“Rail riding” is a hot topic in snow sports with many of the industry’s high-level Ski and Snowboard Coaches having labelled it at indoor snow centres as the Brits’ big opportunity to compete internationally on snow.
But if the ease of indoor rail riding really is our chance to shine, what extra hints and tips will send us on the way to performing “gnarly” tricks on a rail or two?
Known for his technical rail stunts, Team GB’s Slopestyle Olympian Snowboarder Jamie Nicholls started out riding a gas pipe on Halifax’s Snowplex dry slope. Now he’s won the Burton Rail Days Competition in Tokyo, competed in the Olympics and trains on the largest rails at The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead, so naturally we were more than happy to get a few rail-riding pointers from him!
> How would you hit your first rail?
Rather than going straight for riding a rail, I’d practise riding onto boxes or gas pipes. You can find these at real-snow slopes like The Snow Centre. If possible I’d try “ride-on” boxes. “Ride-ons” are features that you don’t need to jump onto; they have a “snowy get-on” running into them, so you can literally ride straight (50-50) over them. From 50-50s I’d progress to board slides, before getting creative, with spins on or off the features.
“Side hits” are the next step up from “ride-ons”. This involves jumping from a “get-on” at the side of a rail or box onto it. I wouldn’t rush into landing on actual rails; side-hitting gas pipes is a great way to progress and improve your rail game.
> How do you make sure you land a rail trick?
I set up tricks to benefit the next trick! If I was going to spin 270 onto a rail, I would try a 180 spin first. I also make sure I fully commit to whatever trick I’m trying. If I don’t feel like trying it, I wait for another day. That’s key to being a successful snowboarder; I don’t want to get carried away and risk injury. Having weekly freestyle lessons at a snow centre or dry slope is a really good way to build on tricks.
> What’s running through your head throughout a rail trick?
Way before I get onto the rail I’ve planned the trick! I’ve thought about how to do it and visualised myself doing it too, so as I approach the rail I’m already confident I will land it. There is no point attempting something you don’t believe you’re going to land! Once on the rail I’m relaxed, I spot the landing as I come to the end of the rail and get ready to ride away with a smile on my face. Landing a trick is a great feeling and gives you the buzz to go and do it again. Remember, landing it once doesn’t mean you have learnt it; it’s where the learning begins. Repetition!
