Why dont people like cooking spray on rails

seems like that stuff will just gum up the rail and make it slower for everyone down the line that can’t spray oil on before every jib

Either way, it’s not your job to do something like that. Let park crew know a feature is super sticky for you and ask if they can check it out when they have a chance. Might be the case a few other people said something and they are about to address it.

They prolly wouldn’t be too stoked to roll up on you spraying shit on their rails, even if you feel like it was the right thing to do. Better to let them do maintenance on their own features and not ski around with cooking spray.

Park crew at Bush uses cooking spray I think, and their rails are prime so I don't see a problem.

some people just over do it. falling on the rail will fuck up your outerwear.

Just rub snow on the rail. It will help with the stickiness for a small amount of time. I do this alot when I hike a rail

ajbskisome people just over do it. falling on the rail will fuck up your outerwear.

you know how I know you've never hit a rail?

eheathyou know how I know you've never hit a rail?

yea man. not even once. dont wanna ruin my edges

I guess it’s kinda weird to bring your own Pam but even weirder to really yell at someone for it

Cooking spray works well but will stain ur clothes if u slam on it according to my park crew. Makes sense

just use wax? it works better, for longer, and you don’t have to carry around a fresh can of Pam every time you ride

I carry around some 5-w30

Lol that’s crazy cuz my friends and I used to do that and people would thank us. What park were u at?

ReturnToMonkeyI carry around some 5-w30

full synthetic?

OVER__LEVERAGEDfull synthetic?

Yep, high mileage too

Farmville420Lol that’s crazy cuz my friends and I used to do that and people would thank us. What park were u at?

Crystal mountain Michigan

If the park crew is genuinely being lazy/negligent then I think it's fair to take matters into your own hands. But generally I think just let them do their job. I know there's reasons why some people don't like Pam but I forget what they are lol

Im not generally a fan of one rail being fast as fuck or expecting it to be sticky and then all of a sudden next run its fast as fuck.

ajbskisome people just over do it. falling on the rail will fuck up your outerwear.

Don’t fall

I don’t think it’s a big deal. A lot of park crews use it. See it being used in pc

been there before, the hill i skied at growing up didn't even have a park crew so i would just use wax when needed. some people might not understand spraying oil on a rail isn't a big deal, so waxing it makes more sense and generally is a more convenient option (small tea candle in the pocket)

this is my 3rd season as a park manager and i usually ride the entire day hitting all the features so nobody even has to tell me to wax something, reshape a lip etc.

wish more crews did that, but now that i'm in a position to make a difference, i want to make sure whenever someone comes to the ride the park they know that all the features slide consistently and the lips are shaped nice. good feedback from riders make the low wages more worth it

i’m on park crew at my local and we exclusively use pam. pam sponsor our park please

I've always asked park crew first, and they've always been fine with it. I've never noticed any gumming up of the rail later. It's Pam, it's what plenty of parks use themselves. Usually when I spray some rails I get kids thanking me. I don't see any downsides. Yeah if you fall it might stain your clothes, but you also might rip or burn a hole in your pants from falling too (both things I've done).

CyanicenineI've always asked park crew first, and they've always been fine with it. I've never noticed any gumming up of the rail later. It's Pam, it's what plenty of parks use themselves. Usually when I spray some rails I get kids thanking me. I don't see any downsides. Yeah if you fall it might stain your clothes, but you also might rip or burn a hole in your pants from falling too (both things I've done).

You get burns in your pants from sparks coming off the rails anyways.


but seriously, if you just straddle and your legs touch the sides where all the Pam drips down, you get huge grease stains.

FynluebkeCrystal mountain Michigan

I’ll have a word with them.

My old mountains park crew never maintained the rails, so the riders there would use sunscreen to keep em slick lol

I low key think u should get attempted murder for doing this. Yall sound like "that kid" at the skatepark who be rubbing so much wax on a feature that everyone just starts slipping out on it.

g_lectrolyteI low key think u should get attempted murder for doing this. Yall sound like "that kid" at the skatepark who be rubbing so much wax on a feature that everyone just starts slipping out on it.

Our park crew doesn’t have wax😂

people who said they use wax, doesn’t it get kinda hard and sticky in the cold? i’ve never tried it only heard through the grape vine

Some places melt wax on the fatty tubes with a torch I think preseason. I forget what kind of wax they use, places swear by it though.

I've never worked anywhere that ran wax. Generally I always feel like getting a good polish with a flap disc keeps everything buttery.

Idk, I'd rather people just use snow. Some stuff will def make things stickier and become a cycle. People were rubbing stuff on some of the rails at tline and it was picking up the dust. The way a wax ledge gets dirty.

Idk. If a rail is properly cleaned up I don't see a reason to need to spray it really. Also having some rails sprayed or not. Def interesting everyone is skiing around with pam. Next time I'm cooking breakfast in the parking lot I might borrow some.

Really had only heard about the pam thing from the midwest. Some places ran silicone spray if needed but I never really saw any place need it even if they had it was just kinda in the shack.

