|
|
 |
| |
Basic
Rail Riding
First things first
--- The difference between naming frontside and backside spins VS.
frontside and backside rail hits.
When spinning
– A backside spin can be described as rotating with
your back away from the landing as you’re coming off the lip
of a
jump (land wide open on a 360 with eyes able to see landing during last
part of rotation). Frontside spins get tossed down when a
rider
initially rotates off the lip of a jump during the first 90 degrees of
the rotation with their chest facing downslope (land blind on a 360
with back facing downslope).
When banging
rails – A trick is labeled
“backside”
when a rider approaches and pops up onto a rail from their heelside
edge. A “frontside” rail hit can be
described as when
a rider approaches and pops up onto the jib from their toeside edge!!
So we are clear on this now!!
Engrave this into your brain so you can talk the talk and shuffle the
fluff. Ya herr?
 |
50-50 –
The
most basic trick and the trick that is the stepping stone to
progressing into more technical tricks is the 50-50. This
trick
is not complicated to learn. The best place to learn this is
in
your resorts terrain park on mellow equipment. Picking a
“fun box” is a good start or you can pick a rail
that is
low and flat.
Check out the box first before you try it too see what the lead up is
like and the landing as well. You want a good lead up to the
box
which is free of ruts and holes; you want to ride up the box flat based
on your board. Judge your speed; it is best to lead up to the
hit with the
least amount of turns thus keeping your balance centered but
don’t
come riding in like a crazy animal. When you are coming up to
the
box or rail and it is just a “ride on” meaning you
don’t have
to ollie to get on the rail, just keep your knees slightly bent and
keep focused on the end of the rail not so much your feet.
Note:
The slower you move along a rail the harder it is to maintain balance
so get on the rail at a good pace, keep you legs slightly bent to lower
your center of gravity, and look for the end of the rail so you can
hold a good line as your sliding.
If you are having to ollie onto the jib be ready to pop and stick it
but try not to stomp the top of the rail too hard, seriously dudes and
dudettes be soft like a ninja. Once you're on the box/rail,
keep your
shoulders in line with the jib, this will keep you on it, if you start
to turn your shoulders you will turn on the rail.
Now that
you're on the rail look at where you are going to come off, get ready
to
land and absorb with your knees, ride away knowing you just stuck
it and scream like a donkey to your cheer squad.
Practice this trick it’ll get easier and soon
you’ll throw in variations with 180’s off and on
the jib.
|
|
5-0
–
The
5-0 is very similar to the 50-50 the only difference is that
you’re sitting/leaning back on the tail of your board; it is
just
like a manual but on top of a rail. A good way to practice
this
is to just do manuals on the hill and hold a straight line.
It’s even better practice to ollie into a manual on the hill
while holding your nose up as you get into the manual. Also
if
you want to learn to nose press rails then practice the same trick on
the hill but with the nose of your board in a nose manual position and
hold a straight line and equal flex throughout the trick.
In
the park, you want to do all the same things like doing the 50-50
except when you pop onto the rail/jib you want press back on the tail
of your board and lean back a lil and hold that. Try to keep
your
front leg stiff and pull it up as you’re leaning back on your
tail, but if you try to jerk
up your nose the trick won’t
happen. Remember to keep those shoulders in line with the jib
and
look just past the end of the rail. When coming out of the
5-0
you can pop up a lil to give a lil more style into your trick, ride
away clean, and pick your next jib to tackle.
|
|
F/S
Boardslides –
Boardslides
are another classic trick to throw down in the park on boxes
and rails. There are a few more things to keep in mind when
doing
a boardslide but over time they will come naturally. Find a
good
flat rail or box to toss this one down on your first couple
times. A
frontside boardslide is carried out when a rider approaches a rail with
their toeside edge closest the rail and spins backside 90 up onto the
jib.
You
will want to approach the jib from the side at a close distance of
about one foot. Next pop up and turn 90 degrees with your
back
facing downslope. Note: Use your shoulders a lil bit to get
into
the rotation. Land
fairly soft and flat based on the jib.
Make sure you have your knees a little bent and make sure not to
lean forward or backward too much or you’ll
bail.
Just
try and land
in the middle of your board and stay 90 on the
rail. Look at the end of the rail and get ready to turn out
and ride away. You can try and come out fakie seeing how
you popped into the rail with the momentum that way or turn your
shoulders back to regular riding way and your legs will follow stomp
and ride away. In most cases when hitting rails you will be
on
and off before you know it so don't think too hard and relax while
you're up there. Concentrate on where you're going and when
you
need to straighten up your board. Go out and have-atter!
|
|
|
|
