Preparation
WEAR A HELMET!

    So if your just begining, start off with a small rail (short and low to the ground). One mistake most first-timers make is that they try and hockey stop on a rail instead of SLIDING it. Try to imagine yourself running and jumping onto a skateboard and riding it out, don’t be afriad of putting weight on your lead foot.

    Also, the foot and hand you lead with down the rail can often be determined by the position you would skateboard in, goofy (lead with right foot) or regular (lead with the left foot) but make sure it feels natural.

    Then, the most imporatant thing for me is to fully committ ( no second guessing or hesitation) to SLIDING the entire rail, not just part of it. Believe it or not this will often times keep you out of “those” worst case scenario’s- catching an edge or landing with the rail between your legs.

Approach
     Make sure you have enough speed to pop up onto the rail and enough to complete it. Obviously, you won’t need a whole lot of speed if your attacking the smaller rails but keep in mind this is a very important part to successfully completing a rail.
Approach the rail with your feet shoulder width apart and have your hands low and out in front of you. Most basic rails have a small ramp that lead up to them enabling for an easy approach.

    Gently pop off the lip and turn your skis 90 degrees. As your popping off the lip make sure your focus is on the end of the rail instead what’s right in front of you, this will help you complete the entire rail and enable you to compensate for any changes that have to be made. * Remember apply pressure onto your lead foot, no hockey stopping.

On the Rail
     Once on the rail, make sure that you keep your skis shoulder width apart, knees bent, hands low and out in front of you- this will keep your center of gravity low allowing for better balance.

     Also, remember to keep your eyes on the end of the rail. This is probably the most important key to completing a rail successfully.

Coming Off
    Coming off a rail should be a relaxed reaction. You do not want to pop off the rail. Instead, you literally want to slide off it. Often times when people pop off the end of the rail they loose their balance. Try just to concentrate and focus on spotting you’re landing rather than trying to get off the rail.

-Johnny S.

Only jump as high as you need to when getting onto the rail. Try to glide on smoothly instead of jumping up and landing on it.

When you get on the rail, your skis should be perpendicular to the rail with the center of your boots over it and your feet shoulder width apart. Your head and shoulders should be facing in the direction you are traveling. Make sure that your weight is balanced evenly on both feet so you’re not forward or back.

As you slide, focus your eyes on the end of the rail. This will give you the best chance of making it all the way.

When you get to the end of the rail turn your shoulders in the direction that you want to exit (i.e. forward or switch) Use a small pop to clear the rail and stick the landing.

-Tom V.

Step it up to a Kinked Rail next.

Reader Suggestions

I have just learned that for people that have trouble keeping there weight on their lead foot when on a rail should attempt to grab their lead foot with their lead arm. This will keep you low and balanced.

- Jarred K.