Long before sleds were used by Europeans for various sports, toboggans served a functional purpose for the Mi'kmaq and Abenaki Native Americans, who lived in Canada. These original sleds were handcrafted out of two or more thin boards of larch or birch wood which were secured to another board by crossbars, then loaded with goods or people to be transported across the snowy landscape. Toboggans were usually pulled by a man or women wearing a chest harness, or sled dogs for those lucky enough to have the extra help.
When Europeans arrived, toboggans quickly changed from practical transportation vehicles to sleds that were mainly used for recreation. Wealthy residents of Quebec often went tobogganing down the slopes of the Plains of Abraham, and Governor General, Lord Dufferin even added a toboggan slope for his citizens to enjoy. Sledding soon evolved into various Olympic sports such as bobsledding, lugging and skeleton, all of which are based on the general principles of tobogganing.
When Europeans arrived, toboggans quickly changed from practical transportation vehicles to sleds that were mainly used for recreation. Wealthy residents of Quebec often went tobogganing down the slopes of the Plains of Abraham, and Governor General, Lord Dufferin even added a toboggan slope for his citizens to enjoy. Sledding soon evolved into various Olympic sports such as bobsledding, lugging and skeleton, all of which are based on the general principles of tobogganing.
My tobogganing experience was a short one; after a few runs it was time for us to go back to the Olympic Training Center, but many people probably spent the rest of their nights at Mirror Lake going down the chute over and over again. I find it very relieving that these types of recreation still exist and that so many people are enjoying them. It's very tempting to curl up inside during the winter and avoid the frigid cold, but bundling up and experiencing the thrill of the outdoors is definitely worth it.
Sources:
http://www.canadianicons.ca/toboggan.php?page=1
Sources:
http://www.canadianicons.ca/toboggan.php?page=1
I think it's really interesting to look at how pieces of equipment like the toboggan changed over time to serve different purposes! Because humans invented more advanced and efficient technology, the toboggan was no longer needed, and I'm curious how its recreational use developed. Who was the first to think of sending it down a large icy hill or track? That's the real question. This reminds me of how people romanticize certain past times, enjoying the reminders of older and simpler days.
ReplyDeleteI think the answer to Amanda's question is simple... Humans get a thrill from the adrenaline rush of fast, dangerous activities, and I doubt thrill-seeking is a modern invention. I'm sure that from the beginning of the "invention" of the toboggan, Native Americans would coast down sloping hills. They also probably thought it was fun and wanted to try it on a steeper slope, and then a steeper slope. When the Europeans adopted the sled, they began constructing slopes to maximize speed and consequently, fun! No surprise then, that racing followed. And voila, we have bobsled, luge, and skeleton. I think sometimes we overestimate the art of discovery-- often, it starts with some person pondering a silly thought and then being dumb enough to try it out.
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