I couldn't help but post this after reading this thread. This is a new skatepark art thing near me in Wilkeson. Nothing really to wax but if it needed it, pam only

theabortionatorSome places melt wax on the fatty tubes with a torch I think preseason. I forget what kind of wax they use, places swear by it though.

I've never worked anywhere that ran wax. Generally I always feel like getting a good polish with a flap disc keeps everything buttery.

Idk, I'd rather people just use snow. Some stuff will def make things stickier and become a cycle. People were rubbing stuff on some of the rails at tline and it was picking up the dust. The way a wax ledge gets dirty.

Idk. If a rail is properly cleaned up I don't see a reason to need to spray it really. Also having some rails sprayed or not. Def interesting everyone is skiing around with pam. Next time I'm cooking breakfast in the parking lot I might borrow some.

Really had only heard about the pam thing from the midwest. Some places ran silicone spray if needed but I never really saw any place need it even if they had it was just kinda in the shack.

My mountain sucks at park maintenance. They painted the rails but they didn’t polish them or anything so we just had to scrape off all the paint by going over it. Our tube has multiple dents and is always super sticky.

FynluebkeMy mountain sucks at park maintenance. They painted the rails but they didn’t polish them or anything so we just had to scrape off all the paint by going over it. Our tube has multiple dents and is always super sticky.

That sucks. Yeah def varies a bunch place to place.

Some mtns built a rail 15 years ago, and the things never even seen a wire wheel. Flap disc is king but even just a quick preseason wire wheel to clean it up goes a long way.

Maybe some places need the pam

theabortionatorSome places melt wax on the fatty tubes with a torch I think preseason. I forget what kind of wax they use, places swear by it though.

I've never worked anywhere that ran wax. Generally I always feel like getting a good polish with a flap disc keeps everything buttery.

Idk, I'd rather people just use snow. Some stuff will def make things stickier and become a cycle. People were rubbing stuff on some of the rails at tline and it was picking up the dust. The way a wax ledge gets dirty.

Idk. If a rail is properly cleaned up I don't see a reason to need to spray it really. Also having some rails sprayed or not. Def interesting everyone is skiing around with pam. Next time I'm cooking breakfast in the parking lot I might borrow some.

Really had only heard about the pam thing from the midwest. Some places ran silicone spray if needed but I never really saw any place need it even if they had it was just kinda in the shack.

Grind and polish the fuck outta a rail preseason and a small clear coat and it's good all year, that's how it was done at the two resorts I worked at. Never had any issues.

And OP, if I'm on shift and see a random spraying shit on a rail (honestly if I'm just skiing anywhere and it isn't obviously park crew) I'm definitely coming up and saying something. Especially at a trash park like Crystal Mountain Michigan.

**This post was edited on Dec 23rd 2022 at 12:32:09am

Still got stains from the vegie oil off the first rail I learned on over thanksgiving last year. I am grateful for the Tamy team getting stuff up so early that time

just thinking about the idea of someone throwing a can of PAM in their jacket. I'd chirp you too lol wtf.

theabortionatorI've never worked anywhere that ran wax. Generally I always feel like getting a good polish with a flap disc keeps everything buttery.

Gonna sound like a strange question but are park crews allowed to hit rails at most mountains? Seems like the answer would be "obviously yes" but Ive never seen anyone in our park crew hit anything other than the boxes and some jumps. Ive also heard my mountain doesnt allow instructors to do flips in uniform so I kinda figured maybe they restricted rails aswell to limit liability.

LenntGonna sound like a strange question but are park crews allowed to hit rails at most mountains? Seems like the answer would be "obviously yes" but Ive never seen anyone in our park crew hit anything other than the boxes and some jumps. Ive also heard my mountain doesnt allow instructors to do flips in uniform so I kinda figured maybe they restricted rails aswell to limit liability.

Depends on where you work. I think technically we are only allowed to straight air, 360, and straight slide rails, but as long as you are keeping it to stuff you land 99% of the time nobody cares.
If I owned a mountain I wouldn't be trying to pay out workers comp claims to guys hucking doubles on the clock.

LenntGonna sound like a strange question but are park crews allowed to hit rails at most mountains? Seems like the answer would be "obviously yes" but Ive never seen anyone in our park crew hit anything other than the boxes and some jumps. Ive also heard my mountain doesnt allow instructors to do flips in uniform so I kinda figured maybe they restricted rails aswell to limit liability.

Everywhere I've worked accept Buttermilk and that prolly changed after the season. People were getting too sendy at the start and had too people out for the season workers comp in a week. It was dumb though. I still hit shit but kept it mellow. Sucked because it was the first place I worked that had a pipe I think(well gore kinda did once) and I couldnt ride it or could have gotten fired when I did.

I know big boulder 1 season didn't allow the crew to even ride on the clock. They took the lift up and walked down. That seemed pretty beat.

Most places policy these days is ride at like 50/75% of ability. Don't try new tricks. People do and you can progress but just a general rule most places use. Some people are stupid good and nobody will say shit if they're throwing some decent tricks. Some people are sketch and boss night be like yo, take it easy.

