Kicksled

The sled is propelled by kicking (sparka or sparke in the Scandinavian languages) the ground by foot.

The kicksled is driven forward by the driver standing on one runner, kicking backwards on the ground with the other foot, hence the name.

On very smooth, bare ice, the use of traction devices like spiked shoes or crampons improves kicking force.

Some models also include a wheel kit allowing to transform the sled to a kind of walking aid for summer use.

In 1909 the design of the modern kicksled with flexible metal runners was introduced by the Swedish factory Orsasparken, [2] which quickly became standard in Sweden, Finland and Norway.

In 1893 the French language Popular science magazine, La Nature, described the kicksled in the article "Un Traineau Suédois: Le Sparkstötting".

[3] In 1894 this article was translated into English and published as "A Swedish Sled :The Sparkstotting", in the magazine Scientific American".

Another racing and sport purposed aluminium-alloy based ultralight kicksled - the Kickspark is produced by Kickbike Worldwide in Finland.