A Homemade Kicksled, this was my first DIY attempt at making a Homemade Kicksled about five years ago. I made it with scrap wood from our clothes drying rack business and a broken chair. The kids helped me to build it in the living room. They were handing me screws and gave much-needed guidance on where what should go. And, thus begins the Homemade Kicksled Adventure. (Do you spy that lovely Wattle Fence in the background of the photo below? Click here for a DIY Tutorial on making Wattle Fencing!)
In the same spirit of building with what I have on hand, I repurposed an oak head board from a broken daybed. The kids bought me a pair of cross-country skis last year, in hopes that I could again make a Homemade Kicksled for them. The old one didn’t make it past two seasons of heavy use. I beefed this one up, and am really happy with it.
I also cut diamond shaped grooves into the wood to make it easier for snow boots to stay on without slipping. Two Thumbs Up for this Homemade Kicksled!
It was on a Sunday around 6 pm that the inspiration hit me, so my second oldest helped me until 9:30 pm. Some of the kids were in bed already, but as news spread that Dad had made a new Kicksled, they all came out for a peek. What was supposed to be a peek turned into an all-out sledding party until 11:00 pm, we went to bed with our faces hurting from smiling. Nothing beats sledding at night in an empty street with street lamps lighting the way, no cars coming or going and the snow softly falling.
Afterward, hot drinks for everyone and then a good night’s rest!
Making a Homemade Kicksled Material List:
- Repurposed Wood
Anything will do, in my case, broken oak furniture worked. Check your local thrift store as well, they might have some broken furniture that needs hauling away.
- Used Cross-Country Skis
Again, check your local thrift store. Also, during the Winter it’s usually quite easy to find them at affordable prices, second hand.
- Screws and a Little Imagination
I had a bucket of random screws and nails in the shop that I used for this project.
- My go-to Cordless Drill
This baby works well for all kinds of projects around the homestead.
Have you ever made a Homemade Kicksled?
Don’t break this one.
-Love Dad
This is awesome! DO you have closeups of how you attached the chair to the ski? Also the floorboards?
Great job, I want to make one for my twins!
~climbamt
The original is still over by the wood pile. I am enjoying reading up on how you guys are doing once you moved from Blanchard…We love the place here and slowly but surly getting projects done… Blessing to you all…
Kathy Nash
That’s great! We sure loved that place, I’m glad you are all enjoying it 🙂 Blessing to you…Abby
I was born and raised in Norway and we used to stack several “Sparks” together and make a train. Then we would race down this steep curvy narrow road. It was so much fun! How do you attach the ski’s and footboard because you can’t have screws from under the skis? I would like to build something similar for my grandkids. This article brought back a lot of fun memories. Thank you!
Awww, thank you! My hubby screwed through the top of the skis and the wood so there would be no screws on the bottom part.
Thanks for posting your story, it was more than just how to build a sled. You sound like a good dad!