxes?
 
If ur gonna slip out 90% chance its gonna be backwards. Keep that im mind and just put a littttle bit more weight on front foot. Make sure edges arent too sharp too, don’t wanna catch. Just trust yourself
 
going from rails to boxes? no worries at all if you've gotten proficient at sliding boxes fully sideways. in fact rails are kinda easier than boxes sometimes imo, they're more consistent

remember the fundamentals of sliding rails: flex your core, LEAN FORWARD! the line of your center of gravity should go through your shoulders straight down through your thighs/knees and then through the balls of your feet. look at the end of the rail, not straight down. lean forward, make the full 90* turn and commit. 99% of beginner rail falls are slipping out backward and/or not fully committing
 
A big thing on rails is to make sure you get a good pop off the lip, do a clean 90 rotation and land planted with you feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart and your eyes past the end of the rail. I remember one summer I got really into longboarding and would push the board forward and run and jump on it and it actually made rails much easier that winter.
 
Stance- shoulder width

knees- slightly bent

- lean in a bit so there’s some forward pressure in your boot, not too much but you should be able to feel your shins slightly pushing on the front of your boots.

- go in with enough speed to complete the rail, faster is easier

- keep your eyes looking at the end of the rail, your body as a tendency to follow your eyes
 
14338569:BLandz said:
If ur gonna slip out 90% chance its gonna be backwards. Keep that im mind and just put a littttle bit more weight on front foot. Make sure edges arent too sharp too, don’t wanna catch. Just trust yourself
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Your point leads me to another question. I'm a longtime snowboarder who is switching back to skis and just bought a brand new pair. I'm generally 80% mountain but l certainly like to go into the park a few runs per day. Am I gonna be introducing my face to the rail if I try and slide one on a brand new pair of skis? Is it worth asking the shop to tune the edges down a bit if I'm gonna be carving the majority of the time?
 
14338604:ArgyleNJ said:
Your point leads me to another question. I'm a longtime snowboarder who is switching back to skis and just bought a brand new pair. I'm generally 80% mountain but l certainly like to go into the park a few runs per day. Am I gonna be introducing my face to the rail if I try and slide one on a brand new pair of skis? Is it worth asking the shop to tune the edges down a bit if I'm gonna be carving the majority of the time?
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from someone who works at a shop just go and get a gummy stone then detune it yourself. if your nice we might give it to you for free
 
14338604:ArgyleNJ said:
Your point leads me to another question. I'm a longtime snowboarder who is switching back to skis and just bought a brand new pair. I'm generally 80% mountain but l certainly like to go into the park a few runs per day. Am I gonna be introducing my face to the rail if I try and slide one on a brand new pair of skis? Is it worth asking the shop to tune the edges down a bit if I'm gonna be carving the majority of the time?
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You won't die if you know what you're doing but you'll get a ton of edge cracks and shorten the lifespan of your ski if you don't dull your edges underfoot. I round them down at a 45º with a file binding to binding then get the rest with a gummy stone.
 
Come in hot. Back foot on first. Stand up tall on that bitch. Eyes on the tip of the rail, do not look down at your feet.
 
LOOK AT THE END i could never make it all the way until i realized this dont just stare at your feet look at the end of the rail cause u go where your eyes go
 
a lot of people make it seem more complicated than it is, really just gotta make sure your back foot is completely flat and youll be good if its a short rail, then just get comfy and move onto longer ones.
 
if your edges may be sharp, just make sure your center of gravity is as low as can be, also if it's a long rail, look at the end of the rail to maximize balance
 
Best advice I ever got when learning rails is to deep your focus at the end of the rail. Trust your body to move appropriately but keep your vision at the end of the rail not looking down at your skis (contrary to skateboarding)
 
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