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Big Differences between Urban and Park Rails?

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Matt_T
Posts: 78 - Karma: 74
I'm planning to go urban skiing with a few friends soon. First time and I want to be ready. I'm not planning to hit too much as I'm still perfecting my park rails but is there anything I should be ready for when going into these? +K for good answers?
Feb 10 2013 6:49PM
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JackDeLoot
Posts: 153 - Karma: 93
It all depends on the rail/feature. you can find a nice mellow downrail and if u build a nice takeoff, there won't be much of a difference (aside from the stairs, and handrails are usually quite skinny compared to park rails).

urban is just a little more dangerous overall (concrete stairs, rocks, etc), but with good snow coverage and a nice takeoff and landing, they can be fun and pretty safe.

Have fun!

oh yea, urban FUCKS your skis up, expect damage
Feb 10 2013 6:55PM
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Ali_Dibden
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 1,688
Trick is finding the right rails too, me and few mates were doing some urban a while back trying to hit a soccer goal, we had a bungee cord and a perfect run in, only thing we didn't expect was the paint that coated the goal, it was edge catch after edge catch and eventually managed to ride the whole thing (i'm not actually that great at urban or rails for that matter) but found myself with enough pain in my body to wake a sleeping rhino.
Feb 10 2013 7:08PM
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binturong-qwerty
Posts: 1506 - Karma: 146
If you can do one, you can do the other. It is all a head game. Just make sure it slides well by running your ski on it to check for sticky spots. make sure you have a gallon of water or two (for a handrail, not sure about soccer goals) to help the setup ice over/pack together.

Finally. FUCKING COMMIT. if you don't commit 100% you will almost definitely fall.
Feb 10 2013 7:45PM
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shitpoop
Posts: 667 - Karma: 1,479
PAINT WILL CATCH YOUR MUTHAFUCKING EDGES. Scrape it off with your skis.
Feb 10 2013 7:49PM
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SPUTnik.
Posts: 1487 - Karma: 2,555
just remember that urban rails are not made for skiing on and sometimes you really have to work for it. they maybe sticky, catchy, sketchy but commit and work for the bangers. good luck!
Feb 10 2013 7:50PM
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,331
they are quite a bit different. yes you can get lucky and find the perfect mellow rail with natural speed in run and the snow packs really well for the take off. but that isnt too common.
most of the time youre dealing with a slow in run that you have to use a drop in ramp/bungee/hand pulls whatever to get speed. the speed will usually be inconsistent and the in run wont stay as nice as it usually does in a park.
urban rails are generally higher. sure you can build a tall ramp up onto it but thats cheating and when youre actually on the rail youre going to be higher off the ground. if you come off early watch out for everything and anything to stop you or make you crash. in a park you can just hop off early and ski off to the side, not so much with stairs/rocks/trees around you.
the painted/sticky rails shouldnt be that big of a consider. you can use your edge to scrape any ice/paint off the rail before hand and then it should be slick enough.
i dont want this to discourage anyone because hitting street spots is a lot of fun when it goes right. the key points i would suggest you focus on are
1: find a low and mellow rail for your first. flat rails are actually more difficult because you will need more speed to balance. a nice 10-15 stair rail that isnt very steep is optimal.
2: take time to build a good in run and take off. you want to make sure the lip isnt going to give way when you go to pop on. also note building a higher lip may seem like the best way to make it easier, a higher lip will just take away speed from you. when youre jumping on to the rail, youre not jumping up to it right next to you. youre jumping out and down the rail. so if you have decent speed you dont need a very high lip at all.
3: if someone kicks you out be polite and do as they ask. even if they are being ridiculous.
4: clean up the spot when youre done.
Feb 10 2013 7:57PM
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.SeaStar
Posts: 145 - Karma: 38
This somes it up
Feb 10 2013 8:10PM
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-emile-
Posts: 6612 - Karma: 8,592
slight thread jack :
I planned to keep my old skis(161) for urban when I got my new ones (174).
I really got used to the length of my new ones and I'm iffy to use 161 by fear of not being used to it enough on an urban rail.
help ?
Feb 10 2013 8:15PM
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Caspaaa
Posts: 4830 - Karma: 1,466
everyone has basically said it..


