The «Spark» – Norway’s original winter vehicle

A brief history of the Norwegian kick sled

Before the snowmobile, and long before SUVs with heated seats, we had the kick sled. Simple in design, a wooden frame with a seat mounted on two long steel runners, it has been the most Norwegian way of getting around in winter for well over a century. It was my own mode of transport growing up, and I still love it! 

The «spark» is believed to be around 130 years old, having evolved from the shorter sled. Its big breakthrough in Norway came around 1920, when it was used for everything from trips to the shop and carrying milk churns to giving grandma a lift to church.

How to ride a kick sled like a Norwegian

1. Place one foot on the runner.

2. Kick off with the other. (Yes, that is why it is called a «spark», meaning kick.)

3. Steer with the handlebar and a little body weight.

4. Pro tip: Put a friend, a child or your shopping bags on the seat.

5. Going downhill? Both feet on the runners and enjoy the ride. Braking is mostly a matter of attitude.

The kick sled is still part of everyday winter life in Skåbu

Winter is just around the corner here at Skåbu, and it is time to dust off the kick sled again.

In parts of Norway, the kick sled has become a nostalgic memory. Here at Skåbu, it is still part of everyday winter life. We use it on snow-covered roads, to visit the neighbours or simply for the joy of gliding under a starlit sky. Ask any local and they will have a story about the steepest hill they ever tackled as a child.