Tip

Presented by Jonah Elston, Freestyle Coach

Ski Tip: 3 Tips for your First Rail Slide on Skis

Welcome to Mt Hood Summer Ski Camps! Like any sports related camp, we provide instruction in ski racing, moguls, freeskiing, snowboard freeride and snowboard racing. Our sessions are a week-long with our main business taking place during June, July, and August.

Learning how to slide rails will open all features in the terrain park and add style to your skiing. When learning how to slide rails, it can be very intimidating. To make sure you feel comfortable sliding, I would suggest sliding a couple boxes. This allows you to become comfortable sliding, popping onto the feature and turning your body 90 degrees. Before attempting this trick, you should determine which foot you prefer as you front foot while sliding. You can determine this by running down a hallway in socks and doing a hockey slide. The leg you put forward will be your leading leg.

Attempting your First Rail Slide

While approaching have your legs bent preparing to pop on. Try to extend your knees and shoulders as much as possible, while turning 90 degrees with your legs. It is important to keep your shoulders straight, and your lower body twisted to 90 degrees. Make sure to not initiate your rotation until the tips of your skis have cleared the feature, to make sure they do not get caught. When landing on the feature, keep your feet shoulder’s width apart, and look at the end of the feature.

Balance

Once you land of the feature, it is important to keep your weight centered. Beginners will commonly slide out forward or backward, trying to balance. Most falls occur when people try to save their balance after losing it. It is important for your safety to hop off the rail as soon as you lose your balance. Be ready to crash on your first attempts, but each will help you understand how to center your weight.

Where to Look?

Focusing on the end of the rail helps center your weight and continue the slide. You can use your leading foot to lean on the rail while sliding to help initiate spins off the rail. This is a more difficult technique but will be essential to your progression as a rail skier. As you are approaching the end of the rail pop off the rail and bring your skis back in front of you. Focus on stomping your landing and riding away in a controlled manner.

Summary

In review, remember to jump onto the rail with a lot of pop, turn your hips 90 degrees while keeping your shoulders square to the end of the rail, and focus on the end of the feature. Commitment will be the difference in your landing your slide and crashing. Practicing is the only way to improve your rail skiing. No matter how many times you read this tip your going to have to go out and try it. To learn more tricks like this and others, check out our Summer Ski Camp at Mt. Hood!