my advice though after hitting urban for the first time today (a quad kink.. not the best idea)

1. make a good takeoff, utilize water and/or salt to do this, pack it down well
2. rule of thumb - number of kinks is probably the biggest indicator of difficulty of the rail. don't get terrified if the rail is high up... getting onto the rail is the easiest part if you're hitting a rail with lots of kinks. i'd take a super high flat down over a low quad kink anyway.
3. if you get booted be polite and clean everything up
4. make sure the rail slides before you hit it
5. if you're scared, for the first couple of hits just try to jump OVER the rail... then you will know you can make it onto the rail
6. you might not want to shovel the stairs at first, but once you grease the rail a few times and you're more confident, shovel the stairs so you can get that super raw urban shot.

enjoy!
Feb 10 2013 8:27PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Then use your new ones. If you're worried about wrecking them, use your old ones. If' you're worried about using your old ones, make a decision.

/logic
Feb 10 2013 8:28PM
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-emile-
Posts: 6612 - Karma: 8,592
well yeah that's what I was asking
Feb 10 2013 8:33PM
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skierman
Posts: 8324 - Karma: 7,635
Jeeze, don't you have stickers to make or something?
Feb 10 2013 8:34PM
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,331
you must not know of a little thing we like to call multi tasking.
Feb 10 2013 8:38PM
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SPUTnik.
Posts: 1487 - Karma: 2,555
hahaha
Feb 10 2013 8:49PM
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skierman
Posts: 8324 - Karma: 7,635
Huh? Is that kind of like when I get Dan Brown to distract you guys while I sneak a poopies on the mini ramp while tuggin my flesh rope?
Feb 10 2013 8:53PM
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CashmereCat
Posts: 2211 - Karma: 2,394
Easy first urban rail- skatepark rails
Feb 10 2013 9:43PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
it all depends on the rails you hit. it is what you make it. if you're filming and plan to do a lot of filming, you're going to want the steeper, bigger rails/features which are a LOT different from park rails/riding.

literally had my first day of urban riding today. and it was tough but a lot of fun
Feb 10 2013 9:48PM
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MACK.
Posts: 1230 - Karma: 1,892
cheating
Feb 10 2013 9:50PM
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CashmereCat
Posts: 2211 - Karma: 2,394
Good way to learn. Some can be pretty nasty too, there's a super steep and skinny DFD at the Ames ones
Feb 10 2013 10:42PM
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,331
whatever you and dan brown need to do to fulfill each others sexual fantasies is your own business. no need to taint the minds of the youth on line.
Feb 11 2013 12:17AM
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skierman
Posts: 8324 - Karma: 7,635
Irresponsible parents are not my fault. They should always be aware of the horrors of internet forums and what swear words they may come across. And we don't need sexual fantasies, our relationship is bangin' enough, thank you very much.
Feb 11 2013 2:47AM
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dayinthelifepc
Posts: 242 - Karma: 88
The problem with Urban skiing is the features weren't made to hit so they are going to be too high, too steep, and you never know if it will work well for sure for a lot of rails. But there are also rails that are just as easy as park rails. Really, you just need to scope the rail out and see.
Feb 11 2013 8:16AM
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danbrown
Posts: 11939 - Karma: 21,826
carlos? is that you? how did rich let you get ahold of a computer again?
Feb 11 2013 9:41AM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
if only you were funny
Feb 11 2013 12:21PM
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skierman
Posts: 8324 - Karma: 7,635
I pretended to have kennel cough and when he got grossed out and left me alone, I grabbed his computer with my massive pugadore under bite and I logged in! LOL
Feb 11 2013 12:45PM
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FigNewton
Posts: 2459 - Karma: 5,783
falling on concrete hurts more than snow
Feb 11 2013 2:12PM
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scarsimd
Posts: 668 - Karma: 773
SHIT......... i always thought it was the other way around.
Feb 11 2013 2:35PM
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