How do you grind on skis?

Question

i know im ready to and i can go forwards on rails but how do you get that sideways grind?

Answer 1

its going to hurt: learning is very painfull but when you can slide rails like mike hornbeck it'll be well worth it.

1) find yourself a nice little rail.  pick one that is not an urban style get on (there is a jump straight onto the rail)  pick a rail that is low and realtively short

2) before dropping into your rail, line yourself up with the rail from where you are standing.  put yourself in a position so that you can look straight downt he whole rail and just align youself perfectly straight.  If you are on line with the rail the entire time from drop to run-in to slide, you will have a greater chance of staying on the rail.

3) approach the rail with PLENTY of speed.  this is going to be scary as h**l but you really need to do this. the faster you go the smoother the rail will be and there is actually less chance you will get hurt.  also, it is much easier to stay ballanced when traveling fast.

4)  use light pop off the lip just enough to lift your skis up and onto the rail.  dont go overboard with your jump:  the landing on the rail will buck you if you get too much air.  you want as little air as is safe to get on the rail.  

4) once in mid air, turn your lower body (legs and INCLUDING HIPS) 90 degrees.  keep your head and shoulders facing forward, and look at the end of the rail or after it.  this will keep you on line.  

5) land on the rail with your knees slightly bent and your weight on your LEADING FOOT.  this cannot be emphasized enough.  dont be afraid... just lean forward.  you are not going to catch your front edge and die like everyone is afraid of.  also, keep both skis completely flat.  dont try to grind on the metal edges of your skis.  

6)  the hardest part of sliding rails is getting used to leaning forward.  your first few times, your feet are going to go out from under you and you are going to lean back too far and fall on the rail.  get used to it.  you are going to have to FORCE yourself to lean forward.

7)** AWESOME TIP ***

when i learned how to grind rails, it was very hard for me to force myself to lean forward.  i was afraid my leading metal edge was going to bite in and send me to my death.  this really doesnt happen tho and you need to lean forward.  to make myself do this, i tried to reach my front hand down and touch my boot.  in other words, if you slide rails with your skis facing right, you will reach down with your right hand and touch your right boot while turning sideways and as soon as you land on the rail.  once you hit the rail, sloowly and carefully extend your body into a comfortable, atheletic postion.  this tip really does work... it helped me and a few of my friends to overcome this major obstacle to new rail-riders.

good luck, and dont be afraid to fall!