Call it a Snowday

by Chris DeMorro on January 09, 2010 at 12:34AM

Winter is in full effect across the country, bringing cold temperatures and lots of snow to many of the northern states (and even some southern states). Lots of snow means days off from school, ice skating, hot cocoa, and, if you're up for adventure. Lots of fun winter activities like snowshoeing, skiing, and sledding. Sledding? Yes, sledding! Just because sledding is easy, cheap and fun, don't write it off as kid's stuff. Adults can have a blast applying their butts to a plastic sheet, and pushing downhill. So what are you waiting for? Oh, yeah, you need a sled.

Types of Recreational Sleds

When it comes to sledding, there are four basic designs to choose from, each with its own advantages. The most basic, and one of the fastest types of sleds, are disc sleds. As the name implies, this is a simple disc that skids along just fine in any kind of the snow, and is especially suited for snow that is deep and fluffy, as it flattens it down for successive runs.

The classic design that has epitomized sledding for decades is the runner-type sled, which plows through the snow on two steel runners. This design can be better steered than other types of sleds, and it is a very stable type of sled as it runs through the snow, rather than atop it.

The toboggan is very popular in North America, is made from waterproofed wood and features the curved-up front lip forming a “J”. This sled was originally developed by Native Americans in Canada for getting across the snow frontier and it is the best choice for deeper snow. These sleds are great for more than one person and are very sturdy.

Then there is the tube sled, which can be anything from a purpose-made, store bought sturdy rubber sled to an extra tire. Snow tubes can take the shape of a disc, toboggan, or even a jet fighter, and because they are light and inflatable are ideal for kids. They are also easier to store and modern technology has made them surprisingly durable. You can also get some very good air on an inflatable tube because they are great at bouncing!

Sledding Safety

Just like any outdoor activity, a certain level of safety needs to be taken to ensure a good time had by all. The most important safety issue comes when choosing the right hill. You want a hill that is steep enough to provide good momentum and speed, but it also needs to have a long flat runoff at the bottom to come to a safe stop. Never choose a hill that has a road or frozen pond at the bottom. Try to avoid wooded hills, as a collision with a tree will never end well for either sled or sledder (though the tree will be fine). You also want to give yourself plenty of room from other sledders, lest you run each other over. But other than that, it is easy to have a great time sledding, and this old school sport remains fun even today.