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I suck at down rails

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Nate.Dog
Posts: 1672 - Karma: 2,098
The title says it all, I can hit flat bars, up rails, flat boxes, down boxes, rainbow boxes, but for some reason I cant hit down rails properly. I can pop and get on, but i either slip my edges and fall back onto the rail, or I can't lock my front edge well enough. I think my body position could be part of it,
any tips/pointers at all would be appreciated, +K will be given!
Jan 4 2013 10:53AM
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Jaggy_Snake
Posts: 2287 - Karma: 1,418
Get enough weight over your front leg/ski and you'll be fine.

Don't lean uphill (possibly where you're going wrong) as you'll just slip out.

Keep at it and you'll eventually get it!

Stay positive and have fun!
Jan 4 2013 10:56AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
keep your wait downhill and you'll be fine
Jan 4 2013 11:04AM
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nine50seven
Posts: 576 - Karma: 686
Something that helps me is to always look at thend of the rail but I still have a hard time with 270's off anyone have tips for 270's on down rails
Jan 4 2013 11:05AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,635
Yeah you gotta get your body over your feet and adjust to the slope.

If you always think that your feet should be wider than shoulder width then that should help adjust. If you go on a downrail your back foot needs to be behind you in relation to the rail, which will pitch your body downwards naturally.

Look at this guy:

Click for larger image

You can see that his hips are aligned with the rail. That means he has corrected his weight to be balanced on top of it. You're just making the mistake that you aren't getting your body into the right position - happens to most people when they first do down stuff.

You'll be fine. Get it once and it won't leave you.
Jan 4 2013 11:10AM
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Nate.Dog
Posts: 1672 - Karma: 2,098
Thank you Mr. Bishop (and everyone else) for such quality posts! this is exactly the advice that I was looking for, ill make sure I keep my feet wide and body with the slope this weekend!
Jan 4 2013 11:26AM
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jmiramontes
Posts: 3 - Karma: 10
Good advice I'm having the same problem
Feb 11 2013 7:20PM
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Stainr
Posts: 1186 - Karma: -1,150
i used to have the same issue, when you hop on, jump with your shoulder facing down at the end of the rail, then adjust from there. Thats what helped me.
Feb 11 2013 8:10PM
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_____alfredo____
Posts: 1123 - Karma: 2,503
widefeetwidefeetwidefeetwidefeetwidefeetwidefeet
Feb 11 2013 9:02PM
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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
mak sure your skis are matching the angle the rail, good luck!
Feb 11 2013 9:04PM
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FroesenSkeeze
Posts: 638 - Karma: 673
stance* stance** stance*** stance**** stance***** stance****** I'm pretty sure people with narrow feet can do down rails as well haha.
Feb 11 2013 9:05PM
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ohboy
Posts: 1177 - Karma: 2,528
I used to have the same problem when I first started hitting down rails. I tried to hit them just like flat bars, and would slip back out. And damn, those falls hurt. But just keep going after it. Like Bishop said, once you get over the rail once, you'll have figured out how you need to hit it. And eventually, it will become like hitting a flat bar; you don't need to think about it.

Just think about getting over the rail. The concept is similar to that of an up rail. You don't just jump right at the rail like it's a flat bar because that wouldn't work. It's just more difficult with a down rail because it is committing yourself forward of the lip of the jump, not back. Just remember to get your weight a little more forward off the lip, and you will lock on and slide it like a G.
Feb 11 2013 9:06PM
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