(no subject)
The sleds were lightweight: hollow aluminum frames with canvas stretched across to form the bed. You pushed your sled up a snowy track to the top, climbed on, and then, using the railings, propelled yourself down the slope until you hit the bump that launched you right up into the air -- about ten feet up. The most important part came right after: you held out your right arm to execute a U-turn. If you did it just right, holding your arm steady against the hard press of the air, your sled sailed around and aimed for the landing zone.
Some people got up in the air and simply fell out of the sky. Some got up and performed lazy left-handed U-turns -- with spotty results. Once you got your craft turned around and headed for the landing zone you could make minute adjustments by patting the air with your hand, left or right, depending on what correction was needed; it looked like a wave, or a gesture of dismissal: there, there, or, whatever. I was nervous to try but it was surprisingly easy. You just shot yourself forward like a bobsledder and off you went into the air, your canvas snapping, your arm pressing hard, steering you right to the finish.
Mind you, it was a very tense ride back to the ship after that and I left half my luggage behind, as usual.
Some people got up in the air and simply fell out of the sky. Some got up and performed lazy left-handed U-turns -- with spotty results. Once you got your craft turned around and headed for the landing zone you could make minute adjustments by patting the air with your hand, left or right, depending on what correction was needed; it looked like a wave, or a gesture of dismissal: there, there, or, whatever. I was nervous to try but it was surprisingly easy. You just shot yourself forward like a bobsledder and off you went into the air, your canvas snapping, your arm pressing hard, steering you right to the finish.
Mind you, it was a very tense ride back to the ship after that and I left half my luggage behind, as usual.