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July, 2025

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Rail approach

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Timby
Posts: 182 - Karma: 1,421
Is it recommended to approach a rail / box from an angle? I was trying to hit a rail at my park and one of the guys park crew lads said that it is easier to take it at angle, rather that straddling it. He said something about the shock of it being lessened because you're moreso easing onto it, instead of a full jump. I might just be overthinking it but I figured I would ask, thanks.

**This thread was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:11:56pm
4 years ago
10 0
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Icant_kfed
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 11,596
Really it just depends on who you ask, imo it’s easier to carve on from the side, but whatever works best for you
4 years ago
7 0
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ChentBetlers
Posts: 27 - Karma: 100
I'd say if it's not too high off the lip of the jump, straddling is easier.
4 years ago
7 10
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,257
rails where the height is equivalent to or only slightly above the lip, i prefer to straddle. it reinforces being very centered on the rail.

down bars/rails, hand rails, dfds, and all boxes i prefer the side. less consequence to coming up short and also easier to land in a scissor on the rail/box.
4 years ago
6 1
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BingPow
Posts: 579 - Karma: 5,673
It’s just one less axis to account for if you get on from the center
4 years ago
4 1
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3387 - Karma: 32,633
I deadass go suicide every rail I can. It’s just how I learned. I feel like I stay on longer Bcs I know I’m landing dead center (or dying)
4 years ago
6 0
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teabag
Posts: 691 - Karma: 4,974
If you hip onto the rail from the center you’re a certified jerry in my books

hop

**This post was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:49:35pm
4 years ago
15 7
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ajbski
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 5,422
If you don’t have good pop and lock, easier to straddle.

Learn to lock on the side of box, easiest way to feel if you’re doing it right. Essential to learning other tricks
4 years ago
5 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7576 - Karma: 67,393
I wouldn’t say from an angle because you risking going over the rail. But yeah, I think it’s easier to approach from the side where you’re next to the rail. Street style. It’s a very natural 90 degree turn and you’re on the rail
4 years ago
3 0
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swag_chic
Posts: 133 - Karma: 2,239
If the lip is just a ride on then straddling is fine but don’t get in the habit of straddling to get on every rail. Carving into a rail with a lower lip will work better
4 years ago
4 1
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stroh67
Posts: 37 - Karma: 188
Never straddle anything
4 years ago
11 4
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Skiierman69
Posts: 71 - Karma: 553
personally i hit every rail from the side. I use to straddle rails than last season, i started hitting rails from the side and it's natural to me and I find straddling rails very awkward
4 years ago
7 0
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1943 - Karma: 29,117
lip onto everything
4 years ago
14 0
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Neives_tiddies
Posts: 142 - Karma: 965
Dont straddle it looks lame as hell, even if its not urban on imo
4 years ago
4 4
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
always approaching from the side makes it easier to understand why you need to catch/ lock the rail
4 years ago
3 0
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jgg
Posts: 259 - Karma: 1,506
Do whatever you want. Eventually, you'll want to learn urban on but if the rail isn't high you're fine straddling for now. I even straddle from time to time if the rail is lower than the lip, just do what makes you comfortable.
4 years ago
5 0
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270on420out
Posts: 7525 - Karma: 51,354
Someday you’ll catch your edge straddling and you’ll know why it sucks. It looks like shit too.
4 years ago
5 2
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,216
Doesn't matter. The more sideways you come to it the more you should try and kick it with your heel, which makes your ski slide upwards.
4 years ago
4 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,759
Your doing it all wrong.

They are waaay easier if you just jump over them
4 years ago
5 0
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1943 - Karma: 29,117
Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.
3 years ago
8 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,213
ski_salmon69Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.


I think that last part is super important. Approaching from the side helps to see the whole rail, which I believe helps you slide more complicated rails like dfds and other kinked ones. Also gets your tiny foot movements more controlled
3 years ago
3 0
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carretta
Posts: 112 - Karma: 551
a lot of bigger features require you to hit it from the side, so doing it on smaller features is only gonna help. eventually you’ll reach a point where straddling will limit your progression
TimbyIs it recommended to approach a rail / box from an angle? I was trying to hit a rail at my park and one of the guys park crew lads said that it is easier to take it at angle, rather that straddling it. He said something about the shock of it being lessened because you're moreso easing onto it, instead of a full jump. I might just be overthinking it but I figured I would ask, thanks.

**This thread was edited on Jan 14th 2022 at 12:11:56pm
3 years ago
2 0
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nick.boerner
Posts: 46 - Karma: 329
Straddling makes you look like a beta. Def come in from the side to gain style and be more stylish.
3 years ago
2 2
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CaIeb
Posts: 325 - Karma: 2,590
carving 100% i used to straddle till last spring when i sacked a flat up rail so hard my ass and thighs were literally purple
3 years ago
4 0
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Timby
Posts: 182 - Karma: 1,421
i second this. i was straddling rails and getting a ton of taint slides, took me like a couple hours to learn an urban entry and it’s the move. significantly less impact when you land on the rail among other things.
ski_salmon69Holy shit the amount of kids I see straddling rails is mind blowing. Like I understand it when it literally your first time touching a rail, but once you know how to slide, urban on is not that hard and straddling will just hold back your progression once you move to bigger rails.
3 years ago
3 0
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,991
I think straddling is easier for beginners
once you get some awareness of balancing yourself w heels and toes urban takes less effort
3 years ago
2 0
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 5,786
As people have already stated, I'd say straddling rails is for when you are just learning how to actually slide rails. Would really only work with a ride-on approach or at least a low-risk feature. Same thing when you're learning 270s on it's going to be easier to straddle.

After you get the hang of it though i think urban on becomes easier as you're going to have to learn it to get onto higher rails that aren't ride ons.

Urban on also looks better imo.
3 years ago
1 0
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1943 - Karma: 29,117
ScootSkiLyfeAs people have already stated, I'd say straddling rails is for when you are just learning how to actually slide rails. Would really only work with a ride-on approach or at least a low-risk feature. Same thing when you're learning 270s on it's going to be easier to straddle.

After you get the hang of it though i think urban on becomes easier as you're going to have to learn it to get onto higher rails that aren't ride ons.

Urban on also looks better imo.

who tf learns to 270 on by straddling
3 years ago
3 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12724 - Karma: 120,412
both feet on one side of the rail and then air off of the lip onto the snow 👌👌
3 years ago
2 1
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 1073 - Karma: 5,786
ski_salmon69who tf learns to 270 on by straddling


I learned 2s on by coming at a ride on / level feature straight. Helped me cuz I could have a wider stance off the lip than I could urban
3 years ago
1 0
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