EDMONTON – Edmontonians can share their favourite tobogganing memories and map out new toboggan hot spots thanks to a 26-year-old man who believes you are never too old to play in the snow.
Using a link to Google maps, Charles Heard gives people the chance to post the toboggan hills they frequent and check out other hills nearby.
“It’s good because people can use the site to find places to take their children,” said Heard.
He added that a co-worker used the site to find a good location for his child’s first toboggan experience.
Heard, who grew up in the west end of Edmonton, said he was excited to go tobogganing last winter and wanted to share all the places he went as a kid. He has fond memories of the hills near Laurier, Parkview, and Valleyview, citing these as “classic” Edmonton runs.
Heard said the response has been amazing.
“It started off with 20 spots in Edmonton, and now it has grown to over 100 throughout Canada.”
“There are even a couple in Iowa, and Michigan. And one in Mount Everest, though I don’t think I’ll be going to that one,” said Heard.
Users can view the page here or by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/d4agp3c.
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From there they need a Google account to sign in and post or edit locations.
“The downside is its editable by anyone,” said Heard. “So anyone can add, but they can also delete things.”
Heard laughed as he pointed out a marker for a hill in Peace River set in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Heard says, thankfully, you can use Google maps to look at the terrain, to be sure you aren’t being misled.
Users can also write in helpful warnings about rugged or dangerous terrain, or obstacles and jumps.
Heard said the memories people share in the comments boxes show Edmontonians haven’t lost their sense of wonder,
“I like when people add descriptions. You’d expect them to be from a child … They really show people’s rich memories,” said Heard.
Heard says Canada is a culture of snow, and tobogganing is a good way to celebrate Canadian winters.
Heard’s favourite tobogganing memory is from just a few years ago.
He and some friends went for a late-night toboggan run, covering themselves in garbage bags so they could slide down hills using just their bodies.
“It was a no-holds-barred race to the bottom, and I caught an edge and went tumbling. A friend, 60-70 pounds heavier than me, hit me square on. I spent a few minutes catching my breath, and finding my glasses,” said Heard laughing.
“So you can still have fun as adults,” he said.
Heard’s friend is now thinking about making a mobile phone application for city toboggan runs.
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