Kicksleds kicking up snow on Renfrew County trails
A Calabogie company has brought the family-friendly activity of kicksledding to the Ottawa Valley.
Mad River Paddling Co. says they received three new kicksleds for rent over the holiday break and have already ordered more stock.
"The kicksleds are the newest thing we have," says Tana Smith, one of the co-founders of Mad River Paddling Co. "They are made in Finland, it's an ancient sport, but maybe new to a lot of people here."
The design is simple and easy to use, making it a fun option for families to use and get outside on a trail or even in a backyard.
"They're so simple, it's kind of like a seated stair," explains Smith. "Think dog sledding without the dogs."
Smith says her local outdoors company started in March 2021 and spent the summer offering canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals. They have already seen demand of the kicksleds, and are anticipating business to increase heading into the latest provincial lockdown.
"Folks are desperate for something to do," says Smith. "Anything, get out there, try something new, and be active, not only for our physical health but our mental health."
The kicksleds are available to rent starting from $30 for half a day, all the way up to $150 for a full week. The sleds are also part of a variety of unique winter gear available including fat tire e-bikes for winter cycling and hybrid snowshoe-skis. (https://www.madriverpaddleco.com)
"They're just super fun and easy to use. You don't need equipment or sizes, in terms of boots and stuff like you do for cross-country skiing. You can just get off the screen and get out there."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.