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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Rail progression gameplan

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brownetown
Posts: 497 - Karma: 4,916
Alright ns gang, this year is the year. I moved down to mammoth, bought some Vs (189 pluses obviously, I’m not a pussy), and am ready to truly spend a full season dedicated to park for the first time in my life. I can straight slide a tube but that’s about it.

If you were getting ‘into park’ for the first time again, what are some things you’d do differently? Learn unnat slides earlier? Do a particular stretching routine? Invest in padded shorts? I‘m sure this topic has been beat to death but I think myself and some newer members would appreciate a thread with handy tips before getting after it. I’m 23 and not made of rubber anymore so practices that promote longevity would be especially appreciated. Thanks in advance and gimme a shout if you wanna get laps down here this season!
a year ago
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Iskibunnies
Posts: 55 - Karma: 710
invest in padded shorts definitely
a year ago
13 0
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muffMan.
Posts: 2894 - Karma: 27,636
I tried impact shorts but they are so bulky and uncomfortable, maybe a skate style one would be better. Back brace would suit you better

im pretty new, my progression has gone, straight on, urban on, unatty, lip slides, front 2s and shitty blind 2s.

I really wanna work on switch ons next and more technical rail features, all above was just on tubes and fatter handrails.



Ive seen a lot of people vouch for learning your unnatural side and getting that down, so I’ve been doing that, I feel like it’s been helping.
a year ago
6 0
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switchlip2
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 25,179
Every time you learn something try to learn it unnat and switch too
a year ago
7 0
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brownetown
Posts: 497 - Karma: 4,916
muffMan.all above was just on tubes and fatter handrails.

word, yeah is it generally better to prioritize progressing on a tube or straight slide everything? At what point should I try new features?
a year ago
2 0
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 21,453
Practice shit on tubes then try them on skinner rails. Work on just flowing around the park and comfortably hitting everything. Natural progression order is something like f2 b2, swaps, swaps with spins out, spins on. Mix in switch and unnatural now and it will pay dividends later. I wear padded shorts and they help since I usually fall on a similar area on my hip. Ride with friends and ask them to teach you things, or find a good skier and ask for help, usually theyre more than willing.
a year ago
10 0
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muffMan.
Posts: 2894 - Karma: 27,636
brownetownword, yeah is it generally better to prioritize progressing on a tube or straight slide everything? At what point should I try new features?


That’s kinda just up to you, if something looks doable for you try it. Kinked rails and steep down rails I’m iffy on still.

if you can try to tail tap over first time, it helps mentally with getting the right stance
a year ago
4 0
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Burgie
Posts: 23 - Karma: 204
DlonettiPractice shit on tubes then try them on skinner rails. Work on just flowing around the park and comfortably hitting everything. Natural progression order is something like f2 b2, swaps, swaps with spins out, spins on. Mix in switch and unnatural now and it will pay dividends later. I wear padded shorts and they help since I usually fall on a similar area on my hip. Ride with friends and ask them to teach you things, or find a good skier and ask for help, usually theyre more than willing.


What brand padded shorts you running? I can’t find very many options with good padding where you need it for skiing.
a year ago
8 0
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jompcock
Posts: 1577 - Karma: 11,738
Learn unnat slides, then front 2/blind 2, then front/blind swap, then all 8 variations of swap 270 out. You'll have the easiest time learning on a flat tube. Get all the way sideways with a wide stance, most of your weight on the front foot, and look at the end of the tube.
a year ago
6 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
What I would do differently is embrace being a beginner. Spend some quality time crashing on your favorite fat tube until you have a broad range of basics down. It can feel pretty humbling but its so worth it, it'll pay dividends the rest of your rail skiing career.

