Winter Withdrawal 2011

For those of us living in the Northern, colder climates, the winter can be a long and brutal season. From November to March is a long, long time and undoubtedly come December, the dreaded “Coaster Withdrawal Syndrome” sets in. Many of us “snow birds” head south for a bit of a respite in Florida during the holidays. This helps but is only a temporary reprieve. But all too soon, we are back up to our knees in snow and longing for the clackity-click and the wonderful aroma of grease from a chain lift.

Luckily, we’re only a few weeks away from most seasonal parks opening for the year. But I need my coaster fix right now so what do I do? Last year we discovered the toboggan run at Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana and that helped with out winter withdrawal. This year I’ve found two other cures for your coaster fix. If you can travel to Utah that is.

At Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, you can experience the ride of a lifetime on the Comet Bobsled!

A professional pilot will take up to three passengers on a thrilling ride down the entire length of the Utah Olympic Park bobsled track reaching speeds up to 80 mph with 5 Gs of force.

The bobsled operates Tuesday through Saturday, December through March, and reservations are required. Comet rides are $200 per person for this once in a lifetime experience.

Just a few miles from Olympic Park is the Park City ski resort, home to the Alpine Coaster, the longest ride of its kind in America.

The elevated track winds you through more than a mile of loops, curves and hair-pin curves at speeds up to 30 mph. Just like your favorite roller coaster – but with the refreshing mountain scenery of Park City. The car is pulled to the top by cables (it appeared there were four different lift hill segments). The rides takes about five or six minutes to get to the top of the endless lift hill and maybe two minutes to return to the station depending on how much you brake.

The cars can seat one or two people. There are two levers on either side of you which you push forward for maximum speed or pull back on to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Although the coaster utilizes tubular steel rails it is definitely not the smoothest coaster though it is extremely quiet. Rides are a little steep at $20 per person but well worth it to cure those winter blues.

Here is a POV video from our friends at Theme Park Review. Warning: the lift hill seems to go on forever!

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