Build a Kicksled!

Ever heard of a Kicksled?  

(And would you like to build one?)

Kicksleds are likely a Swedish invention, and have been around for a century or more in the Scandinavian countries and Finland.  In Canada, however, they are almost unheard of.  Not any more!  The Meadow Lake Woodlanders will lead the way to a bright new kick-sledding future!

Commercially-built kicksleds are lightweight, and usually fold for storage.  Here is a sample, in the picture on the right: 

Basically a chair on runners, they look like a cross between a dog sled and a scooter.  They aren't meant for heavy loads, but are a quick, maneuverable means of getting around on packed trails, city streets and parks.   Scoot down to the store for a few bags of groceries, or load up the toddler and go for a jog!

The Woodlanders JFW club inherited a large number of assorted used skis (large, small, cross-country, downhill). Most were not suitable for their original purpose, but the club was loathe to throw them out.  What to do?  Build kicksleds, of course!

Step 1:  Look for a model.   Luckily, our friend Bridget has her very own genuine Finnish kicksled.  She and her family brought it over one evening to demonstrate.  We took careful measurements, and tried it out!

Step 2: Experiment with prototypes.  We build a couple of rough-and-ready mock-ups, just for ideas.

Step 3: Turn the club loose!   Each family was given a challenge: Take a pair of skis, and build something fast and fun.
The results have been inspiring, and cover a wide spectrum of approaches, such as:

• Simple but effective: Bolt a Coleman chair to a pair of skis (bonus: folds for storage!)
• Basic joinery: Build a rigid frame out of 2x2s, use the fabric from an old camp chair as the seat
• Rustic: An impressive willow chair on skis
• Elaborate: Bentwood chair, attached to skis using the original bindings

We hope this catches on, and we will certainly us our new sleds a lot this winter. We also have lots of old skis left - many more kicksleds to come!