Hammerhead Sled

[Alan Garber]

First, I thought it was made by the same company which makes the tele-bindings……..

What is all the fuss about a 200 something dollar sled that weighs 8 lbs?

I have made a number of sleds out of kids plastic ones–each perhaps cost $20 all inclusive (ropes,plastic pipes and carabiners)………They all work just fine………….

I just don’t get it…….

[Chad Lorenz]

It seems as though it is designed for pleasure, IE going down hills and carving sweeping powder turns. I may be incorrect, but I do not believe it is really designed to be used as a pulk, which as I gathered from your post, is what you are implying. FWIW

-Chad

[Bill Fornshell]

This sled was in the Herrington Christmas catalog and at least one catalog that I got but don’t remember the name of. The sled price was $299.95. The kicker is that the “Ski Runners” for the back legs cost an extra $69.95. I called and asked if it would work without the Ski runners and got a reluctant – not very well. The catalog listed the weight as 10 pounds.

So to really be able to use the sled you will pay about $370 plus shipping etc.

This is the catalog picture and looks like it would be a lot of fun:

[Miguel Arboleda]

I’d say this is a lot more fun and more amenable for use as a pulk (only 6 pounds, as opposed to the Hammerhead’s 10, plus inflatable). I’m not sure who the manufacturer is; it’s sold by Mont-Bell here in Japan. Expensive, but from the pictures of people literally flying down mountain slopes, looks like a great way to have fun!

__________________________________________________

Found the manufacturer:

Would you believe that the company is called… drum roll… “Airboard”?

*Cough*

[Miguel Arboleda]

Looks like we were both posting pictures at the same time, Bill! The Hammerhead really does look fun. Just like my old red Town Flyer when I was a boy in New York.

[Bill Fornshell]

Miguel, I think the one you found would be popular with the snowboard folks.

The Ice Rink near my house is connected to a Japanese Company some way and they have pictures on the walls that show “indoor” Down Hill Ski runs from someplace in Japan. Ever seen anything like that?

[Miguel Arboleda]

Sure have, Bill. The one near Tokyo, (SAWS) closed down last year. It was a product of the Bubble Era, when people had money to waste on huge, unlikely projects. I remember the first time I saw SAWS from the car window, upon returning to Japan after 15 years away. It was just a newly built structural skeleton at the time. As an architect I looked at it and just couldn’t imagine what the hell it could be. It was simply enormous! My first impression was that of a hanger for the Thunderbird 2. It never really caught on,though. Have no idea what they are going to do with the place now, though. Can’t imagine using it for an office building, at least not with conservative Japanese business people.

[Miguel Arboleda]

The site has some pretty nice movies view of people using the Airboard. For regular folk like you and me it seems it would make a great all-around sled. Besides making a relatively lightweight pulk, it would also make a great winter air mattress.

[Bill Fornshell]

The movies are great. if you only have time for one watch the “bistraja” one.
Airboard Movie Link

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