But sledding is so delightful

The fun was super-sized. The sleds weren’t.

But just like the food served up at McDonald’s, the ride down the hill on the brown plastic serving trays William Dippolito’s cousin borrowed from the restaurant was fast.

The buns on the serving trays Wednesday morning at Spokane’s Chase Middle School weren’t sprinkled with sesame seeds, though. They were just plain numb.

Dippolito pulled on an extra pair of pants as his cousin, cell phone cradled on her shoulder, explained to her mother that, yes, she would return the trays.

“I’m just using them,” the teen told her mom. “I’m giving them back.”

The teen, who didn’t want her name published for fear of getting in trouble at work, said she got the idea from co-workers who swore the trays made good sleds.

“They’re a lot faster,” she said. “You flip around a whole bunch more.”

Fresh snow blanketing area hills like fleece attracted sledders in droves – and in snow pants and mittens.

There was plenty of fresh powder at Chase Middle School. It looked deceivingly fluffy, hiding a layer of ice.

“It’s perfect, except for the ice under it,” 12-year-old Lukas Reid said after a running start and flop down a steep hill with jumps that sent him and his boogie board airborne.

Three brothers from the Beine family took turns sledding on toboggans, boards and a saucer.

The boogie board was the fastest ride, 10-year-old Nick Beine said. “Really, really extra fast,” he said.

“Nine miles per hour,” his 8-year-old brother Nate guessed.

“No, faster,” Nick said.

At West Valley City School, the snow was packed into a sheen of ice.

Nate Greenburg and his four younger siblings spend a lot of time at the hill in winter. It’s close to their house and popular with neighborhood kids, 18-year-old Greenburg said.

Despite the dangerous-looking icepack on the hill, the Greenburg children suffered only minor injuries during their sledding runs.

Joseph, 7, had the wind knocked out of him.

“My fingers are about to fall off,” 15-year-old Emily said, rubbing her hands together.

Cousins Brenna Shevalier and Meghan Seib spent early afternoon perfecting their trademark move at the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course. There’s no name for it, but it involves going downhill in a full spin.

“We ride together,” 10-year-old Brenna said. “I hold onto the back and we spin and spin.”

She hopped onto a black inner tube and sidled up to her cousin’s orange sled and grabbed hold tightly. They pushed off down the hill, a blur of black and orange, pink coats and red cheeks.

And flying snow.