TOBOGGANING

There are 2 main types of tobogganing – the traditional Austrian wooden sled and the French luge. The Austrian variety is higher, and clients sit on and steer / break with their feet and hands. The French luge is lower, and users sit in the scooped body of the luge, breaking and steering with side mounted breaks. French trails tend to use either a (closed) ski piste or a similar trail running parallel to the piste. Austrian toboggan trails tend to run through forests with banked snow and barriers to keep the toboggans and their pilots on track. Both varieties of toboggan track can be either illuminated or moonlit (cloud cover depending).

Getting to the starting point of the toboggan trail can be made on foot, but most of the popular huts are accessed by either ski lift or by a tractor and trailer. Sometimes downloads are possible by tractor or by ski lift, for those not wanting to toboggan down. Where lifts are serving the toboggan trail, multiple descents are possible although the attraction of a warm, atmospheric mountain hut is often too tempting to miss. Ice can cause toboggan trails to be closed, whilst organised, guided group descents are required to reduce the risk of injury. For insurance reasons, clients are required to contract directly with the suppliers of the toboggan activity.