Mountain Boy Sledworks Ultimate Flyer 52-Inch Sled

by Mountain Boy Sledworks

Product Features

• Handmade wooden sled with pivot-front design for slalom turns, 180-degree turns, and hockey stops
• Birch deck and willow handrails have 3 coats of marine-grade finish
• Custom-molded plastic skids on the bottom give flotation in soft snow and precise tracking on hardpack
• Sled measures 52 x 24 x 4 inches (LxWxH); 300-pound weight limit
• One year warranty; adult assembly required

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

At 52 inches long, this sled is 5 inches longer and 4 pounds heavier than Mountain Boy Sledworks' Original Ultimate Flyer but otherwise identical. It's built to last for generations and features a pivoting front section that allows slalom turns, 180-degree turns, and hockey stops.

See larger image.

The heirloom-style hand-crafted sled is made of thick birch planks. Hand rails are hand-carved willow, with copper ferrules between body and rails adding to the rustic look while contributing strength. Three coats of marine-grade finish protect the wood against elements.

The sled's custom-molded bottom of high-quality slippery black plastic glides along with ease, while its wide stance keeps it stable. The sturdy bottom has a wide, flat center to float on soft snow and raised rails on the edges to track precisely on hardpack. Screws are stainless steel for durability. Suitable for a child aged 3 years and up and sturdy enough to support 300 pounds, the sled measures 52 inches long x 24 inches wide x 4 inches high and weighs 16 pounds. It meets all USC and ASTM child-safety standards and carries a 1-year warranty against defects. Assembly (instructions included) is easy.

A 1-inch-thick pad with water-resistant nylon cover that fits the sled is sold separately.

Specifications:

• Body: birch
• Rails: hard-carved willow
• Finish: marine-grade; 3 coats
• Screws: stainless steel
• Bottom: high-quality slippery plastic
• Dimensions: 52" L x 24" W x 4" H
• Weight: 16 pounds
• Maximum load: 300 pounds
• Meets USC and ASTM child-safety standards
• Warranty: 1-year

Product Description

Outside magazine called it a "steerable snow rocket." The New York Times dubbed it "an instant heirloom." Designed by a Colorado sledmaker, crafted entirely by hand, the Ultimate Flyer is an incredible sled. The whole front section pivots, so it turns far more sharply than a conventional flexible flyer. The bottom is molded plastic, not metal runners, so it floats through powder and bites through hard-packed snow or ice. The body and handle are kiln-dried birch, the handrails are willow, and the finish is marine-grade. Meets all USC and ASTM child-safety requirements. The Ultimate Flyer 52" Sled measures 52"L x 23"W x 4" H, 14 lbs. Holds up to 300 pounds.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 16 x 52 inches ; 14 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 16.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000OVC1B6
• Item model number: FG-0601-11
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,324 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #17 in Toys & Games > Sports & Outdoor Play > Sports > Snow Sports > Snow Sleds
  • #40 in Sports & Outdoors > Snow Sports > Sledding > Snow Sleds

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, highly durable sled - and zippy, too!, December 2, 2007

By 

Laura J. Reed (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mountain Boy Sledworks Ultimate Flyer 52-Inch Sled (Sports)

I've tried several kinds of reclining sleds, but this one is my hands-down favorite. For one thing, it can take a spill or two and not get damaged. It's varnished, not painted, so you can see the wood grain. The birch rails are a nice touch, too. It's super stable, and turns very nicely, which is good, because this thing is FAST! Loads of fun - when we go sledding, this is the sled that everbody wants to use.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 34 years of sledding, this is the worst sled I've ever used., February 19, 2011

By 

MNboy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountain Boy Sledworks Ultimate Flyer 52-Inch Sled (Sports)

Being from MN, I've used every sled in the book. After the birth of my first child, my inlaws bought this for us as a keepsake so I could pass on the love of sledding to the next generation. Under the xmas tree it looked great, on the snow it is terrible. The only admirable feature of this sled is the aesthetics--so if someone gets it for you mount it on the wall. I'd sell or more deservedly burn this sled but my in-laws would ask where that pretty sled they spent way too much money on went. I have never written a review for anything but this sled deserves a warning!

Here are the finer points of what is terrible about this sled:
*no handles and extremely slippery--my child slid off it every way possible. When I rode it, a small bump will send you forward and leave the sled behind. Sit on it and you slide off, lay on it you slide off...
*the leading handles catch snow the entire way down the hill. In any fluff they act as a hook. The rope knot also catches on everything. To try to save this sled I cut the extruded portion off and put th rope under the wood handle so it wouldn't catch on the snow.
*the center pivot hardware rusts. The brass hardware is fine.
*the runners are overly deep and slow you down.
*there is no way you can pull a child in this sled without side handles for them to hold on to. I've drilled 8 holes and made my own.

As you can tell, my sled now looks like swiss cheese and it still is the worst. I've used lunch trays that are better. If you are looking for a pretty sled then this is it. If you want it to work then this is not it.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor Quality - Risk of Injury, December 27, 2010

By 

Klaus Becker "kb" (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mountain Boy Sledworks Ultimate Flyer 52-Inch Sled (Sports)

The sled we got for Christmas lasted two runs. Then the front part fell off and something started rattling inside the plastic cover under the front section. Disassembly showed that it was a washer and the nut that held steering section to the bolt. You can see the head of the bolt on top of the rear section. The nut and washer are under the plastic cover.
The nut is a stop nut with a nylon insert to hold it place once it is tightened. However, the nylon insert never engaged with the bolt. There was no thread cut into it. Further analysis showed that it could never have engaged because the section of the bolt that stuck out of the board was too short by at least 1/8". It is not clear why that section was too short, either the bolt is too short by design or the head is not countersunk properly.
The steering section of this sled is fairly heavy and if it comes loose unexpectedly, it can cause serious injury to anyone riding the sled. My friends and I were lucky, but I recommend that any owner of this sled check the nut. If the nylon ring does not fully engage with the bolt, send the sled back or demand a longer bolt.

A note about <heirloom> quality (I do not know if the manufacturer claims this or just reviewers):
Having the threaded section of a bolt pass through anything as a pivot pin causes excessive wear and disqualifies the item as heirloom. It will last at best one busy season. The correct bolt type to use is a shoulder bolt, but the mountain boys may be too cheap for that.