Forget skis, strap on your couch

Riding an old sofa down a hill is the latest craze in Salt Lake City

In the winter sport world of skouching, La-Z-Boys are the fastest ride, says one skoucher.
(Image credit: Screen shot)

The video: Fifty adventurous souls showed up at the Mountain Dell Golf Course in Salt Lake City, Utah, last week to try out a hot new wintertime sport called "skouching." The concept is simple: Participants attach skis to old couches, pile on with a few friends, get someone to give them a push, and then ride their unconventional sled down a hill. "Professional skoucher" Nick Edwards says that he founded the novelty activity while brainstorming with fraternity brothers about (you guessed it) what to do with an old couch. His idea spread through the magic of Facebook, leading to Saturday's well-attended skouching extravaganza.

The reaction: The "willing (if absent-minded) participants" of this new pastime will be providing "plenty of B-roll footage for the next Jackass movie," says Mike Richard at Vagabondish. Why do this? The better question is, "Why not?" Skouching participants didn't express any qualms. This is the "best thing I've ever done in my life," said Trent Levrich, a skoucher quoted by the Los Angeles Times. "Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday." Watch some skouchers in action:

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