Tag Archives: OGCC

By Andrew Liszewski

I still don’t know what compels humans to climb to the top of a snow covered hill and then slide back down at breakneck speeds, but damned if it isn’t fun!… Well at least the down part is. Climbing back up with a giant toboggan in tow? Not so much. But at just 3½ pounds, the Bavarian Zipfel Bobsled makes the getting back to the top part a bit more bearable.

The bobsled’s design was inspired by Johann Uttenthaler’s 1969 invention for careening down the slopes of the Bavarian Alps, and if there’s any place on Earth to put a new sled design through its paces, I imagine that would be it. The rider sits on the back of the sled with the suggestive joystick-like handle sticking up between their extended legs, kind of like riding a snow shovel. A set of molded plastic rails on the underside keeps the sled headed in a straight line, but the rider can easily turn and carve by simply leaning from side to side. And like with most sleds, braking is provided by your boots, another sledder or the nearest tree.

The Bavarian Zipfel Bobsled is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for a reasonable $39.95.

[ The Bavarian Zipfel Bobsled ] VIA [ I4U News ]

By Andrew Liszewski

While they’re no where near as predictable as a wooden toboggan when it comes to charting a straight path down a snowy hill, those plastic disc saucer-style sleds can be just as fun, if not more so. All it takes is someone at the top of the hill to give you a little spin when you start your descent, and your ride will not only be unpredictable, but should also leave your head spinning when you get to the bottom. But in a good way.

Both sled styles have their advantages, but now that I’ve discovered this Millennium Falcon shaped saucer sled, I’m afraid my classic wooden toboggan’s days are numbered. It’s only big enough to seat one person, so you can forget about bringing along a Wookie co-pilot, but it does have a pair of foam handles to help you steer and avoid other craft on your way down the hill. Unfortunately, neither Amazon nor Target appear to have the $34.99 sled in stock at the moment, but they seem to indicate it will be available in about 2 to 6 weeks.

[ Star Wars Millennium Falcon Sled ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Though I was never involved in the Boy Scouts (my parents trusted I could make friends on my own) I do like their simple motto; Be Prepared. So here’s a hypothetical scenario for you. What if on one snowy day you decide to do a little tobogganing at the local hill, and all of a sudden a blizzard comes out of nowhere making it impossible for you to traverse the 5 blocks home? I guarantee there won’t be any Ton-tons around to cut open and climb inside, so it probably wouldn’t hurt to leave home with one of these ICEBOX Igloo tools.

Now I’ve never had to build an igloo myself (my family used to raise Ton-tons, so there were always plenty around) but looking at the how-to photos on the Grand Shelters website, I think I could pull it off with the help of the ICEBOX kit. It’s essentially a simple snow block mold that features a telescoping pole which you attach to the ground as your center point. As you then build up the walls of your igloo, you simply adjust the length of the pole which ensures you end up with a perfectly shaped and secure structure. And when you’re done, the ICEBOX folds down flat making it easy to stash in a backpack or dog sled.

You can order an ICEBOX from the Grand Shelters website for $179.95, and while you might scoff at the price now, I’m sure it would have seemed quite reasonable if one day you find yourself freezing to death in a snowstorm.

[ ICEBOX Igloo Tool ] VIA [ ThisNext ]