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ABOUT OUR SLEDS/HISTORY
--> Sled Specifications
The Mad River Rocket is built to perform. The hull is fabricated from thick, virgin polyethylene. Sure-grip, ribbed knee pads are designed for comfort and performance. Our sled features a quick release lap belt.
Two holes are precision drilled into the bow (Classic and Killer B models only) making it easy to attach ropes or a stiff hitch pulling system for backcountry camping expeditions. Our sleds are designed to carve turns and perform tricks and are also used by outdoor enthusiasts who snowshoe the backcountry and Rocket back down.
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Killer B
Weight: 6 pounds
Length: 47“
Height: 6“
Width: 20“
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Stinger
Weight: 5.34 pounds
Length: 41.83“
Height: 5.34“
Width: 17.8“ |
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--> Mad River Rocket History
The evolution of the Mad River Rocket began with renowned architect David Sellers and friends in Warren, Vermont. They set out to find a better way to slide down the hills of Vermont.
Their early ideas began with toboggans sliced in half and pinned together for rapid steering. They were heavy, big and had no control surfaces. They also tried to modify the cheap toy store sleds. They realized that in order to be safe and to see the changing terrain as you glide through the thick forests prevalent in Vermont, they had to develop a new type of sled. |
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Many of the experimenters with this new sled design were also kayakers and white water canoers. The similarities are strong. In white water you need to be high enough in the water to see ahead and you need to lean and brace for balance. They experimented with sled designs that incorporated the kneeling position, quickly added a knee strap and knew they had a design that would be highly maneuverable in powder snow. |
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They had come up with a design that allowed them to traverse snowy terrain without slipping. This is an essential element in the Rocket; we call it the “negative keel,” which packs a monorail of snow under the sled. This snow rail has enough strength to allow for a traverse without slipping and which is easily broken with a weight shift in order to change direction.
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No sooner than the rocket was launched, kids started doing tricks on rockets that blew our minds! We have since been devoted to developing the free sledding sport as well as promoting the backcountry benefits of our sled. Whether you’re doing misty’s or carving down a sick mountain in the back woods, we hope you have a blast on our sleds!
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