Editing Sledding (section)

==Recreational sledding techniques==
[[File:Zentralbibliothek Zürich - Schlittelsport in den Alpen - 000012146.jpg|thumb|left|Schlitteln, Schweizer Alpen, ~1890–1910]]
The first ride down a hill on a [[sled]] is the most important, but also the most difficult, as it determines the path of the sled for further runs down the [[hill]]. It is essential to steer the sled along the most exciting course, perhaps adding twists and turns to make the run down the hill faster or more exciting. Other techniques to improve the ride include turning around, lying on the stomach, or closing both eyes.  Running up to a sled and jumping onto it can create additional momentum and improve ride speed.  This technique can be referred to as "Flopping."

There are five types of sleds commonly used today: runner sleds, [[toboggan]]s, disks, [[inner tube|tubes]] and backcountry sleds.  Each type has advantages and disadvantages if one is trying to get the most out of a given [[slope]].

With each course down the hill, the sled's path through the snow can become more icy.  Sleds with a greater surface area (anything but runner sleds) are able to make the first runs a great deal easier than the variety of sleds with metal runners.  Runner sleds are typically faster once the snow has compacted or turned icy.  In the 1880s, [[Samuel Leeds Allen]] invented the first steerable runner sled, the [[Flexible Flyer]].  Since that date, the ability to steer the sled away from obstacles has led people to believe it to be more appropriate choice for the safety conscious. On the other hand, the hard wood or metal front section of steerable runner sleds is far more likely to cause serious injury if it strikes a person, or if the hands are caught between the steering mechanism and a solid object in a crash. Each year, around 30,000 children in the US are injured in sledding, with one in 25 injuries requiring hospitalization. In a majority of these serious cases, young children are riding runner sleds in a prone position, and suffer hand and finger injuries when they are caught under the runners or between the sled and another object.<ref>[http://www.bjcbehavioralhealth.org/behavioralhealth_print.aspx?id=2068 BJC Health Care – The Ups and Downs of Sledding Safety]</ref> In addition, runner sleds force the weight of the rider onto two thin runners where the pressure causes a microscopic film of snow or ice to melt as the sled passes over it.  This invisible layer of fluid reduces friction, causing the sled's speed to greatly exceed that of its flat bottomed relatives.

With the control of a backcountry sled, stunts become possible. Sledding off cliffs and doing tricks off jumps is known as [[extreme sledding]].