Mountain Boy Sledworks Slalom Sled

Mountain Boy Sledworks Slalom Sled Review

Mountain Boy Sledworks Slalom Sled Feature

• Fast and maneuverable hand-made wooden sled with full-pivot steering
• Made of 5/8-inch thick marine-grade waterproof molded plywood
• Beechwood surface is protected by four coats of marine-grade finish; slippery plastic runners
• Seats up to 2 adults or 3 children
• Measures 52 x 18 x 5 inches (L x W x H); weighs 10 pounds; 300-pound maximum capacity

A fully steerable toboggan, the incredible, hand-made Slalom sled from Mountain Boy Sledworks is fast and maneuverable, and it's designed to be enjoyed by children and adults alike for generations. Constructed of 5/8-inch thick marine-grade waterproof molded plywood, the entire front section of the Slalom pivots. The sled's wide stance makes it very stable and gives it excellent flotation in powder snow. On hardpack, the Slalom slides along on specialized plastic runners for top speed and control.

The top side of the Slalom.

The under side.

The beechwood surface is protected by four coats of marine-grade finish. All screws are stainless steel, and the non-toxic lacquer finish is highly durable. The Slalom meets all ASTM and USC child safety standards. It's sized for seating up to two adults or three children. The Slalom measures 52 x 18 x 5 inches (L x W x H), weighs 10 pounds, and it has a maximum carry weight of 300 pounds.

Care of Your Sled
Wax the bottom of the sled for best performance (though you'll find that it flies down the hill right out of the box). Ski wax is preferred, but in a pinch you can use paraffin or candle wax. After using the sled, bring it inside to dry. Use furniture oil to protect the top surfaces of the sled. The sled is warranted to be free of defects in workmanship or material for one year.

The Mountain Boy Story
Bruce Hoskin's lifelong fascination with wooden sleds became a way of life when he moved to the high mountain town of Silverton, Colorado. He was able to combine his woodworking experience with his love of sledding to create innovative, beautiful sled designs. Mountain Boy sleds give new meaning to the term "functional art"--they are known for their durability, speed and craftsmanship. Hoskin's wooden sleds hearken back to a century ago, when craftsmen made sleds by hand out of fine wood and steel. While Mountain Boy sleds complement any home, they are also made to last. Each sled is an individual work, designed to be passed from one generation to the next.

Environmental Commitment
Mountain Boy works hard to minimize the impact of all of our operations on the environment. Some key elements include:

• Using only recycled cardboard packaging
• Choosing only fast-growing, common, sustainable hardwoods such as birch, willow and maple
• Ensuring that every part of the wood is used. Smaller pieces are turned into kicksled slats or Christmas ornaments, and the smallest bits end up in our woodstove or in the wood-drying kiln.
• Just as important, making products that last! We think it makes sense to buy a sled (or wagon or scooter) that will last for years, rather than buying a cheaper sled that won't last nearly as long.

Lead Free Finishing
All of our sleds are made with non-toxic finishes, and we have them regularly tested so we are sure that they are lead-free. We use wood dyes to bring out the color and figure of the wood, and then a clear lacquer or polyurethane on top. We put on four coats of lacquer or three coats of polyurethane to create a marine-grade finish.

Sled Manufacture
Mountain Boy make limited quantities of specialty sleds in its Silverton, Colorado workshop, including the Elegant and Royal Flyers, Bambino Superior, and Silverton and Double Kicksleds. Other Mountain Boy sleds, wagons, scooters and ornaments are designed in Colorado and made in Huangyan, China, by our good friend Yu Guanglin and his crew.

In his small, family-run workshop, he makes sleds the same way we do - by hand, paying attention to the beauty of the wood, selecting the best materials, getting all the details right. He buys sustainably harvested birch logs, and has planks cut from them to just the right thickness. All the little pieces are used to make ornaments, and the sawdust is used to fire the wood-drying kiln, so there's very little waste. In his shop, he carefully prepares all the materials: each plank is planed by hand, and each willow branch is peeled and sanded by his crew. When he assembles the sleds, he makes sure that all the parts match and have no flaws.

Mountain Boy sledmaker Brice Hoskin is fluent in Mandarin, and travels to China to inspect sleds several times a year. In our long relationship working with Mr. Yu, Brice has been able to closely monitor not just the quality of the product, but also working conditions and the way the workshop is run.

Takes sliding to the next level! Don't just slide down the hill, steer down! Mountain Boggan Slalom is the first fully steerable toboggan. The entire front section pivots for incredible steering power. Wide stance allows for excellent flotation in powder and picks up top speed on hardpack with the hardwood runners. Thick rope attached to the front serves as handhold when you sled lying down or footrest for sit-down sledding. Made of marine-grade, waterproof, molded plywood with stainless steel hardware. Includes extra-long pull rope. Item is factory shipped.