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Help With Downrails

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Moo
Posts: 608 - Karma: 19
so went skiing today, tried to hop up on one, and ended up on my face, it was like mid steep, any tips for staying on, its a down flat
Dec 4 2010 12:07AM
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STREETS
Posts: 1443 - Karma: 15
Make sure to keep weight on that forward foot, look towards the end of the rail. Blast some beats, and send it! People with more experiance will chime in im sure, those are just the basics.
Dec 4 2010 12:09AM
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Moo
Posts: 608 - Karma: 19
thats basically what i needed
Dec 4 2010 12:11AM
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hanksy
Posts: 659 - Karma: 265
Just be as absolutely confident when hopping on. The only time people really mess up is when they hesitate right at the takeoff. Once you're on, stare at the very end of the rail and you'll be there in no time.
Dec 4 2010 12:16AM
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p-fo
Posts: 9372 - Karma: 6,155
this sounds more like you just have trouble hitting urban style (side entry) features rather than being able to slide a downrail. so have your skis about shoulder width apart as you come in and jump on. look down toward the end of the rail as you jump on. its really that simple. just try it a couple times. you will fall when learning urban entry. its inevitable. but eventually you will get it.

bottomline: keep trying. you will figure it out quickly and will feel more confident as you do it more. hope this helps
Dec 4 2010 12:28AM
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Rumi.
Posts: 1231 - Karma: 556

also a down flat might not be your best rail for your first down rail.

if it's the only one make sure you pump the tranny between the down and flat. if not you'll just slide off the rail when you hit the flat.

Dec 4 2010 12:48AM
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cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
stay way forward and make sure you get you turn your skis all the way sideways
Dec 4 2010 3:45PM
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CassiusClay
Posts: 1757 - Karma: 2
pump the tranny?  Makes me think of the opposite of what you want to do with a down to flat kink.  Absorb the down to flat kink.
Dec 4 2010 5:41PM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
This is the most imprtand advice. Most of the time when people fall off rails it's becaus they are not completely 90.
Dec 4 2010 5:46PM
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JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 461
Just do it again until you either get hurt or stomp it.
Dec 4 2010 6:05PM
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Milksteak
Posts: 9948 - Karma: 833
Keep trying..You're not going to get it perfectly your first time, get back out there and just do it. Nike.
Dec 4 2010 6:06PM
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Phog.
Posts: 516 - Karma: 184
do it like dem franchise boys, just leant wit it and rock wit it
Dec 4 2010 6:15PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
That is solid advice for beginners, but is incorrect in a way.

Rather than not being all the way 90 I would say you really just need your weight over the rail. I really learned this when I started doing switch ups and spins on. You could slide a rail with your skis at like a 45 degrees if you wanted to as long as you are centered. Like in a switch up I never take off or land fully 90, but if my weight is off for even a second there is no getting back on the rail. It's like getting back into a regular slide after a press.




Dec 4 2010 6:34PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
And here is my advice on learning urban down rails.

Like any rail, make sure you have your weight forwards. Remember you have to move your weight a bit to the side. If you are sliding off on your tails, you are probably hitting the rail at too much of an angle. You really don't need to hit it at much of an angle at all. Look at the end of the rail you don't really ever need to glance down at rails until you are doing spins/switch ups.

Also some rails feel easier if you think front foot first, and others feel easier if you think both at the same time. This is also different for different people.
Dec 4 2010 6:47PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
Down rails are easier if you go faster IMO, it helps you get on a lot easier.
Dec 4 2010 6:58PM
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Rumi.
Posts: 1231 - Karma: 556
ya that's what i ment i just couldn't think of it at the time
Dec 4 2010 7:51PM
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egg.
Posts: 3231 - Karma: 3,477
make sure when you hit that kink your not leaning to far forward kos you might end up on your face again
Dec 4 2010 7:56PM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
I have a lot of problems with down rails having my right foot foward. So maybe try switching up the direction
Dec 4 2010 11:52PM
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