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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Fat tubes vs Skinny boxes/flat rails 

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Shantzybear
Posts: 70 - Karma: 571
this may sound insanely dumb, but here it goes ahah. Started learning how to ride in the park this season and I’ve been getting more and more comfortable on a variety of tubes and rails. I’ve been able to get onto them and comfortably ride the whole rail about 95% of the time, learned how to FS 270 as well as pop/slide off both forwards and switch, but for whatever reason I don’t really know how to approach skinny boxes etc and all the ones at my local hill are well into nutcracking territory so I guess I want to have a more solid understanding before I put my future children on the line hahaha. How different are they from a traditional round rail/tube and what would be some key things to Keep in mind next time I get out?
4 years ago
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yungcurv
Posts: 148 - Karma: 518
I may not be speaking for everyone here, but I've been able to put down a trick on most park features for a few years now, and most of my better tricks have been on more tube style features. So you're not wrong for acknowledging that they're tougher.
As far as getting more comfortable, I would say start out by not fully committing to the rail, as in make it so you could slide off the side of it without nutting yourself. And then build up to slide more and more of the rail each time.
4 years ago
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Shantzybear
Posts: 70 - Karma: 571
For sure, that’s a good way to put it. I guess I’ve got to just work up the courage to send it, seems that philosophy works out a lot in the park
4 years ago
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PsychicMigration
Posts: 2099 - Karma: 10,552
I either treat them like a rail and focus on one side of the box or I pop up and over so I'm balanced on top.
4 years ago
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weastcoat
Posts: 6502 - Karma: 75,359
Pop all the way over to 90. That way if you fall off you’re going off one side or the other, instead of splitting it
4 years ago
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Shantzybear
Posts: 70 - Karma: 571
weastcoastPop all the way over to 90. That way if you fall off you’re going off one side or the other, instead of splitting it


For sure, I guess my biggest concern is sliding out because I won’t be able to lock onto it as well as a rail, but the boxes in question for me are the 4inch or so skinny bois
4 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
ive found that i actually prefer to learn new feature shapes on skinny boxes rather than flat rails. i.e. rainbows/dfd's
4 years ago
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Shantzybear
Posts: 70 - Karma: 571
KCoCMive found that i actually prefer to learn new feature shapes on skinny boxes rather than flat rails. i.e. rainbows/dfd's


I think it’s just a mental hurdle for me more than anything, I guess I can take it a lot slower off a box vs rails anyways
4 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
ShantzybearI think it’s just a mental hurdle for me more than anything, I guess I can take it a lot slower off a box vs rails anyways


yea i think im talking literally the first time trying to slide a new shape feature i prefer a box but after the first like 1-5 times a nice smallish diameter tube is best for progressing after that
4 years ago
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chef.llc
Posts: 579 - Karma: 7,640
just try not to think about it too much. As long as ur landing fully sideways you'll be fine. if you occasionally end up straddling tubes/smaller rails then I would work on that first, but it sounds like ur solid on those features. just hit it the same way. it sounds like you might be overthinking it
4 years ago
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Ginger_Drew
Posts: 649 - Karma: 2,528
Based on what your skill set seems to be, you should be more than okay to send it! If you're going to go for it, just make sure you're both physically and mentally prepared for it. Basically, don't half ass it because that's where things tend to go wrong.
4 years ago
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isaacwrong
Posts: 2439 - Karma: 19,483
Gotta open up your hip more when gripping on boxes and wider features
4 years ago
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Wyatt_05
Posts: 74 - Karma: 327
I also have just started park skiing this season, and in my experience almost everyone says that a box is going to be easier than a rail or a tube. The box will have more surface area, so you don’t have to worry about your front to back balance and only your uphill downhill balance, if the box is angled down. If the box is not angled down it would feel like riding a papoose, but sideways
4 years ago
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