FD61 Sample Article
FD61 Sample Article
Published in FD61
The Alpine Coaster, the new slide concept from German-based slide manufacturer Wiegand, recently found its way Sternrodt Mountain, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany. It is located near Bruchhausen in the Sauerland Mountains and within a 30 minute drive from well known amusement park Fort Fun. The Sternrodtler (a play on words, it is German for sternslider) opened to the public this summer, and although it’s not as long as its predecessors in the Alps, it still packs in a whole lot of fun.
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Photo: Tim Herre |
The ride is 2,624ft (800m) in length and winds down one side of the mighty Sternrodt Mountain. The course includes banked curves, small bunny-hops as well as exhilarating zigzags and the fact that it’s going through the woods and stays close to the ground enhances the impression of speed very well.
The Sternrodtler is the 16th installation of the Alpine Coaster concept in Germany and is the 3rd longest of them. The longest, run by the company itself on the Pottenstein Mountain in Hessen County being 3,478ft (1,060m) in length. Unlike the Pradaschier at Churwalden in Switzerland (see FD60 for details), it does not need a chairlift to get the sleds up the mountain; in fact, it sports a real lift hill. The sleds attach to a cable, and up you go. It has a closed circuit, making it a real roller coaster – and a very good one at that. You have two handles which you push forward to set the sled in motion. You are secured by a three-point safety belt, which is, due to the strong lateral forces that occur on some of the bends, absolutely necessary. But because of the fact that you are able to control the speed with which you rush down the mountain yourself, the Sternrodtler delivers for everybody (wimps as well as die hard speed freaks). Just make sure there are no anxious people in front of you when you’re boarding, for this might kill your plans for your next record time. The speed is limited to 25mph (40kph) by a centrifugal brake that is built into every sled, but believe me, while sitting on a sled in a very exposed position, this is enough for everybody!
The intention in building the Sternrodtler was to boost attendance at the restaurant next to it, which is very busy during wintertime, when the tow-lifts on Sternrodt Mountain are running, but nearly deserted during the summer months. This concept absolutely paid off for the ski-lift company, which is also running the coaster. With the Sternrodtler being the 16th installation of the Alpine Coaster concept in just five years, it can be seen as a huge success for the company, and more are sure to follow.
More information about Wiegand can be found at: www.wiegandslide.com
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