If you’re ready to start jibbin’, 50-50s are a great place to start. They’re less scary than a boardslide because you never have edge contact on the rail-so you avoid the risk of catching an edge and flying onto your face. I love 50-50s. Having my 50-50s dialed has allowed me to jump down some really decent-sized rails that I might not have hit otherwise.
1. First, pick your line onto the rail by visualizing a triangle with the angle of your board and the end of the rail. This is a general guide I use for lining up most tricks so that I slide to the end of the rail.
2. Crouch down a little, and pop your ollie. Timing is everything, so nail the ollie and you’ll be stoked.
3. Keep the line you picked on the run-in until you’re floating over the rail-then align your nose straight down it.
4. Catch the rail with your heels (frontside) or toes (backside) just a tiny bit. Be very gentle with this step, it’s backfired on me in the past-not rad!
4. Rock on top of the rail so you’re flat-based on the bar, and line your shoulders up with the rail.
5. As soon as you’re locked in, start looking at the end of the rail and don’t take your eyes off it. Hold your position until you’re at the end of the rail.
6. Now crack a little ollie off the rail’s end for steez, and stick the landing.
7. Hit it again and again ’til the piece is dialed.
Sidebar
Tip: As soon as you’re on, remember to keep looking at the end of the rail-this is a must-do! I have blown it time and time again by leaving out this step.
For detailed video instruction, buy the movie Jibbing With Jeremy Jones by Mack Dawg Productions at transworldsnowboarding.com. Northstar-at-Tahoe. Sequence: Chad Otterstrom/Jibbing With Jeremy Jones
