The often bitterly cold winters of Michigan were not an obstacle to outdoor play for us. The roads around town became snowpacked and hard as iron after several snowfalls and repeated plowing. Then, after a slight thaw and subsequent freeze, these roads became perfect for sliding. We all had sleds, the old "flexible flier" kind you rarely see anymore, as they have been largely replaced by toboggans and snowboards. Our sleds had steel runners and wood-slatted bodies with a steering bar at the front end. There were two ways to ride these sleds. The "safe" way, or little kid way, was to sit on the sled, using your feet to operate the steering bar. The more dangerous way, and certainly the much preferred one, was to make a running start while carrying the sled at chest level, then fling yourself down, belly-flopping onto the sled, head up, steering with your hands. You could fly faster this way (less wind resistance) and go farther down the hill. Of course there were no helmets or pads for any of this back then. Danger or injury never entered our minds. The thrill was the thing, and skill was important.

-from Reed City Boy