Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Preping an Urban rail?

profile picture
whipple
Posts: 1415 - Karma: 5,167
So I would like to ski more urban this year and was wondering what you people do before you hit a rail ( especially a large, rather sketchy one ). Waxing would probably be a good idea and I've seen others going over the rail with a file but I assume that's only if there is a burn / bump whatever in the rail.
Oct 11 2011 1:11PM
9 0
profile picture
skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
never waste wax on a rail. 100% pointless...

wax a ledge if you want, but i don't think it's necessary.

shovel off all the snow from the stairs

ski down the stairs a few times to get a feel for them, because you will land on them eventually.

if you can't ski down the stairs, you probably shouldn't be hitting the rail. start smaller. otherwise you're going to be in for some really fucking gnar falls.

jump over the rail on the first hit to make sure you have the speed, i've tried to jump over and ended up greasing some rails on my first hit because i didn't have enough speed. better than falling down the stairs.

don't hit aluminum rails unless you have zero edge, not dull edges, like actually no edge left.


Oct 11 2011 1:27PM
2 0
profile picture
CBROOKS
Posts: 4979 - Karma: 10,708
Build the jump to your desired size, and then cut it in half. Bring water on cold days and salt on warm days, don't give cops or security any attitude unless you want them to make your day really miserable and costly.
Oct 11 2011 1:33PM
1 0
profile picture
GorillaSteez03
Posts: 344 - Karma: 65
Just remember, like with any rail, to commit to it 110% because the consequences can be way higher than in the park.  Oh, and don't forget to put enough snow on the landing.  I've learned this the hard way unfortunately (getting bucked over a kink and landing on straight pavement, sticking to it, and flying forward onto my wrists....no fun).
Oct 11 2011 3:10PM
0 0
profile picture
Steezegull
Posts: 477 - Karma: 63
i would definitely keep the snow on the stairs for the first couple hits, or at least until you get comfortable on the rail. then shovel it off

if you have the time, run your ski down the rail with your hands to check for trouble areas, or places your ski will most likely catch an edge. basically anything you think you should do for prep, do it.
Oct 11 2011 3:12PM
0 0
profile picture
.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,546
why does everyone say dont build a big jump
Oct 11 2011 3:33PM
1 0
profile picture
GorillaSteez03
Posts: 344 - Karma: 65

^I feel like bigger jumps can pop you too high and throw you off a bit, the tranny can start to get funky the bigger you go for urban lips.  Plus, if the rail is steep enough you really have no need for a big jump.

Oct 11 2011 3:42PM
0 0
profile picture
skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
this, small lip, stair side, shovel the stairs, or don't hit urban.

take notes...

Click for larger image
Click for larger image


Oct 11 2011 5:49PM
0 0
profile picture
buddychaps
Posts: 1817 - Karma: 583
this. remember to make sure your ski will slide on the rail before you hit it. I learned the hard way and broke my wrist
Oct 11 2011 5:55PM
0 0
profile picture
stickski
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 1,529
that looks sexy, nice work
Oct 11 2011 5:56PM
0 0
profile picture
k-fred
Posts: 5363 - Karma: 1,598

^ is that you? if it is, did you land it? because thats was balls

Oct 11 2011 6:00PM
0 0
profile picture
.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,546
thats a gnar rail, is that you?
Oct 11 2011 6:04PM
0 0
profile picture
skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
yes thats me. last season we got 6/7 kinks on the rail but the shot literally looks like shit. this season we're going back to get shots/tricks hopefully.
Oct 11 2011 6:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
when you fall off, grab the rail if you aren't landing on your feet. this will hopefully slow down your fall and make landing on your back on stairs less painful
Oct 11 2011 6:13PM
0 0
profile picture
monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
i feel the reason is it may pop you up too high, so that you come down on the rail more vertically and this will cause more of a bounce or cause your legs to split or send you off balance.
Oct 11 2011 6:36PM
0 0
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
it's mostly just for the same reason that people say shovel the stairs.. cause it makes it legit and youre not "cheating." there are a couple downsides to huge kicks though, like losing speed going up them etc


also skithesprings i know ive said this before but props for trying that rail, hope you grease that thing this winter


on a side note, i understand the thing about building your kick on the inside of the rail, but really, in terms of gnar, it's a bit less... falling over the rails onto stairs is the killer on urbans, and when your jump's on the inside youre way more likely to fall onto the grass or whatever is on the outside. oh well.
Oct 11 2011 6:44PM
0 0
profile picture
Pow.yuHdig*
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 146
lol you dont have to shovel the stairs

maybe if youre filming or photoing you should but if ur just out there sessioning dont waste ur time and energy shoveling them off

and kinks always look 10 times gnarlier once youre actually on the rail
Oct 11 2011 8:21PM
0 0
profile picture
Pow.yuHdig*
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 146
^i meant to just quote "shovel the stairs or dont hit urban"

and that kink comment was directed at choosing an urban rail in general not at that beast in the picture or the op
Oct 11 2011 8:26PM
0 0
profile picture
Z.J.H.
Posts: 842 - Karma: 1,541
Bring friends... always more fun
Oct 11 2011 8:44PM
0 0
profile picture
broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
this..... bring me
Oct 11 2011 8:51PM
0 0
profile picture
Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
why hit urban if theres no cam or anything just sessioning? worth a lot of trouble for just a sesh.

anyways step for urban:
1. get friends
2. get something for speed
3. shovel stairs
4. make a jump thats appropriate for the rail. but dont make it to big
5. snow in landing
6. hit that shit and get shots
7. clean up
8. go home throw shots on the comp and post that shit up!
Oct 11 2011 9:09PM
1 0
profile picture
whipple
Posts: 1415 - Karma: 5,167
you want a small jump not only cuz it looks better but when you pop off it you want the rail to be at the top of your jump and it will be 10000x easier to slide versus making the jump big then poping off it and droping like half a foot onto the rail.
Oct 13 2011 12:08PM
0 0
profile picture
avocado.
Posts: 262 - Karma: 247
do your skis get all trashed on stairs??
Oct 13 2011 2:02PM
0 0
profile picture
skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
they get scraped up if thats what you're asking, but they still work just fine.

i still ski my urbans randomly if i want to do some rock skiing or late season grass skiing at the local mountain and they slide just fine...
Oct 13 2011 2:08PM
0 0
profile picture
250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
why do you have to get shots? do you ski because its fun or so you can show other people how good you are at skiing?
Oct 13 2011 4:37PM
1 0
profile picture
EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
dude, i cant believe youre pro, i am so much better then you
Oct 13 2011 5:12PM
1 0
profile picture
broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
if you land a kfed on an urban rail and nobody sees it, did it really happen?
Oct 13 2011 6:32PM
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5)