The roots of sledging go deep into history, where sledges were used mainly as a practical means of transporting goods and people in difficult winter conditions. The first sledges originated with the North American Indians, who used them to transport cargo during the harsh winter months. These ancient sledges were considerably larger than those we know today. Long wooden planks, up to two metres long, were joined together with sinews, giving them the sturdiness and flexibility needed for heavy work in snowy landscapes. According to some sources, sledges even appeared much earlier in history, in ancient Egypt. They were used to transport huge blocks of stone to build the pyramids.