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Rails: Speed really is your friend

5K views 38 replies 21 participants last post by  Zolemite 
#1 · (Edited)
I did my first real rails yesterday (just a ride-on, but you have to start somewhere). I was kind of tentative and was only completing about 20% of my attempts, just kept dropping off early on most tries. Today I went a little more balls-to-the-wall and just charged at it and after the first 2-3 attempts of the morning I never missed or dropped off again. It's rare that a statement gets proven so dramatically, but in this case I'd have to say :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I think it's actually safer as well hitting it faster.
 
#2 ·
:thumbsup: :bowdown: :thumbsup:
 
#4 ·
its because you direct far less downward force when you go faster. that makes it way easier to balance.

i suck at rails, but i do know that i'm waaay better at them when i make sure that by the time i'm actually on it i'm looking at the end of the rail and then the landing rather than looking at my board on the rail... and i know i'm way better at hitting cliffs and natural shit than i am at rails and i'm gonna hurt myself if i ride rails casually (for me this means not hiking it over over) and i don't care enough about riding rails to risk getting hurt on them so i don't ride em anymore :D
 
#7 ·
wait until you taco youre first one... I was on one of those large and long wide tubular ones on monday hauling ass on it, caught an edge and the pain in my ribs speaks for the rest... least it wasnt my tailbone.
 
#15 ·
I need shin guards. My shins get banged up from rails every time but i have gotten used to it but what do you use Dountz. Also wait until you taco it will suck. Slyder I tacoed the culvert pipe at alpine twice it is not fun.
I need shin guards too, lol, I stay bruised. I actually started wearing those big puffy volleyball kneepads under my pants after one horrific rail fail where I am pretty sure I ruptured bursa in both my knees...

You could wear a ton of body armour and still find a way to injure the only part of you not protected or that you didn't even know you could hurt, happens all the time to me it seems...
 
#20 ·
Yep - rails are A LOT less scary once you realize that with a little speed it's really not that big of a deal.

If anything I'd say most people screw up rails just because they're so scared of them that they psyche themselves out and screw up their own technique from lack of confidence and commitment.
 
#25 ·
Not sure I understood this right or a typo. I'll share my experience.

My battle rail wound started where my boot stopped and ended just below my knee. I slid off the rail and my boot slid down the rail, where my boot stopped is where my skin decided to become one with the inside of my pants thanks to the rail

Im looking for something or make one that starts at the top of the boot and goes just up to the under side of the knee.
 
#26 ·
if you are just doing 50-50's rail shape doesnt really matter much (provided its not C's Or S's) Hit it just like you would a regular rail and keep your legs loose to handle any changes in it. I suck at rails but I can 50-50 anything. Im just too much of a wimp on other tricks an only do them on flat rails/boxes.
 
#30 · (Edited)
This was the result of my friend clipping his tail trying a lipslide on an ollie on rail. He thought it was just another shin hit, like the hundreds before, until it started leaking and such after a few days.

Repacking my Incision on Vimeo

9812367

On topic, speed almost always helps but I've also seen it cause freak outs or it changes the trick too for the person to compensate. The other week I kept freaking out coming toward this ollie on down rail. I watched my friend hit it and figured out I had too much speed.
 
#32 ·
somewhat ot but, speed is your friend for everything, not just rails. opens up lines otherwise un-doable, transfers your momentum across the surface instead of down into it on landings. i don't ride park much, but i skate parks alot, try to grind some pool coping too slow? yer fuct
 
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