Toboggan: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A toboggan is a simple sled used on snow, to carry one or more people (often children) down a hill or other slope, for recreation. Designs vary from simple, traditional models to modern engineered composites.

The traditional toboggan is made of bound, parallel wood slats, all bent forward at the front to form a sideways 'J' shape. A thin rope is run through the top of the loop to provide steering. The frontmost rider places her feet in the loop and sits on the flat bed; any others sit behind her and grasp the waist of the person before them.

A typical modern design, often called a Snoracer, consists of a plastic seat bound to a tubular metal frame; this is then bound to two plastic side runners, and a front 'ski' connected to a steering wheel.

Perhaps the simplest form is a sheet of flexible plastic, about 2 mm thick and 1m square, with holes on the front edge as handles. The handles are grasped and the sheet pulled back over the legs, to form a flexible smooth conveyance.

See also

• Bobsled
• Luge
• Toboggan hat
• Tobogganing
• Skeleton (sport)