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They were big enough to hold someone , but control remained an issue . It was then that David ‘ Chainsaw ’ Wolffe built a custom vacuum-molding machine for our sled making operation . David was working with Larz Barber at the Northern Power Windmill Shop in Warren . Larz also pitched in and helped to make sleds in the basement of the International Order of Odd Fellows building in Warren . It was incredibly gratifying work , but it required more time than any of us had . That ’ s when we went back to Jim , who suggested that we reach out to area shops that handled custom vacuum-molding . We found one in Chicopee , Massachusetts . They made a custom mold out of fiberglass for their machines . We started getting reliable sled shells , and we were able to refine and trim the design . We installed pads and knee straps , and the original Mad River Rocket sled was born .”
After years of running Mad River Rocket , Dave Sellers passed the company on to his son , Parker Sellers , who currently serves as Mad River Rocket ’ s President . Parker says that in addition to the recreational value of the sleds , his father was also motivated by an intrinsic desire to create an environmentally sustainable winter sports experience . “ My father and his friends really loved winter sports , and they were also very environmentally conscious . They wanted to create an enjoyable alternative to skiing that didn ’ t require the use of energy intensive lifts . Their goal was to be able to hike up the mountains , sled down , and enjoy all of the natural beauty and fun of winter sports in Vermont without infrastructure and fossil fuels .”
Parker says that after word of the sleds spread throughout the local community , the business continued to expand beyond the Mad River Valley . “ Originally , it was just my father ’ s friend group using the sleds , but local residents began to take notice over the first few years . There were a lot of great sledding spots in the Mad River Valley that were perfect for younger kids and families . People would take our sleds to different backyards and mountains , where other people would ask about them and try them out . From there , it just spread via word of mouth . One of the first local vendors who ever sold our sleds was Barry Bender at Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield , Vermont . His involvement and input helped to grow the business and improve the design of the sleds from the very beginning . It was great to have that type of community support early on . Barry actually still sells and rents out our sleds at his shop to this day .”
Parker recalls that in the late 1990s and early 2000s , Mad River Rocket tried to focus on rapid growth , through sales and partnerships with corporate chain stores . “ Although we were able to grow our sales , the numbers didn ’ t add up for our business . We ultimately decided to shift our focus to quality and innovation and let the product sell itself organically . Today , the majority of our customers come from word of mouth or exposure on social media . They purchase our sleds through direct online sales , or from the independent stores that we sell our sleds to . We think that it ’ s incredibly important that every sled is made with care and precision . The responses from our customers have been overwhelmingly positive . We ’ ve gotten some really great video submissions on our social media from riders throughout New England , as well as the Midwest , Colorado , Alaska , and Utah . We also have riders and customers in other countries , such as Switzerland and Japan . It ’ s very fulfilling to see the Mad River Rocket community continue to grow and thrive .”
Parker adds that although Mad River Rocket sleds are easy to learn how to ride , there are several key guidelines that are important to keep in mind whenever you head out on the slopes . “ It ’ s tempting to play a passive role when you ’ re sledding , and just hold onto the sled while you ’ re going downhill and wait for things to happen . With a Mad River Rocket sled , that ’ s not what you want to do . What you need to do is hold your arms out for balance . To steer the sled , you have to actively engage your body in the same way that you would when you are leaning on a bicycle . If you lean to the left , it steers to the left , and vice versa . You have to be an active participant . You have to use your body to push the sled where you want it to go . Since you are connected to the sled with a strap , you can twist your upper body to turn the sled , as well . If you want to do an even tighter turn , you can lean in and drag your hand on the snow . If you push hard enough , you can even do a ‘ hockey stop ’, where you slide , lean and drag at the same time . We actually designed the newer version of the sleds with that in mind . The updated sleds have an extra little edge on the side underneath . The edge points outward and upward , so it only touches the ground when you do an exaggerated lean and drag . It ’ s meant to engage the snow when you ’ re sliding sideways on packed snow . With deep powder conditions , you can also stop or slow down by leaning back and dragging both hands in the snow . That ’ s particularly useful on steeper backcountry terrain .”
42 VERMONT MAGAZINE