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Ultimate Sleds?

Posted by michael on from the suck-it-up dept.

frenchgates asks: "I recently moved near a long and steep sledding hill with dangerous trees right at the bottom. I have acquired a fleet of sleds at this point, plastic shells, inflatables, a toboggin, a flexible flyer, etc, but all have one potentially fatal (literally) flaw: no brakes. I figure this crowd probably takes its gravity-fun seriously so I am looking for info on sleds (or customizations) allow rapid stopping in all snow conditions."

7 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Jump the fuck off by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's the way I always did it when I was a kid.

    Tim

    --
    Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.
    1. Re:Jump the fuck off by Otter · · Score: 5, Funny

      I grew up near a steep hill with an apartment complex at the bottom. There was enough of a runout that when you bailed out, momentum only carried you headfirst into the building every, oh, seventh or eighth time.

      Honestly, it's amazing that any kids live until adulthood.

      --
      What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  2. Chop the trees down. by Trusty+Penfold · · Score: 5, Funny


    Chop the trees down. Use the wood to make more sleds.

  3. Two words: Retro rockets by KnightStalker · · Score: 5, Funny

    What you need is a complicated system of instantly ignited, rapidly burning chemical propellant in a jet enclosure, with the nozzle pointing in the direction of normal travel. This may have the unintented side effect of ruining the sled run.

    Or you could just use the traditional method of stopping a sled, as others have pointed out, and JUMP THE FUCK OFF! :-)

    --
    * And remember, it's spelled N-e-t-s-c-a-p-e, but it's pronounced "Mozilla."
  4. Snowboard. by WasterDave · · Score: 5, Funny

    Use one. Perhaps get lessons.

    Dave

    --
    I write a blog now, you should be afraid.
  5. Re:Enter: The rudder by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Rudder? That better be some wicked-soft snow!

    I remember having a "trike" some time ago. It was basically three skis with the front, middle one mounted on bycicle type handlebars. The undersides of the rails were ribbed to grab the snow and ice just a little bit and turn you.

    This works extreamely well. You don't want to use any kind of "anchor" to stop, since you'll probably be going quite fast... and the jerk from the anchor rope will be just as bad (or worse!) than hitting the trees!

    Another brake design I've seen is a triangle-shaped plate with SMALL spikes on it, hinged at the point opposite the spikes and held up under the sled with a light spring.stomping on the plate pushed the spikes into the snow and slowed you down safely.

    And, of course, "Jump the fuck off" is still the most reliable. :) Those round plastic "plates" don't stop for anything... just lean back and plant your ass in the snow!

    (Building a berm of leaves at the bottom of the hill before it snows would make a great safety net, too)
    =Smidge=

  6. other people by oyenstikker · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have found that the most reliable way of stopping is running into other people walking back up the hill. Small children probably won't stop you, but they usually walk back up in groups of 2 or 3, which is usually sufficient.

    --
    The masses are the crack whores of religion.