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HELP ON RAILS!

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battleonski
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
Ok I have been trying to do rails for many many times already. After receiving countless of bruises and scars, any tips? When I jump on the rail and turn 90 degrees in mid air, i slide off, fall backwards/sideways, or just flat out eat it. I heard leaning forward helps? Any tips will help...thx!
Dec 22 2006 3:44AM
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battleonski
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
Also, its pretty hard to build a backyard rail when you live in southern california. lol...
Dec 22 2006 3:48AM
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AMHskiz13
Posts: 39 - Karma: 6
LEAN FORWARD!! i had the same problem when i was learning, lean your body over the fronts of your skis, it will help to make sure your forward, and focus on the end of the rail. hope that is of some help!
Dec 22 2006 3:50AM
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cofreeskier
Posts: 3189 - Karma: 15
Lean forward and keep a stance about shoulder width apart...that's pretty much all there is to it, that's how I learned I just kept all those things in mind and popped 90 onto a rail
Dec 22 2006 3:55AM
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Mr.Capone
Posts: 1227 - Karma: 109
yeah dude...i had the same problem of falling backwards.

Here's a few tips

1) Widen your stance. Your feet might be too close together
2) Keep your weight centered but a little more on the front foot
3) To learn start with the rail right between your skis. Don't try doing a side entry till you have this down.
4) Look ahead down the rail, not straight in front of you.
5) Practice by finding a wet bench/wooden woodchip playground barrier/anything else slidy without skis on and figure out your balance.

Good luck!
Dec 22 2006 7:24AM
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jp_draves
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 37
yeah just keep a wide stance, balance it out and look towards the end of the rail to help clear it. Also its mostly about commiting and confidence.
Dec 22 2006 7:36AM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
looser pants
Dec 22 2006 9:14AM
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battleonski
Posts: 7 - Karma: 10
alite, thx all, will try all those next time!
Dec 22 2006 1:09PM
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Albino
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 123
aahahaha.

but seriously folks, just keep hitting little boxes following the advice already given and eventually it will come.
Dec 22 2006 1:15PM
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andrewg
Posts: 4746 - Karma: 18
alite??! wtf
Dec 22 2006 1:40PM
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TheWallaby
Posts: 297 - Karma: 16
try boxes too, and make sure when you're learning you keep your weight forward and stay forward in your boots.

with rails, make sure you have your balance down, and don't jump "over" the rail, jump onto it and turn your body 90 degrees.
Dec 22 2006 1:46PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
stay smooth and COMMIT
Dec 22 2006 1:53PM
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Ceru
Posts: 1879 - Karma: 101
does anyone else find that boxes are harder than rails?
Dec 22 2006 4:33PM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
not really lol
Dec 22 2006 5:05PM
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poofartpee
Posts: 7436 - Karma: 1,538
land wide and low keeping ur body weight centered baetween ur legs...USE UR LEG MUSCLES DONT SLIP OUT! thats my tip
Dec 22 2006 6:59PM
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ijibgoremtn
Posts: 4221 - Karma: 13
yea do small ones first not high off the ground so you dont get sketched out and keep the rail centered between your skis and always watch the end of the rail nothing else you will def get it then
Dec 22 2006 9:16PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Got an old skateboard laying around?

If so, buy a 3 liter of cheap store pop. A 3 liter will allow enough clearance to keep the trucks on the deck so that it will be a barrier while you learn.

Wrap the 3 liter in duct-tape, and use it as a balance board. It will be sketchy at first likely. But it will help with your balance immensely. It will also strengthing and condition your legs to that type of movement.



As for the skiing portion, I've found the biggest thing is keep a lower stance all the way through. On the inrun, on the rail/box and on the landing. It all helps the stability and center of gravity while you are learning by making it lower. Skis should be shoulder width apart, and just committ fully to it. As you get better, you can start to adjust things and change things.
Dec 22 2006 9:22PM
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tribefan226
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 209
id say lean forward is most important. i just got grinding down a couple weeks ago and my problem befroe that was leaning back
Dec 22 2006 9:30PM
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slaydave
Posts: 1697 - Karma: 62
go as fast as possible... keep your feet really close together and lean back... you'll stick it first try...
Dec 22 2006 9:33PM
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Tmeels
Posts: 1009 - Karma: 77
when you say lean forward do you mean over your tips, lean towards the end of teh rail?
Dec 22 2006 10:49PM
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PeteyG
Posts: 2946 - Karma: 49
lean towards the end of the rail. also i found just commiting to the rail helps and having confidence. idk lame but it was my problem
Dec 22 2006 10:53PM
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jKutcher
Posts: 3936 - Karma: 4,260
definatly just center your weight right over your feet. Also have your feet like shoulder width apart, and just go for it
Dec 22 2006 10:55PM
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eastAR5
Posts: 15084 - Karma: 732
just go straight for the 270 , throw a pretzel in or 2
Dec 22 2006 10:55PM
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Tz1080
Posts: 205 - Karma: 24
just dont slow down when you get up to the rail or think about it too much.. it you just hit the jump up to it with a good amount of speed it makes it a whole lot easeir
Dec 22 2006 11:09PM
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J_Walk
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 28

that might work....... if your trying the rail backwards/ uphill
but seriously you didnt even mention it was a joke

