How to operate your EDAM KICKSLED

 

I saw my first kicksled from the corner of my eye while passing the television one Saturday. A lady who lives in remote Saskatchewan was explaining on SCN that she uses hers to scoot across her farmyard from the house to her studio during the winter months. Being an avid cross-country skier and always curious about innovative things, I was intrigued! So when I had a moment I did a search on the internet. And to my amazement I discovered that these contraptions first appeared in Scandinavia during the 17th century, and that they are enjoying resurgence – even a racing league in eastern Canada! By enlarging sketches I drafted my own unique modifications into construction drawings; and when the time was right I enticed my welder nephew; Edam Boxer Joey LaClare, to fabricate the steel portion. I carefully fastened old wooden X-C skis as runners and took her on the maiden run. I was hooked! With our next prototype we tried old downhill skis – and voila – we had the elements we wanted. Kicksleds work best on hard packed snow – icy roads are even better.

Standing behind the `chair’ with hands on the handles and one foot towards the back end of one of the runners; you kick your inside foot with a motion very similar to skate boarding. It looks like a dogsled minus the dog, and has a seat for carrying small passengers, or groceries.

Kicksledding has become the preferred exercise for my wife & me; yes – even X-C skiing has taken a back seat. The 3 main reasons are;

  1. Convenience. Just get on the thing and go; no special clothing or equipment, no waxing, no need to travel to groomed trail – an ideal course is waiting right outside the door and down the road.
  2.  Exercise: Kicksledding is every bit as demanding as skiing or cycling. You can get an excellent cardio-vascular workout in a short period of time. By alternating your kicking foot, both legs get a great muscular workout.
  3. Novelty: It is so interesting to have passers-by turn and stare or stop you and ask `what the heck is that thing, and where can I get one’.

Kicksledding is an excellent `In Motion’ activity. Use it to go for the mail/coffee/groceries. Take a child along. Because you can wear heavier boots and clothing, you can kicksled in colder weather and still keep warm.

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