Sledding and bobsleighing Engelberg

In our guide to tobogganing in Switzerland, we have compiled detailed descriptions including photos and tips about tobogganing. Topics include:

• types of sledges
• transport
• sledding areas
• 10 most beautiful sledding runs
• Night sledding
• safety
• equipment

Yes, almost all toboggan runs have their own safety instructions. If you bring your own sledding equipment, please check beforehand if it is allowed. Many tracks only allow wooden sledges and toboggans. However, there are also tracks that explicitly allow plastic bobs, airboards or skigibles. Also, on many toboggan runs, children are only allowed to toboggan when accompanied by an adult or older sibling

The Berne Advice Center for Accident Prevention has published Rules of conduct for tobogganing:

• Be considerate of others (do not endanger others)
• Adapt speed and driving style to your own ability, do not drive head first and do not tie sleds or toboggans to each other
• Respect the lane of the person in front
• Overtake with distance (right and left allowed, but with distance)
• Look up before entering and starting (after a stop) (do not pose a danger to others)
• Stop at the edge (not at dangerous or blind spots), leave the slope quickly after a fall
• Climb up and down on the edge, never walk on the slope
• Observe signs, markings, signalization
• Help in case of accidents is obligatory
• Give personal data in case of accidents, also as a witness

• Sleds are more immobile than toboggans and difficult to steer because of the rigid construction. The flat runners provide a large contact surface on the snow. Since the runners and the actual wooden construction are firmly connected to each other, the runners are always perpendicular to the ground. Steering works only in connection with braking by the foot. This also makes a sled slower overall than a toboggan. Tight turns are practically impossible to drive

• Compared to the sled, toboggans have a flexible frame. Toboggans are steered precisely by shifting the body and pulling the steering rope. Even tight turns can be made with the toboggan and there is no loss of speed due to foot braking. The curved runners provide a small contact surface on the snow and thus less resistance

• Skibock, Balancer and Skigibel differ only slightly. They were virtually created from a ski and a seat, so they are a mixture of ski and sled.

• SNOOC is the name of similar sledging devices, which have the advantage of being able to be used alternately as a ski and a toboggan

• An air cushion sled is inflatable. It is usually referred to as an airboard or snowbodyboard. Two handles on the top of the board are used for holding.

• In the Bernese Oberland, the velogemel is a new sledding device. It is modeled after a bicycle and can be used like a sled.

• The Bergfink is a sport sled ergonomically designed for young adults. It has room for a child in front of the adult. It is wider and has two highly wear-resistant PE-1000 plastic runners instead of steel runners for better gliding. For both fresh snow and ice, the Bergfink grips well. However, it has a high abrasion and is therefore not environmentally friendly. The skids can be driven on both sides and can be quickly replaced.

Almost all toboggan runs that are directly accessible by cable car also rent out toboggans and sleds at the mountain or valley station. In large ski resorts, there are also sports stores in the ski area that rent you equipment for sledding fun. For smaller resorts, it is important to find out in advance where you can rent equipment nearby. It is always advisable to make a reservation in advance anyway, as supplies are usually limited.

In addition to warm clothing with gloves and scarf, two things are especially important: sturdy shoes with a grippy sole and a helmet. For the darkness, a headlamp pays off. Often you can rent it together with the sled

The following items belong to the safe equipment in detail

• Ski helmet
• Ski goggles with a bright lens
• warm ski gloves
• warm winter clothes like ski suit
• sturdy shoes (hiking boots, winter boots with non-slip soles), no ski boots or sneakers!
• for fast routes a back protector Ski helmets, headlamps and back protectors are also available for rent.