Then there's the whole global warming thing hanging over your head. These types of limitations inspired Germany's KHW, the self-described world leader in plastic toboggans, to develop a special sled purpose-built for the sand. Summertime is taking a snow day.

When I tracked down KHW's sand toboggan at this week's Nuremberg International Toy Fair, I was immediately disappointed. I was expecting something high-tech, maybe a carbon-fiber or aluminum honeycomb body and slick, waxed rails. Instead, it just looked like a regular plastic snow sled with basic plastic rails.