The History of Downhill Sledding

When it snows, one can safely expect the local parks and hills to be dotted with both children and adults alike sledding down on makeshift sleds or more advanced versions. Sledding was once a means of transporting families and goods across the winter terrains of Canada, and is now a popular recreational activity. Sleds come in many varieties and makes, and the sport has branched off into more extreme versions such as extreme sledding and luging.

  1. History

    • When French traders entered what is now Canada in the 17th century, they discovered that the indigenous tribes of Cree and Innu used wooden sleds for transportation and survival. The mountainous terrain is especially difficult to navigate under several feet of snow. Sleds were used along with snow shoes for uphill and downhill travel. The sleds were upturned in the front and were made of thin planks of hardwood. The 20th century saw sledding transform from a means of survival to a recreational activity and the development of different styles, materials and types of downhill sleds.

    Features and Types

    • While the first sleds were wooden with the front tip turning upward, sleds now come in a large variety. No matter the evolution of sleds, downhill sleds are still designed to transport people or loads in snowy terrain by sliding over the surface of the snow. Therefore, bottoms of sleds must be smooth or have devices like skis attached. Sleds are still made from wood, and also foam or plastic in a disc or an elongated shape. Some sleds have steering devices to maintain control down the hill or mountain, while some just have handles to hold on to.

    Extreme Sledding

    • Although sledding usually brings up an image of kids sledding down the hill at the local park, extreme sledding has become a popular alternative to just simply riding a sled down the hill. Extreme sledders perform mid-air flips, jumps, rotations, specialized tricks and landings off ramps. Night sledding is branch of extreme sledding. Extreme sleds come in wide variety of kinds, like some for sitting, lying or kneeling on.

    Competitive Sledding

    • Bobsled, Luge, and Skeleton are all Olympic competitions and derivations of the original sled. Bobsledding is a team sport in which team members run, push and jump into a steerable sled down a track of ice. Luging is a team or individual sport where the sledders start the race sitting on a small sled with blades on the bottom and use their hands against the ground to propel themselves forward down the track. Skeleton is an individual sport where the sledder lies on this stomach and sleds headfirst down a track. The skeleton sledder gets a running start and jumps onto the sled.

    Warning

    • While sledding is a fun winter pastime, it is a potentially dangerous and deadly activity. The biggest risk in sledding is head trauma by either running into rocks or trees, or being thrown off the sled while going very fast. Getting lost in cold temperatures and avalanches are also potential threats. Never sled in areas which are not designated for it. Always wear a helmet and warm clothing.