Kids love it, and so do most adults. Tobogganing is the quintessential winter fun. The good thing about it: you don’t have to be exceptionally fit or have any special technical skills to whiz down the hill on a toboggan. A little body tension and driving skills are enough.
You don’t necessarily have to go on a skiing vacation to go sledding. Even a little snow at home is enough for a fun toboggan ride. For those who like it more demanding: artificial ice rinks and summer toboggan runs are real challenges.
Fitness factor in tobogganing low
If you disregard the fact that you have to pull the sled up the hill again and again, in case of doubt with one or the other tired child on it, tobogganing is not too much of a challenge for physical fitness. Accordingly, the training effect for strength and endurance is negligible. In terms of fun, however, tobogganing is hard to beat. Conclusion: The only parts of the body that are more stressed than usual when sledding are the laugh muscles.
Waterproof and warm clothing essential
Whether you prefer to go with a wooden sled or a plastic bob depends entirely on your own preferences and snow conditions. The only important thing is that the mobile base is stable. Since experience shows that you have a lot of contact with the snow when tobogganing, waterproof and warm clothing is essential. In addition, sturdy shoes with a decent profile and solid gloves are part of the equipment.
Tobogganing without accident
Since collisions can never be completely avoided, bruises and broken bones are unfortunately not uncommon when tobogganing. The only thing that helps is to reduce speed and drive with foresight. Ski goggles protect against splashing stones. On steeper slopes, children should wear a helmet.
Tips for young sledders
To ensure that the winter dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare, the German federal working group “Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder e.V.” and its Austrian partner organization “Grosse schützen Kleine” have compiled tips. Here’s how to avoid serious accidents while tobogganing:
- Tested safety: only buy toboggans with the TÜV seal or the GS mark for tested safety. Also make sure that the toboggan can be steered well.
- Head protection: A bicycle or ski helmet protects in case of falls.
- Safe slope:
- Make sure that the toboggan run is not too steep and wide enough to swerve if necessary. Especially smaller children should only sled in safe terrain, that is, where there are only gentle slopes, a sufficient width and a generous run.
- Make sure that there are no solid obstacles in the tobogganing area or run.
- Never sled on roads and paths that cross roads. In the event of a collision with a car, the risk of fatal injury is very high.
- Sled control: often smaller children on the bobsled on a hard surface are not able to avoid obstacles early or slow down the bobsled, despite brake claws and steering. Therefore, let smaller children sled alone only if they can safely steer and brake.
- Snow: The snow cover should not be frozen. On icy ground, the speed increases in an incalculable way and the risk of accident increases.
- Tobogganing position: never toboggan on your stomach and head first. An upright sitting position with the upper body slightly tilted backwards is ideal. So you can steer and brake better and reduces the risk of head injury.
The main cause of accidents, even in older children, are driving errors. Teenagers love fast-paced rides, often using forest trails for tobogganing. Due to the higher speed and limited nature of the terrain, driving errors can lead to serious collisions with solid obstacles when falling into the forest. Talk to youth about these dangers, about taking too much risk, and about prudent behavior.
And last but not least: Set a good example!
