Tip
Rail Skiing Tip: How to Front/Back Swap Rails
Once you've mastered a straight rail slide, a fun way to take your game to the next level adding a switch up on the rail. This is a great addition to your bag of tricks and will improve your style in the terrain park. The prerequisite for these tricks are solid front and backside 270s off of rails. This will teach you how to grip the rail with your front ski and initiate turns in either direction. Once you know how to do both 270s off, you can start to transition this change in direction while still sliding the rail. In this tutorial, we are focusing on switch-ups rather than surface swaps. Surface swaps are when your skis never leave the rail, but the trick is very similar other than that. If you would like to learn tricks like this and more, please check out our Summer Ski Camp at Mt. Hood!
FRONTSIDE SWITCH-UPS
The frontside swap is the foundation of all rail tricks. Before trying this on a rail, start on flat ground in your ski boots. Face down the hill, and jump onto the rail as you normally would. Remember to keep your upper body disconnected from your lower hips, allowing you to face the end of the rail. Jump upwards, and land with your feet in the opposite direction, completing a full 180. When trying your first couple front swaps, allow your whole body to complete the rotation. As you become more comfortable, this motion will just be in your hips. Once you feel confident in your ability on flat ground, it is time to try it on a rail. Boxes may seem easier, and less risky but learning on a rail is much easier. An important distinction for this trick is that you have to pop while spinning. If your skis stay in contact with the rail, this is now called a front surface swap. This is another way to add style to your skiing.
The most important part of this trick is the grip you will have with your front ski. This is called scissoring and will provide you the platform to push off of. Push your inside edge on the rail, and use it to complete your 180 rotation. When first trying this trick, initiate a front 270 off the rail and try to tap the very end. This will help you gradually become more confident in this trick, and allow you to progress safely. A common mistake is waiting too long to initiate your spin, and it is helpful at first to start your rotation right before you pop, to make sure you get all the way around. Once you master the frontside switch-up, you can start playing around with combination rail tricks like K-Fed, Brittney, and many other combinations.
BACKSIDE SWITCH-UPS
The backside switch-up is essentially the same trick but in reverse. Before trying this trick on a feature, make sure you follow the similar steps as listed above for front swaps. Practicing on the ground is a low-risk way of trying these tricks without getting hurt. Once you feel confident in your backside rotation, let's take it to a rail! This trick is a bit more difficult than the frontside switch up, because of the moment you are forced to go blind. This trick will require more commitment.
Just like the frontside switch-up, this trick can be learned by tapping the very end of the rail, and gradually working your way back. Just like a backside 270 out of a feature, this trick requires pressing your front edge on the rail to create rotation. Once you have gripped the rail, make sure to rotate your upper body to generate the rest of the spin. Switch-ups seem a lot scarier than they are, and once mastered it opens up a more creative way of skiing.