How to Make a Snowboard Grind a Rail

Grinding a rail on a snowboard, or 'jibbing', is a visually impressive feat of athleticism. It takes balance, body control, and a good amount of courage to successfully grind a rail and ride away without falling. To grind a rail on a snowboard, you have to start out with the right amount of speed, hit the jump and land on the rail in the right spot on your board, maintain your balance through the length of the rail, and rotate the board as you jump off to ride away cleanly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Snowboard Rail
Snowboard
Rail

Step 1

Start with the 50/50 grind, which runs the board parallel to the rail. A 50/50 grind is easier because you don't have to rotate the board as you enter and exit the rail. Also if you fall, you are more likely to land on the snow off to the side of the rail instead of on the rail itself.

Step 2

Approach the jump with enough speed to land on top of the rail. Most people approach the jump tentatively and don't build up enough momentum, causing them to run into the rail instead of landing on top of it. Learning the right speed for each rail takes some trial-and-error, but depending on the steepness of the hill, starting about 10 to 15 feet up the hill and heading straight towards the jump without carving should be about right.

Step 3

If the jump is shaped well, your momentum will carry you right onto the rail. If there's a gap, bend at the knees, keeping your center of gravity over the board, and hop over the gap. Focus on hopping straight up, since your momentum will carry you forward onto the rail.

Step 4

Land on the rail with the middle of your snowboard. The closer to the center of the board you are, the better your balance will be and the more likely you are to stay on the rail.

Step 5

As you ride the length of the rail, lean on your front foot. This gives you better control of the board, and will help you to avoid falling backwards. Many riders have a tendency to lean on their back foot, which can cause the board to slide out from underneath them.

Step 6

If the rail is only a few inches above the ground, you can let your momentum carry you directly from the rail to the snow. If the rail is significantly higher than the snow, bend at the knees and hop straight up (like you did to get on the rail), and your momentum will take you off the rail and back onto the snow.

Article Written By Billy Brown

Billy Brown is an outdoor sports writer living in Northern California. An avid rock climber and trail runner, he's been writing about outdoor activities, fitness and gear since 2005. He regularly contributes to "The Record Searchlight," uncooped.com, and Trails.com, as well as other print and online publications. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Simpson University and is a NASM-certified personal trainer.

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