In Vermont, sledding is being taken to a new extreme.  Extreme sledding has become a popular winter sport. Two Vermont companies, Mad River Rocket and CherryMax Sleds, are creating high-quality performance sleds and attempting to spread the extreme sledding frenzy across the country. 

With outdoor companies such as L.L. Bean, Eastern Mountain Sports, and REI aiding in the promotion of Hammerhead sleds, the company’s name is really getting out there, says Holly Creeks, CEO of CherryMax Sleds.  Also helping, especially this winter, is the amount of snow that Vermont and neighboring states have been receiving.

Not your typical toboggan

Sledding on a “Flexible Flyer” growing up, Creeks always knew there had to be improvements made to make

sledding more efficient and safer, she says. 

Along with her business partner, Steve Luhr, Creeks has taken the basic concept of the Flexible Flyer and enhanced and updated it using current tools, she says. 

CherryMax Sleds sells one model: the Hammerhead.  The sled is designed to be easily maneuvered around moguls and trees, and can catch air off a jump, Creeks says. 

“Hammerhead sleds are used for more than just recreational sledding,” Creeks says.

Hammerhead sleds are easily controlled and the rider also has a comfortable ride, she says.  With an ergonomic material covering the seat of the sled, the rider is cushioned by its trampoline-like qualities while racing down a hill or going over jumps.

While Creeks’ company sells only one type of sled, they offer about 40 accessories, she says.  With items such as lights for both the front and back of the sled, extreme sledding can transform into a night sport.

In their fourth season of extreme sledding sales, the sport is becoming very well-known, Creeks says. 

"The amount of snow this year has really, really helped," Creeks says.

Another extreme sledding company, Mad River Rockets, is based in Warren, Vt. and has been selling sleds since 1984.  President Whitney Phillips started promoting extreme sledding about 10 years ago. 

“Basically you can do anything in the snow,” Phillips says. “It just seemed like the next step.”
 
Mad River Rocket carries three types of sleds designed for different riders, he says: the Killer Bee, for everyone; the Stinger, for children; and the Lexan, which is made of poly-carbonate so you can see the snow through the bottom of the sled. 

An après ski sport

Extreme sledding can happen anywhere there is a hill covered in snow.  Many ski areas will allow extreme sledding to happen after they have closed down for the day, Phillips says. 

“If you look at a map of Vermont, there are about 20 ski mountains,” he says. “If you think about it you can sled there and everywhere else.”

Tenney Mountain in NH opened a Hammerhead sled park where CherryMax Sleds holds races every Saturday, Creeks says. 

Advantages to extreme sledding are that anyone can do it and that participants receive much more exercise than most winter sports, she says. Also, the sport is more affordable because the sled is the only major piece of equipment.

This has allowed more people to become interested in the sport, Creeks says.  Many people who have never participated in winter sports are picking up extreme sledding.

“They can enjoy themselves with friends and family who do not snowboard or ski,” she says.

Extreme sledding is becoming an “après ski” activity. Because most resorts will not allow sledders on the slopes with skiers and boarders, many are choosing to partake in the activity after they are done skiing or boarding for the day, Creeks says.

The crowd that extreme sledding attracts is extremely broad, Phillips says. It includes skiers, boarders, and most recently, skateboarders. The different backgrounds of the sledders allows for many different styles of sledding.

“It all comes from what they do,” Phillips says.  “One of the coolest things is the tight wood trails.”

The steering of the sled allows the rider to duck under branches and avoid any obstacles, Phillips says. 

Both companies advise wearing helmets while sledding.  Also, the sled designs of both companies include a safety leash to attach the rider to the sled.

“Having the ability to control the sled is the biggest safety feature,” Phillips says.

Phillips and Creeks agree that it is going to be hard to keep a sport like extreme sledding out of events such as the Winter X Games, a national extreme sports competition.  With so many winter sports available, more and more people are becoming interested in them, Phillips says.

Something new and different

Eben Widlund, assistant program director of the Wilderness Program at St. Michael’s, says there has been no talk of incorporating the sport into the program.

“It would be a risk-management nightmare,” he says.

Widlund doesn’t have much knowledge of the sport because of its recent debut, he says.

Because of extreme sledding’s anticipated appearance in future Winter X Games, the popularity of this sport will soon be widely spread, Creeks says.

“I suspect that folks looking to have fun will try it,” Widlund says.  "I wouldn’t have any objection to trying it."

Sophomore David Hiltz says he has never heard of extreme sledding, but that it sounds extremely interesting.  Having skiing experience, he would definitely try it, he says.

“I think it would be a really cool sport to try,” Hiltz says.  “I definitely think that St. Mike’s should post information so that students can become more aware it.”

St. Michael’s is in an ideal location for the sport, Hiltz also says.

“Living in Vermont. there are so many opportunities to try new winter sports,” he says. “The surrounding area provides outstanding resources that allow almost anything imaginable to be done.”

St. Michael's College
Box #1776
One Winooski Park
Colchester, Vt. 05439
magazine@smcvt.edu