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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
Jan 14 2022 12:07PM
10 0
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Icant_kfed
Posts: 1279 - Karma: 11,593
Really it just depends on who you ask, imo it’s easier to carve on from the side, but whatever works best for you
Jan 14 2022 12:13PM
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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.
Jan 14 2022 12:15PM
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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.
Jan 14 2022 12:29PM
6 1
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BingPow
Posts: 576 - Karma: 5,661
It’s just one less axis to account for if you get on from the center
Jan 14 2022 12:37PM
4 1
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3225 - Karma: 30,788
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)
Jan 14 2022 12:40PM
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teabag
Posts: 691 - Karma: 4,972
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
Jan 14 2022 12:49PM
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ajbski
Posts: 1312 - Karma: 5,390
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
Jan 14 2022 1:06PM
5 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7153 - Karma: 62,868
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
Jan 14 2022 1:13PM
3 0
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swag_chic
Posts: 133 - Karma: 2,233
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
Jan 14 2022 1:31PM
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stroh67
Posts: 37 - Karma: 188
Never straddle anything
Jan 14 2022 1:35PM
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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
Jan 14 2022 1:44PM
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 27,970
lip onto everything
Jan 14 2022 1:44PM
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Neives_tiddies
Posts: 142 - Karma: 965
Dont straddle it looks lame as hell, even if its not urban on imo
Jan 14 2022 2:08PM
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
Jan 14 2022 2:24PM
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cmski4_
Posts: 257 - Karma: 1,426
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.
Jan 14 2022 4:10PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7518 - Karma: 51,233
Someday you’ll catch your edge straddling and you’ll know why it sucks. It looks like shit too.
Jan 14 2022 4:17PM
5 2
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BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,209
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.
Jan 14 2022 4:19PM
4 0
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,752
Your doing it all wrong.

They are waaay easier if you just jump over them
Jan 14 2022 7:54PM
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 27,970
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.
Feb 26 2022 10:18PM
8 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6427 - Karma: 69,844
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
Feb 26 2022 10:41PM
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carretta
Posts: 110 - Karma: 548
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
Feb 26 2022 11:31PM
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.
Feb 26 2022 11:35PM
2 2
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CaIeb
Posts: 325 - Karma: 2,589
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
Feb 27 2022 9:54AM
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.
Feb 28 2022 12:37PM
3 0
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,980
I think straddling is easier for beginners
once you get some awareness of balancing yourself w heels and toes urban takes less effort
Feb 28 2022 2:36PM
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 5,603
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.
Feb 28 2022 2:39PM
1 0
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 27,970
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
Feb 28 2022 5:46PM
3 0
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12534 - Karma: 116,682
both feet on one side of the rail and then air off of the lip onto the snow 👌👌
Feb 28 2022 5:53PM
2 1
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 5,603
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
Feb 28 2022 6:51PM
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