many sports began as ways to overcome obstacles. People jumped to cross a gap they swarm to cross a river sleigh began as a way to traverse snow-covered land. Natives of northern countries were the first expert in sleigh and sledding Lapps Finns, and Eskimos staged races. Eskimos raced across frozen ground at breakneck speed. Each man stood on the back of his dog-drawn sled. He guided his huskies with a long whip. Lapp drivers hurried down a steep slope. The reindeer-drawn sleds shot up the opposite slope at top speed. Then they raced down again and up another hill