How to Grind the Rail in Snowboarding

Snowboarding rails usually are constructed with fiberglass.

While recreational snowboarders prefer to stick to the slopes, freestyle riders spend their time in the terrain park. The snowboarding terrain park houses ramps, ledges and rails. Terrain parks often feature large circular rails used for grinding tricks, according to Transworld Snowboarding. In snowboarding, the grind takes place as you slide across a rail with the bottom of your snowboard. The easiest grind, known as a 50-50, can be executed on both circular and square snowboarding rails.

Instructions

1. Lean onto your heels or toes to navigate your snowboard towards the grind rail. Bend your knees to balance your riding stance. Approach the obstacle with your snowboard parallel to the rail.

2. Extend your legs, and jump toward the rail. Raise your feet to hover above the grind rail. Lower your snowboard onto the top of the rail.

3. Lean forward to avoid sliding out. Bend your knees to ensure a balanced grind. Jump away from the rail as you reach the end.

4. Bend your knees as the snowboard touches down onto the mountain slope. Add variations to the 50-50 to increase your grinding skills.

References

• Transworld Snowboarding: Trick Tip Tuesday - How to Tail Press
• Snowboard Mag: Rail Jam - 1st Day of Winter
• ESPN: Sebastien Toutant Slopestyle Gold

Resources

• ABC-of-Snowboarding: Snowboarding Tricks - 50-50 Grind