Kick Sledging

In the UK, "sledging" generally brings one of two things to mind...

• Children (young and old) tobogganing down the local grassy slope when school has been closed after a dusting of snow... or 
• Sportsmen indulging in the decidedly unsporting practice of winding up their opponents with what might be called "colourful" insults. 

In Lapland, it's different. 

With six months or more of snow cover a year, kick sledging is a regular way of getting around for young and old.  This one from Esla is a good example of the standard kick sledge. 

The principle is very simple.  The "driver" stands on one of the footrests on one leg, and, using a scooter-type kicking motion with the other leg, pushes back between the runners to move the sledge forwards.  It's pretty good exercise too!

Passengers on the sledge don't get the exercise benefits, but do get to experience the wind-chill and hear how hard the driver is breathing!

Of course, as with every other form of transport, there are people that push things to the limit, and there are kick sledges made with the need for speed in mind.

  

These don't have the shopping carrying option, but they really help you cover the ground fast and are a bit easier to steer.

You can see an excellent example of sporty kick sledges being raced in use by a lot of brave/crazy individuals in the annual Ylläs kick sledge race in Äkäslompolo in the link below.

   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5z4Wk9rY8

The prize for the winner of the race each year is a copy of the lovely Bruno Maximus painting of a kick sledger, which captures the ethos of the kick sledge race event so well and highlights the dangers of not regularly changing legs when kick sledging.