As the finest high-performance powder sled currently available on the market , the Mad River Rocket has built a dedicated following over the past several decades . According to Mad River Rocket founder Dave Sellers , the original sleds came as a result of a long and exhaustive period of development . Dave recalls that one of the sled ’ s early prototypes provided an especially exhilarating – albeit hazardous – riding experience . “ One of the most enjoyable phases was where we tested out a foam mattress wrapped in polyurethane . Four to five people could get on at a time . It was incredibly fun , but the problem was that they were impossible to control . We would run into trees and then bounce off of them back down the mountain with no idea where we were going . Borrowing someone ’ s mattress and hiking up the hill was also incredibly impractical .”
Dave says that during the development process , the time that he spent with the Mad River Valley ’ s resident Olympic boater Bill Heinzerling had an incredible formative impact on the project . “ I spent some time canoeing and kayaking with Bill , and it dawned on me that in order to achieve optimum control of the sled , the rider needed to be on their knees – similar to the stance of a canoer . The problem was that with a lightweight plastic sled , it was nearly impossible to stay on while sliding down the hill on your knees . The first ‘ Bingo !’ moment came when we attached a rope across the sleds to hold our knees in place . It was a good start , but the sleds still didn ’ t have any control on the snow .”
Dave remembers that another epiphany occurred when he met with Jim Henry , the founder of Mad River Canoe Company . “ We went to Jim , and he showed us how to make molds and how to make a new style of sled . He made several sleds in his molding machines with Royalex ® plastic . Unfortunately , the sleds were still unwieldy and awkward .
VTMAG . COM WINTER 2021 41