A quick trick checklist to get start off could be:
-slide both ways
-ability to land switch or forward on command/practice getting locked in and "pedaling"
-50/50
-urban on
-front 2's out
-lip on
-front swaps
-switch on
-back 2's out
-back swaps
-2's on

If you have most or all of those on an easier rail like a fat tube, you're in a great spot to start combining them (kfed, lip on b2, 2p2), bringing them to harder/more urban style rails, or leveling them up (surface swaps, 4's out, sw50/50)
a year ago
8 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
Also a cheap way to fast-track the muscle memory process is to get a $20 amazon foam roller and cut in half so you can practice tricks in your living room. It sounds dumb, but it did helped me learn 2's on a few years ago
a year ago
6 0
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Dr_Richard_Hertz
Posts: 99 - Karma: 848
1000% learn to unnat rail slide well. Will make learning swaps a million times easier.
a year ago
3 0
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3985 - Karma: -13,074
IsaacNW82Also a cheap way to fast-track the muscle memory process is to get a $20 amazon foam roller and cut in half so you can practice tricks in your living room. It sounds dumb, but it did helped me learn 2's on a few years ago


haha yeah i have a voodoo board that i use (i can't ski rails)
a year ago
5 0
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Dlonetti
Posts: 1998 - Karma: 21,453
Rbergl523What brand padded shorts you running? I can’t find very many options with good padding where you need it for skiing.

I just got them off Amazon I think just search like padded shorts for snowboard/ski/bike
a year ago
4 0
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BIIIGZ
Posts: 244 - Karma: 2,358
Rbergl523What brand padded shorts you running? I can’t find very many options with good padding where you need it for skiing.


I have the POC VPD 2 shorts and lemme say they are worth every penny, I wear them every time because i’m constantly hip and tailbone checking trying new shit and they have saved me from a lot of nasty bruises maybe even broken bones. IMO they are worth the price over something like an amazon product bc after a couple days when they mold you completely forget they are on your body and the materials are higher quality
a year ago
5 0
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Kevinb5
Posts: 190 - Karma: 2,063
IsaacNW82What I would do differently is embrace being a beginner. Spend some quality time crashing on your favorite fat tube until you have a broad range of basics down. It can feel pretty humbling but its so worth it, it'll pay dividends the rest of your rail skiing career.

A quick trick checklist to get start off could be:
-slide both ways
-ability to land switch or forward on command/practice getting locked in and "pedaling"
-50/50
-urban on
-front 2's out
-lip on
-front swaps
-switch on
-back 2's out
-back swaps
-2's on

If you have most or all of those on an easier rail like a fat tube, you're in a great spot to start combining them (kfed, lip on b2, 2p2), bringing them to harder/more urban style rails, or leveling them up (surface swaps, 4's out, sw50/50)


what do you mean by urban on
a year ago
1 0
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Farmville420
Posts: 5156 - Karma: 67,050
Kevinb5what do you mean by urban on

Getting on from the sides as opposed to from the middle of the feature. It's way easier IMO, truthfully don't know how people hop on rails from the middle
a year ago
7 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
Kevinb5what do you mean by urban on

Hop on from the side instead of straight on, think like a tall handrail:

a year ago
5 0
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PussyFinder
Posts: 277 - Karma: 802
Slide around for a while both ways landing switch/forward ect. Eventully youll get cozy and want to try some stunts
a year ago
3 0
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Frombrumtobrazil
Posts: 93 - Karma: 435
IsaacNW82Also a cheap way to fast-track the muscle memory process is to get a $20 amazon foam roller and cut in half so you can practice tricks in your living room. It sounds dumb, but it did helped me learn 2's on a few years ago


can you explain this one? why are you cutting it in half - seems like a really good drill but i dont get how youd do that with half a foam roller?
a year ago
2 0
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TowRopes
Posts: 235 - Karma: 1,225
Frombrumtobrazilcan you explain this one? why are you cutting it in half - seems like a really good drill but i dont get how youd do that with half a foam roller?


i think he means down the center so it cant rol(semi circle)
a year ago
1 0
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 777 - Karma: 6,776
TowRopesi think he means down the center so it cant rol(semi circle)

@Frombrumtobrazil
Yup, exactly this. Its really just a rail-shaped thing on the floor to jump around on. I think it works best when you know the feeling you're looking for: landing on the "rail" with a slightly wider stance and more weight on the front foot.

**This post was edited on Dec 7th 2023 at 9:50:58am
a year ago
0 0
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Farmville420
Posts: 5156 - Karma: 67,050
Here's a crazy way to train balance, might be over the top but looks pretty sick

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyLfUmbpzeP/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
a year ago
1 0
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BallClapper
Posts: 3704 - Karma: 16,804
IsaacNW82Hop on from the side instead of straight on, think like a tall handrail:



Jump roping that is gnarly af.
a year ago
2 0
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