CANTON – Cardboard sleds, varying from simple decorated boxes, cardboard skis, and even a Red Five Star Wars ship were used at the 4th annual Nature Up North Cardboard Sled Race event Saturday at SUNY Canton’s sledding hill.

About 15 sleds were entered in the competition, despite the single digit temperature.

Participants ranged in age from youth to college students. Racers received awards for creativity as well as speed.

The event also included a Meet and Greet of local fire, rescue and police department officials. Attendees toured the fire and rescue trucks and enjoyed refreshments.

The event was hosted by Nature Up North, Village of Canton’s Community Engagement Committee and the Canton Chamber of Commerce.

North Country Now photos by Cheryl Shumway.

 [img_assist|nid=314313|title=Leo Becht, Pierrepont, left, and Elena Abplanalp race in cardboard sleds down the SUNY Canton hill.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1145|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314316|title=Clarkson University student Kyle Murray slides down on a cardboard sled. Clarkson team competed against SUNY Canton.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=571|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314318|title=Canton sisters, from left, Ena, Coura, Adaleen and Rokaya Diop race down SUNY Canton’s hill on their cardboard sled.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=890|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314320|title=Canton fire Department member Benjamin Lashomb slides down SUNY Canton’s hill using an ambulance board.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=970|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314322|title=Alex Gorski, of Hannawa Falls, races down SUNY Canton’s hill on her cardboard sled.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=879|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314324|title=Sunia Williams, left, and Chelsea Ellis, enjoy the warm coffee and refreshments at the Cardboard Sled Races and Meet and Greet of local fire, rescue, and police departments, part of Canton’s Winterfest. |desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1103|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314325|title=Vincent Gorski, of Hannawa Falls, gets a push from his mother as he heads down the hill with his homemade cardboard sled.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=802|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314328|title=Canton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and local police departments had a Meet and Greet during Canton Winterfest’s Cardboard Sled Races.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=911|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314331|title=Builders of the cardboard Red Five Star Wars ship, from left, Hayden, Isabel and Myles Gustafson, donated their sled for use at the Cardboard Sled Races.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=887|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314332|title=Dominick Gorski, of Hannawa Falls, uses homemade cardboard as he skis down the SUNY Canton hill.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=783|height=900]

[img_assist|nid=314333|title=Canton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and local police departments had a Meet and Greet during Canton Winterfest’s Cardboard Sled Race.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=1134|height=900]