Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 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!

Rails

profile picture
PaperClipSteeze
Posts: 215 - Karma: 382
So i switched from boarding to skiing this year and of course I bought twin tips because I thought normal skis would get boring. I've only skiied 2 days this season but I've taught myself and I'm starting to experiment in the park. I can slide some boxes and hit some small jumps but I've tried some small low rails and I always eat shit every time. Can you guys give me some advice on rails? Haha I'm tired of all of the kids in the xxxxl jibberish talking shit on me because I wear full tilts and cant slide a rail to save my life.
Jan 2 2012 8:53PM
0 0
profile picture
SteezoSaurus
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 2,670
This is a common frustration for even the most experienced of skiers.
I have found that the most common problem is weight distribution. Most people tend to lean on their back foot a bit too much when they start hitting rails. This almost always leads to slippage and a crash.

So keep in mind, weight your feet evenly. Your downhill foot should have just as much weight on it as the trailing foot. This will make sliding sideways much more predictable.
Jan 2 2012 8:56PM
0 0
profile picture
PaperClipSteeze
Posts: 215 - Karma: 382
Yeah not that I think about it, I usually put a lot of my weight on my backfoot
Jan 2 2012 8:57PM
0 0
profile picture
C-Weezy
Posts: 786 - Karma: 50
If you are talking about wider rails, just go straight on with a wide stance and look where you are wanting to go. Pretty self explanatory honestly but it just takes practice. And like what has been said, keep your weight distributed evenly.
Jan 2 2012 8:59PM
0 0
profile picture
Yinzer
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 73
also putting weight on your back foot is an indication that you also have you body opened up (facing the end of the rail). You should have your skis perpendicular to the rail and you body should face your tips. Only your head is turned.
Jan 2 2012 9:00PM
0 0
profile picture
rankstank
Posts: 1033 - Karma: 223
Advice that helped me is pretend like you are running and jumping onto a stopped skateboard, you wouldn't lean back or you would slip out, same goes for sliding rails.
Jan 2 2012 9:01PM
0 0
profile picture
C-Weezy
Posts: 786 - Karma: 50
This is actually pretty solid advice.
Jan 2 2012 9:22PM
0 0
profile picture
ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
Look and the end of the rail. This helped me so much
Jan 2 2012 9:27PM
0 0
profile picture
fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
This.
Jan 2 2012 9:31PM
0 0
profile picture
HumanGenius
Posts: 359 - Karma: 228
look at the end of the rail, keep a low center o gravity, and to ensure proper weight distribution lean and almost grab your leading foot to exaggerate the weight. then as you get more used to the feeling start to stand up straighter.
Jan 2 2012 9:41PM
0 0
profile picture
manzear
Posts: 843 - Karma: 849
I always used the analogy of running as fast as you can and jumping on a skateboard....you have to land with equal weight on both feet and roughly shoulder width apart....
Jan 3 2012 9:39AM
0 0
profile picture
coldcuts69
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 1,888
make sure your feet are wide and maybe like shoulder width apart, that was my problem when i was learning. good luck
Jan 3 2012 10:18AM
0 0
profile picture
fnly
Posts: 61 - Karma: 18
I'm going to do this to learn 270 on
Jan 3 2012 2:36PM
0 0
profile picture
NotGhood
Posts: 2809 - Karma: 1,255
its scarier but hitting any rail/box is easier with more speed
also keep your eye on the end of the rail on a box you can get away with just looking infront of where your feet are but for rails keep your eyes fixed on the end.
Jan 3 2012 3:44PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)