Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Jaxon Buegler manages a respectful amount of hangtime after hitting the snow ramp.

NEW ULM–The first weekend of 2021 was perfect weather for winter activities.

Temperatures held just below freezing, but with plenty of sun and low wind, many families spent the New Year’s weekend sledding.

South Park Hill was filled with sledders Saturday afternoon. The hilltop along Franklin Street gave plenty of room for kids and their parents to take turns going down the hill.

The Nilson family was out in full support. Five-year-old Jaycee Nilson and her father Adam Nilson went down the hill together while her grandfather recorded the event from the bottom of the hill and caught any sledder before any hit a tree.

A few yards north, Kyle Marti and his son Grayson shared a toboggan ride. Marti said the weather was perfect for sledding.

On the far south side of the hill. A trio of thrill-seekers, Cullen Slette, Jaxon Buegler and Breken Neuman took turns to ride a tube sled off a snow ramp. They each managed plenty of air off the jump, but the landing was the hard part. They warned against hit the jump face first.

South Park hill is popular for sledding because of the long rolling hill. The sledding hill starts steep but, flattens out for a fast but smooth ride.

South German Park is also a popular destination for sledders. The snow hill is a block-long starting from South German Street and ending at the bike path.

The Harman Park hill near the Waraju Distillery Ruins is one of the oldest sledding hills in New Ulm and is still popular. The peak of the hill begins in Hermann Heights Park and depends on the practice field in Harm Park. Harmon Park hill is famous for the steep decline and high speeds. Plastic sleds have been known to break on the hill. Inflatable tube sleds are more forgiving.

The weather forecast for the next week suggests the temperatures will hold in the 30s with the possibility of more snow. For those who have not been able to hit the snow hills, there will still be plenty of opportunities this season.