Name: Todd Lander
Lives in: Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Hometown: Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Occupation: Heavy equipment operator/photographer (Misty Mountain Photography)
What’s your age? Forty-seven going on 30, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever grow up.
How long have you been a sledder? I’ve been sledding all my life (about 40+ years). My first ride alone was when I was about three when my dad left me on the machine while it was running, and the hook on my mitten got caught in the throttle cable and off I went by myself, hitting a gravel truck. I was literally hooked at three!
What was your first sled? Hus-Ski—the ones with the track on the front and detachable sleigh on the back, like this one.
What do you ride now? A 2013 Polaris 800 Assault, 155-inch track.
What’s your favourite kind of riding? I love deep powder and climbing long, steep pulls right to the top of the mountains, and my reward is always the view, which I sometimes stop and take a picture of. I love almost any type of riding; just being on my sled makes me happy.
Where do you usually ride? I mostly ride around Golden, B.C., with friends who live there and who know the area very well.
Describe the riding in Golden for us. The sledding in Golden is like being in heaven. There are so many awesome places to ride, and new places we’ve yet to even explore. The riding seems endless, especially with these new sleds that allow us to go farther than we’ve ever gone before.
What’s your favourite zone? My favourite zone in Golden that is named on a map would have to be Gorman. It’s probably one of the most dangerous places to play but definitely my kind of fun riding!
What was your most memorable ride? A few years ago on Christmas eve, I was out by myself and ran into three people riding. Two people took off and left their friend with me. He followed me while I played around, and it seemed like he could ride and said he could. So anyways, while sidehilling across a bowl, I lost him down a bad chute. It was just before dark, and it was too dangerous for me to try and help him, so I ended up riding with Search and Rescue in the middle of the night to get this guy out so he could spend Christmas with his friends.
What does the sport mean to you? Sledding is my life, my happiness, my peace of mind and my escape from reality. I work hard all year to support my sledding habits, and it’s worth every penny to do what I love the most. I also donate a lot of my time as a photographer for the Betties Power Sports Network to help promote women in this industry, and also to help recruit and teach new sledders. The most rewarding part of riding, I think, is not only being able to share the views that very few get a chance to see in person, but to witness the expressions and reactions on people’s faces while they’re having the time of their life. It’s one of the best feelings of all.
