Sledging is a fantastic family activity. There’s hardly anything more exhilarating than gliding from the mountain peaks down to the valley, squealing at the top of your lungs. To ensure your sledging trip with children becomes a memorable one, we’ve compiled several helpful tips. With these preparations, your outing in nature is guaranteed to become an amazing experience for all family members.
Wondering when it’s the right time to take your children sledging? This fun activity is, of course, not suitable for newborns. But toddlers under the age of five can already swoosh down the mountain on a sledge with a backrest and perhaps a harness for extra safety. If you have a wooden sledge, you can either retrofit a seat or become the “backrest” yourself and head down the mountain sitting behind your child.
Once your child is the right age for sledging, you can start thinking about everything you need for the adventure. The following checklist helps you ensure you have all the essentials with you:
Our tip: If you want to pack light, consider renting a sledge on-site – and don’t forget the helmets!
When the starting point of your sledging run isn’t accessible by cable car, you’ll need to cover the distance on foot. This may not be the most enjoyable part of the excursion for your little ones. Here are some ways to make the hike more pleasant for them:
When the hiking route doubles as the sledging run, extra caution is required when you are bringing children with you. Make sure to always use the right-hand side for the ascent and that everyone walks in single file. When crossing the route, you should do so only at safe locations with good visibility.
Whether you’re sledging with children or without them, it’s crucial to stay in control of your sledge at all times during the descent. Make sure you ride in a controlled manner, on sight and keeping a safe distance from others. Choose a riding style and speed that matches your skill level and experience. Important as well: Pay close attention to the snow and weather conditions and adapt your riding style accordingly.
Are you sledging with a group? Only stop at safe locations with good visibility to take a break or wait for your companions.
Sledging with children can be a wonderful experience as long as you keep these important points in mind. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a safe and exciting sledging adventure for everyone involved.
Austria, as a winter sports destination, offers a variety of sledging runs that are perfect for a family outing. Here are some options:
Once you’ve packed your essentials and selected a suitable destination, it’s time for you to head out on your sledging adventure. If you’re frequently going on family trips, you’re likely familiar with the challenge of fitting all the equipment into the boot of your car.
Why not make it easy for a change and rent your sledges on site? Many sledging runs also offer rental services – and if not, there’s most likely an INTERSPORT Rent shop somewhere nearby!