They next time you find yourself in your favorite ski area's terrain park, you may notice the many peculiar shapes of all the features that snowboarders are sliding over. All based off of a simple flat rail slide, these odd shapes are fun to learn, each one challenging riders with a new set of skills required to slide over it with success. According to MPORA, the rail slide is a staple in snowboarding, and there are more types of rails than ever.
Fun Boxes
Fun boxes have wide, flat tops that are stable and friendly, relatively easier to learn tricks and practice on. They are often thought of as a medium for progressing tricks from boxes to narrow rails. Boxes can be more forgiving than rail slides, but some riders still push their limits, performing amazing feats of balance and spatial reorientation. Fun boxes, like rails, can be constructed in many different shapes.
Rail Slides
Rail slides can be mounted in any number of positions to create difficult and challenging trick possibilities to simply gain the rail. Advanced riders may choose to set the rails up at a declining angle, taken from the style of skateboarders sliding handrails next to steps. When this is the case, it is necessary to mount the rail by jumping off the ground first, which is the first of many difficulties in the entire maneuver. These slides might have a ramp, or the riders must "ollie" or spring off the tail of their snowboards to get enough height to gain access to the rail.
Rainbow Rails
"Rainbow rails" are shaped like rainbows, bowing over the ground, and call on riders to align with them correctly, slide up an incline, maintain balance at a pinnacle with little board contact, and then slide down the decline. These slides require speed and confidence.
Kinked Rails
As a means of challenging riders with changing mediums, rails are kinked to drastically change angles during the slide. These rails may have a prolonged section of flat sliding surface that kinks up or down. Riders can choose to change the nature of their slide at these alternating angles.
Natural Log Slides
Perhaps the most organic and natural all mountain freestyle is the log slide. Fallen trees in the forest can provide the best platform to apply rail sliding skills, and are often as aesthetic as they are challenging to do. Riders can plan ahead and construct these obstacles in warmer months.
Member Comments