These Traditional “Spinning Sleds” From Finland Are Good Old Fashioned Winter Fun
Lovely bit of traditional winter culture out of Finland where generations of fun seekers have been digging holes in frozen lakes and setting up “Napakelkka” otherwise known as the Finnish spinning sled. These simple human powered contraptions involve a long horizontal pole anchored at a center pivot point and the sledder who gets to hang on for the ride as the pusher pushes:
Napakelkka were once common as village pastimes and still appear throughout the country most often at winter festivals and tourist parks. If you live near a frozen body of water that is safe to be out on (learn more about ice safety here) consider doing as the Finns do and make your own ice carousel. Fun for kids, fun for adults, and a great little workout.
While we recommend the traditional form of Napakelkka, we appreaciate this dude who made a DIY outrigger out of a ski boot attached to his motorcycle to spin the Napakelkka. What a hoot!
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