Fast. Strong. Beautiful. Unique.
Did I say Fast? Extremely Fast!
How do you steer? By weight shifting.
How do you brake? You don't.
Brakes were invented by cowards.
This Extreme project is Extremely suited for the Extreme contest because your whole life would go Extremely fast before your eyes even if you close them bombing down that Extremely steep hill.
You can't buy anything like this but it's Extremely cheap and easy to build yourself.
Did I say Fast? Extremely Fast!
How do you steer? By weight shifting.
How do you brake? You don't.
Brakes were invented by cowards.
This Extreme project is Extremely suited for the Extreme contest because your whole life would go Extremely fast before your eyes even if you close them bombing down that Extremely steep hill.
You can't buy anything like this but it's Extremely cheap and easy to build yourself.
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Signing UpStep 1: Parts & Materials
This particular sled is comfortable for two adults or one adult with two kids but building technology is easily adaptable for smaller or bigger designs. For the smaller and lighter one person sled two support arches is sufficient. Start designing with the skies. Shorter downhill skies are harder to find but cutting the long ones would probably compromise it's structural strength and shape.
You will need:
Pair of used downhill skies you can buy cheap at second hand store. Take off all bindings.
Piece of plywood for the seat. I used cushioned seat from the old automotive creeper. Be creative.
1-1/4" Gray PVC 90deg Elbow, Schedule 80 - 3 pc (Look for electrical conduit)
1-1/4" PVC plug - 6 pc (look in plumbing, not all hardware stores have them)
1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 1/16 thick Aluminum Angle - 6" long - 6 pc
Various nuts and bolts.
You will need:
Pair of used downhill skies you can buy cheap at second hand store. Take off all bindings.
Piece of plywood for the seat. I used cushioned seat from the old automotive creeper. Be creative.
1-1/4" Gray PVC 90deg Elbow, Schedule 80 - 3 pc (Look for electrical conduit)
1-1/4" PVC plug - 6 pc (look in plumbing, not all hardware stores have them)
1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 1/16 thick Aluminum Angle - 6" long - 6 pc
Various nuts and bolts.
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Once my bravest son shot down a slope, every parent was scrounging!
Nice instructable and one of those ideas we should have thought of a long time ago!
Very nice instructable.
Brakes invented by cowards? For cowards?
Cushions for sissies?
I used to sled on traditional "Davos"-sleds down a very steep mountain. (40 mph +)
The average death toll was around one per year. (No joke!)
The plural in sleds is intentional, because i needed more than one in my youth.
When i first skied in the U.S., i was amazed, how they ignored basic security measures.
Around here, we have restraining bars and foot rests since i can remeber. (On chair lifts)
On one lift ride, we took two ski school kids (maybe 5-6 y.o.) in the middle of our chair, i was really concerned about their security not to fall off the lift.
The ticket was so big for all the legal blabla, that you more or less had to sign, by buying it.
They also skied in the powder of forests with hidden tree stumps... In this resort, the death toll was also around one p.a.
<And this in a country, where you can get sued, for putting too much salt on your breakfast egg... or the restaurant for providing the salt.
irony off>>
But then, life is deadly, that's a fact.
i use a $12 skimboard i found at my local petrol station (although if you are not by the seaside it may be harder to find one) and i use ski wax all over the bottom. i strapped a gps speedo on my helmet, and my fastest recorded speed so far on it is 52.31 mph. the problem is when the front digs in at 50mph and you skid on your face for about 30 meters.
PVC becomes brittle over time at normal temperatures. Even more so in the cold. When it shatters it creates sharp and/or pointy shards. It has very poor notch strength (translation: it will break at deep scratches). Instead, with very few design changes, you can use galvanized steel pipe (in the plumbing section of your local big box home improvement store) BUT NOT CABLE CONDUIT (not strong enough). Personally I would not build this with less than (standard thickness) 3/4 inch. I _would_ build this if I lived in hillier country, or in snow country. Spend the extra for the galvanized rather than cheaping out and using the black pipe. The galvanized will resist rust much better.
Be Safe.
I'd want to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. Try using 90 degree elbows and straight cross pipes to lower the deck a couple of inches.
I like the head lamps!
Killing yourself is OK, I guess, but wiping out that 9 yr old girl down below is not.
An old saying states "Go fast cars need stop fast brakes". Not necessarily for yourself but for those around you. Crazy is fun. No doubt. I've been one of the craziest you could ever meet. Unfortunately, I been one of the most stupid if not THE most stupid person Ive ever known, but by the grace of God, I've never seriously hurt anyone. Now that I'm a LOT older, I'm eternally greatful for that.
I "learned" how to ski by just flying down the mountain. Can't stop, can't slow down, can't stop. Amazing. Kayaking. Class 5. Same thing... figure it out on the fly or die.
A great toy. Sure looks like fun. But bravado aside, steering and braking are just responsible necessities. If you're throwing yourself down Tuckerman's Ravine and there's nobody down below you then GO FOR IT!! But wear a head cam at least! Make a great You Tube fer sure!
BTW, All that about skiing and kayaking? all 100% true. I've an equally idiotic friend of 35 years who was right there all the way who also lived to tell the stories.
I would recommend adding a tether line to tie to your ankle in case you have to bail out. The sled on its own could be a lethal hazard to anybody downhill from you.
I'd love to see some video!
i have seen them made simply buy screwing some skis on to the bottom of a builders pallet.
@seamster: i would not let a kid use this without a helmet, 6 inches of foam padding and a back brace and god help the person at the bottom of the hill.
Nice instructable tho lol
Excellent step-by-step.
Kudos on including photos of parts at the source!
This is perhaps one of the most well written, fully comprehensive instructables I've ever seen.