Dec 22 2006 11:47PM
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nitsua
Posts: 4631 - Karma: 726
just look at the end of the rail and get low. simple as pie
Dec 23 2006 2:16AM
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espong1321
Posts: 763 - Karma: 10
go fast
Dec 23 2006 2:23AM
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nitsua
Posts: 4631 - Karma: 726
just look at the end.
Dec 23 2006 2:30AM
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james44
Posts: 3323 - Karma: 578
i didnt read the thread
i never had trouble on flat straight rails, just dont think about it so much (im not good at rail tricks but i can slide a flat one no problem)
Dec 23 2006 2:33AM
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jamesmccormick
Posts: 1481 - Karma: 17
no you didnt mention it was a joke, thats exactly how you should do rails
Dec 23 2006 3:32AM
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J_Walk
Posts: 1076 - Karma: 28
Whaaa? aside from the speed most other ppl said feet shoulderwith and lean forwards.
Dec 23 2006 1:02PM
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socktrooper
Posts: 337 - Karma: 13
i just learned to grind not to long ago, the tip is, to keep stiff and flex lol im not joking it works
Dec 23 2006 1:17PM
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theguynextdoor91
Posts: 241 - Karma: 10
you have to have that mad crazy wide steezey stance...hope that helps
Dec 23 2006 2:14PM
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kristie
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 214
look at the end of the rail
Dec 23 2006 4:45PM
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forfun
Posts: 4916 - Karma: 66
i dont think you lean over the fronts of your skis that would just make you fall off the side of the rail....
Dec 23 2006 4:50PM
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tremby_skyt
Posts: 38 - Karma: 46
you should fokus on the rail and the most important thing is DONT BE SCARED! if your scared you'll automaticaly have the reflex of falling on the side because your not sure and you dont want to get hurt. you have to remind yourself that your main objective is to do the rail, and to keep your balence on the rail to get to the end without falling on the side!
Dec 23 2006 4:54PM
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fcskier27
Posts: 736 - Karma: 11
i had the same problem and i went to a skate park after a big snow storm with a friend and just hit the rails with my shoes on, then when i got back to trying to do rails it was a lot easier
Dec 23 2006 5:32PM
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KINKED
Posts: 147 - Karma: 27
lean forward, and get rail under your toes.
Dec 23 2006 5:35PM
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Trashpuppet
Posts: 529 - Karma: 123
pop off the lip then turn 90 degrees, make sure the rail is under the center of the boot ( if ur skis arent mounted center put the rail under the ball of ur ft) be looking down rail.. dont lean uphill ( most people lean uphill as soon as they get on the rail, keep a good center balance) nor down hill ( only if hitting a flat rail) if hitting down rail lean forwards... keep ur knees bent at all times. and uve just done a rail..

to sum it all up... pop, turn, slide with rail underfoot, dont lean back, be looking down rail, and slide off..


-------------------------

use poles
Dec 23 2006 5:48PM
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Grimace.
Posts: 8345 - Karma: 25
i've herd people say look at the end of the rail, but i've never really tried this, infact im not really sure where i look, i guess it all depends on what im trying
Dec 23 2006 6:11PM
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Jamie_Baril
Posts: 2196 - Karma: 2,513
it raelly works and also keep your souldiers over your base
Dec 23 2006 6:13PM
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AMHskiz13
Posts: 39 - Karma: 6
jea that came out wrong its hard to explain when typin' i ment over the sides of your skis i guess u could say, twords the end of the rail...
Dec 24 2006 2:35AM
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anitaskis
Posts: 767 - Karma: 10
feet wide is key to not slipping back.
Dec 24 2006 2:49AM
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skiWASHDC
Posts: 716 - Karma: 17
When i do rails none of this shit even crosses my mind , its all instinct to me now its weird.

i have no idea where i look. I just ride to the left side of the rail and clean it. thats all i can say.

but you might wanna start by hittin the rail straight on instead of urban style.
Dec 24 2006 10:44AM
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