Despite media reports of tubing accidents, this type of winter sport remains the most popular among children and adults. The reason for this is that inflatable “cakes” have the following advantages over conventional sleds and ice skates: high speed and softness when riding, light weight, bright and colorful appearance and small volume when deflated, which makes them convenient for storage.
Tubing is an exciting pleasure, during which a person receives indescribable new sensations. Popularly, tubes are usually called “cheesecakes”, “cakes”, “donuts” and “bagels”, since they are a round inflatable chamber placed in a special case, strongly reminiscent of all these types of baked goods.
However, with all the available advantages of tubing, it is necessary to take into account the fact that “cheesecakes”, unlike sleds and ice skates, are more dangerous. They are not equipped with a braking device and are therefore completely uncontrollable, which can lead to tragedy when riding down steep mountains at high speed. Therefore, tubing is allowed only on specially prepared trails.
Soft round “cheesecakes” only seem harmless in appearance, but while riding they gain high speed, and this is where the risk begins: you are rushing on an uncontrollable tire and any obstacle or uneven surface ahead can sharply change the trajectory of your movement or topple you over.
Therefore, when riding this miracle device, you should strictly observe the 5 do’s and don’ts:
1. You cannot go down a hill on a tubing if there are obstacles ahead. For example, trees are growing, children are standing, there is a large piece of ice, stones, a board, etc.;
2. You cannot fasten cheesecakes together or tie them to a car or snowmobile;
3. Three people or a large number of people cannot go tubing;
4. You cannot start going down until the people riding in front have completely rolled down the slide;
5. You cannot ride the cheesecake while standing or lie on it while descending, jump or try to stand up.
To make tubing enjoyable and safe, your child must adhere to the following rules:
• Ride only in a strictly designated and equipped place.
• Before going down the hill, check that there are no people on the way and that there are no trees ahead.
• The descent must be smooth - without obstacles or jumps.
• The descent angle should not exceed 20 degrees.
• While riding, the child must hold on to special straps located on the sides of the inflatable sled.
• If you want to ride together with your child on the same “cheesecake”, then choose a gentler slope. Double load reduces the stability of the tubing due to the raising of the center of gravity.
It is necessary to inflate the “cheesecakes” moderately to prevent damage during descent.A slightly deflated tube is a guarantee of safety.
However, you should think ten times before buying a tubing for your child, even if adults get injured while riding them. It is better to go skiing and sledding than in “cheesecake tubes,” advise children’s orthopedists, alarmed by the sharp increase in the number of injuries in children after tubing.
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