Tobogganing in Winnipeg

As you will remember, I got on a jet plane and went to Winnipeg, where they have a strange winter sport- tobogganing.

Now Tobogganing was started during the battles of the Mongolian hordes in the time of Genghis Khan. The Hordes were fighting Attila the Hun's army in the snowy wastes of Siberia when they needed to make a rapid getaway. Genghis commanded his men to throw down their shields and sit on them facing downhill. The resultant effect was something that looked like an avalanche crossed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Actually, I can't back any of this up. I have no idea how tobogganing started. As a side note, I did actually meet a girl from Siberia, she was a student at the University of Winnipeg. She said that Canada was colder. That is a true story and made me feel like I'd achieved something by getting out and about in Winnipeg.

Back on tobogganing, I do know that on the day that I went out with my friend Chris (Phil from Ottawa- s brother), his youth group, Moira and friends, that someone broke one of the plastic toboggans due to the fierceness of the ride. It wouldn't have happened if it was Tupperware.

Tobogganing is strange for two reasons;

1. It involves grown-ups (and kids) hurtling themselves down hills with little or no direction or control, no brakes and no suspension on anything made out of plastic or metal designed to give you the maximum amount of bum-bruises per ride

2. And it's fun !

In Winnipeg, tobogganing is strange for a third reason- Tobogganing by definition needs hills. You can't toboggan on the flat. That is sledding and usually requires several smart husky dogs or a few stupid friends to pull you along. Well, Winnipeg is in the Prairies, which is just a fancy word for "Really big FLAT land with endless sky".

Winnipeggers are innovative, I'll give them that. Their landfill on the outskirts of the city has created small hills and covered with many feet of dirt and about 4 feet of snow. This makes perfect tobogganing hills.

It was a fun afternoon. The bruises lasted 4 weeks. I hope the memories last longer.