It sucks being down employees/having workers comp shit.

Some places def have employee no invert on the clock policies. I think that's more common if they have any terrain park protocols in place.

Yeah, just depends. Honestly it's pretty dumb to not let employees ride because you can tell a lot about the lip to a rail by hititng it. Or if somethijg is sticky. If the speed for a jump isn't right.

Some mtns will test every features or close to it every day. Depends how big. But that's not bad. Idk you get pretty good feedback riding yourself. Otherwise peoples feedback can be kinda sus sometimes. Sometimes people, even good skiers don't know what they want or how to make something better.

Snowmass/Buttermilk is "home mountain" for me right now so your insight is especially helpful. Thank you. What made you want to leave here and go freeze your ass in semi powerless Alterra employee housing?

theabortionatorEverywhere I've worked accept Buttermilk and that prolly changed after the season. People were getting too sendy at the start and had too people out for the season workers comp in a week. It was dumb though. I still hit shit but kept it mellow. Sucked because it was the first place I worked that had a pipe I think(well gore kinda did once) and I couldnt ride it or could have gotten fired when I did.

I know big boulder 1 season didn't allow the crew to even ride on the clock. They took the lift up and walked down. That seemed pretty beat.

Most places policy these days is ride at like 50/75% of ability. Don't try new tricks. People do and you can progress but just a general rule most places use. Some people are stupid good and nobody will say shit if they're throwing some decent tricks. Some people are sketch and boss night be like yo, take it easy.

It sucks being down employees/having workers comp shit.

Some places def have employee no invert on the clock policies. I think that's more common if they have any terrain park protocols in place.

Yeah, just depends. Honestly it's pretty dumb to not let employees ride because you can tell a lot about the lip to a rail by hititng it. Or if somethijg is sticky. If the speed for a jump isn't right.

Some mtns will test every features or close to it every day. Depends how big. But that's not bad. Idk you get pretty good feedback riding yourself. Otherwise peoples feedback can be kinda sus sometimes. Sometimes people, even good skiers don't know what they want or how to make something better.

LenntSnowmass/Buttermilk is "home mountain" for me right now so your insight is especially helpful. Thank you. What made you want to leave here and go freeze your ass in semi powerless Alterra employee housing?

I liked the company for corporate ski usa Aspen Ski Co was pretty decent. Fun town. Park program was in a rough spot. Wasn't a fan of some things and how some other things went down.

Took a park grooming job at Northstar the next season for a few years. Park at snowmass seems to have been consistently good and park at bmilk I heard is way better so I've thought about going back sometimes. Idk. Highlands is a sick mtn and the belly up is such a great spot to see shows.

Stop reading here lol
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Employee housing at Crystal was sweet till this year. We had an old trailer for the cat dorm. But it had power and heat, non boil water notice water, and was close to work. They took a big L dozing it with legit no fucking plan for the future. Shit is like a refugee camp this year. Saw the president or gm or whatever in the lot this summer and calmly was letting him know that housing was a big deal everywhere and it didn't seem like they were taking seriously. Dude lied to me about fake plans that were never plans because he thought I wanted to hear that. Called him out and dipped. Idk shit is stupid. Any mtn that sells or dozes their employee housing right now is fucking stupid. Remember how everywhere has been understaffed and struggling to even run lifts? Yeah lets have less housing in a rime of fsr more airbnbs. That should help. I legit don't understand what the fuck is going through those people heads. Do people just sit in board rooms and draw things out of a "terrible plans" hat. Like if they were doing it just to be assholes it would be better almost because it would make sense. Idk, then when they can't run lifts or find employees in general they're like "hmm thats weird? Nobody wants to work here. Guess people are lazy?"

I hope some of these mtns shit seriously hard on this issues. Places should have been doing something 10 years ago, if was already an issue in some mtn towns. Of you're going the wrong way at this point? You're cooked and should be fired. Idk its wild.

Also our lodge thats supposed to be done for next year it's just some poles and a floor, and part of a roof. Legit nothing got done on it. That's contracted out. But that thing wont be done till at least the fall a year after its supposed to. There's no where for people to sit thats warm other than 1 bar.

Idk seeing how the mtn and the projects are being handled shows that they're just cooked. Sure in 5 years will have a new lodge. Maybe in 10 they'll figure out new housing but it's really poorly run at best.

Alterra fucked this place up pretty good.

Sorry for the mega rant. The lack of heat in power has fucked my "sleep" schedule and severely pissed me off.

Would probably bail know notice to another gig but I have too much shit moved(mostly music shit) to wanna deal with a mid season move.

Something about pam

Why were you skiing with cooking spray?

Majority of park crew I know are too busy getting ripped in the woods to actively maintain the park so I don't blame you.

However I have also found myself getting frustrated with slowboarder kids pamming the shit out of a rail that slides just fine without it. Too slick ain't always great.

So yeah, if you can find 'em, not a bad idea to ask park crew for permission