Sliding into Christmas
As we approach the festive holidays, Andrea Gaini shares some fun facts about the history of the sledge and the materials that crafted Santa’s favourite mode of transport.
'Tis the season of sledges
- The sledge, sled, or sleigh, as it is often known, has been used for centuries as a land vehicle that slides across a surface, usually on ice or snow.
- It is often constructed of a smooth underside or a separate seat placed on two or more narrow runners – similar to skis – which reduce friction.
- The words sledge, sled and sleigh appear to have their roots in the Middle Dutch word slede, meaning sliding or slider.
Roots in the desert
- Researchers believe that to overcome the issue of friction, the Egyptians placed wet sand as lubricant in the front of the vehicle.
- Early examples of sledges were also found in the Oseberg, a Viking ship found at the Oseberg farm in Norway.
Wood for good
- Back then, and now, wood is often the material of choice for sledge-making due to its flexibility and resilience.
- A winter sledge needs to be flexible enough to glide smoothly over frozen ground without breaking.
In competition and recreation
- Over the years, sledges have evolved to be used for transportation, competition and recreation. Sledges are reported to have been used for the first time for recreational purposes in the 1650s, when a group of Russians built wooden tracks to sled down snowy hills.
- In the late 1800s, bobsledding in the Swiss Alps became a sport, with the first race taking place in St Moritz, Switzerland, in 1898.
- Nowadays, the bobsled, made famous by the Winter Olympics and popular cult film Cool Runnings, is made of aerodynamic composites on lightweight metal runners, and can reach an average maximum speed of about 84mph.
- The toboggan is one of the most popular sledges, particularly with children. It is usually made of wood, plastic, or in some cases, sheets of metals.
- One of the most popular designs of toboggans is the Davos sledge, with a wooden pull-bar that gives it stability and two runners shod with iron.
- The Davos sledge is often made of ash wood and is about 80-130cm long. It is designed to be more upright than a normal toboggan, using the rider’s feet to control and brake.
- The Davos sledge was first invented in the 19th Century inspired by the Norwegian sledge. It takes its name from a popular 1883 toboggan race that took place in Davos, Switzerland.
- The saucer is another recreational sledge, which looks like a cooking pan. It is usually made from plastic or metal and is moulded in a rounded shape creating a comfortable seat while sliding.
- The flexible flyer, meanwhile, is the kind of recreational sledge that makes children feel like pros. It is made of wood and it usually has two metal runners.
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
- In 2013, Hungarian designers, Hello Wood, constructed a Christmas tree made of 365 wooden sledges (pictured above). The 11-metre-tall tree was built in only a week and on display in front of the Palace of Arts in Budapest.
- The wooden structure was held together by a 4.5t steel base, from which the four stems of the installation came out, holding 325kg each.
- The sledge tree was so popular that it was also recreated in London (2015) and Vienna (2017).
- The wooden frame was constructed using a crane and several welding techniques, following which, the sledges were fixed onto the frame while hanging down from the top of the tree.
- Two weeks after Christmas, the tree was deconstructed and the sledges donated to local children who lived in homes operated by the charity, SOS Children’s Village.
Going the distance
- In September 2020, three explorers embarked on an unassisted six-month journey to reach the geographical North Pole by the time the Sun began to rise in March 2021. The explorers carried sledges made of composite materials – Kevlar, Diolen and Innegra – to hold their heavy equipment while also resisting extreme temperatures and weather conditions.
