Denmark’s Olympic skeleton hopeful shares his four best tips to become the fastest sledder on the hill, proving that even everyday sledding can turn into a science of speed and precision.
From the Skeleton Track to Local Hills
Rasmus Vestergård Johansen is not your typical sledder. At 23, the Danish athlete is preparing for the Winter Olympics, racing headfirst down icy tracks at up to 140 kilometers per hour. Between training sessions, he shared practical advice for anyone hoping to master their local sledding hill and maybe experience a bit of Olympic-level thrill.
For visitors looking to enjoy snowy fun in Denmark, especially during winter in Denmark, his tips offer both excitement and insight into how professionals think about speed and control on the ice.
1. Minimize Wind Resistance
According to Johansen, the first secret to more speed is minimizing surface area against the wind. The smaller your profile, the faster you go. Children often have an advantage here simply because of their size. For adults, he suggests lying flat against the sled.
You can face either direction, but body position matters. Going headfirst works well if you keep your chin close to the snow, allowing your head to cut through the air and the wind to flow smoothly over your body. If you prefer feet first, stretch out fully and keep your body as low as possible to reduce drag. The lesson is simple: the less air your body catches, the more momentum you keep.
2. Start Fast and Stay Focused
Speed begins at the top. Instead of sitting down and pushing off gently, Johansen recommends running and diving onto the sled for a quicker start. A powerful push-off adds crucial acceleration that will carry you to the bottom faster.
He emphasizes running hard for the first ten meters before jumping onto the sled. In professional skeleton racing, grooves in the ice guide the sled during this phase, but for casual sledding, control your direction by keeping both hands firmly on the sled when you launch. This gives you stability and helps you steer without losing balance.
3. Steer as Little as Possible
Once you’re speeding down the hill, resist the instinct to oversteer. Every time you dig your feet into the snow or shift your weight too much, you slow down. Johansen trains to make minimal movements on the skeleton track. The same applies on a sledding hill.
Smooth and small adjustments allow the sled to glide freely, keeping momentum. It’s all about flow. Too much correction kills your speed, while too little can make you lose control. Find balance between the two, and you’ll start to feel how the sled naturally finds the fastest path down.
For those interested in testing this kind of thrill in Denmark, local slopes and family spots are perfect to experiment on, even if you’re not racing down a mountain. Many travelers discover the charm of Danish outdoor sports during ski trips or sledding weekends, where the terrain offers both safe fun and adrenaline.
4. Use the Right Sled and a Warm Trick
Finally, not all sleds are equal. Traditional wooden sleds with metal runners often outperform plastic ones. Metal glides faster on snow and ice, giving the rider a distinct edge. Johansen calls these classic sleds the ultimate secret weapon for speed lovers.
His extra tip comes with a playful twist. Before hitting the slope, heat the metal runners slightly with a hairdryer. Warm metal creates less friction as it slides over the cold snow surface, helping you glide faster and smoother. While this would never be allowed in Olympic competition, on an everyday hill, anything goes.
In the end, Johansen’s advice blends professional training with simple tricks anyone can use. Whether you are a child racing down a backyard slope or an adult chasing a bit of winter nostalgia, technique and preparation make all the difference. For the Danish athlete, each run is part of a lifelong pursuit of speed, and his enthusiasm shows how sledding—no matter the level—remains one of winter’s simplest joys.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Winter in Denmark for Tourists & Expats
The Danish Dream: Best Ski Resorts in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: Bliv kongen af kælkebakken – OL-håb giver fire råd til få mest fart på
