Bobsled @ Lake Placid

[billski]

If you ever get the chance, take a Bobsleigh (Bobsled) ride at Mt. Van Hovenburg. My daughter and I did, and have a photo to prove it. It was awesome. Made me really appreciate that these guys are nothing more than cargo hurtling down at highway speeds, only inches from sheer disaster.

Here's a story from Park City bobsled.

 

[redalienx11]

I did the bobsled in park city- and while at first it seems a little contrived (take a bobsled run with a REAL OLYMPIAN!!11!!1!!), it was WAY more intense and fun than I imagined. I sat in the back and could feel myself start to brown-out at those high Gs. really crazy stuff- definitely recommended.

 

[billski]

I did the bobsled in park city- and while at first it seems a little contrived (take a bobsled run with a REAL OLYMPIAN!!11!!1!!), it was WAY more intense and fun than I imagined. I sat in the back and could feel myself start to brown-out at those high Gs. really crazy stuff- definitely recommended.

+1 Way better than any amusement park ride I've ever been on. BTW, in LP, they are not olympians, just guys who were trained. We went on the four man, with a pro driver and pro brakeman.

Story: In LP, there is a set of curves call zig-zag, (where Sergio Zardin died in 1966!) Your run is called out curve by curve over the PA system at the base. Spectators hear "...and they're zigging, and their zagging, and their zigging". Sounded so graceful and acrobatic. What the passengers hear and feel is BANG! BANG! BANG! as your body is thrust from side to side and you helmet hits the chassis, left-right-left. They put you in a helmet that has so much padding that your cheeks are pressed tight.

I would definitely do it again.

 

[crank]

We did it in the summer, on wheels. I will definitely go back in the winter.

 

[mondeo]

So am I the only one underwhelmed by it?

I wanted to go fast, so I had my head tucked in, no visual stimulus. It's a rough ride.

 

[redalienx11]

So am I the only one underwhelmed by it?

I wanted to go fast, so I had my head tucked in, no visual stimulus. It's a rough ride.

which one did you do? for me, i was underwhelmed by the idea until i did it in PC. you are right- little visual stimuli- i tried to keep my head up and my eyes open but when i was ripping around those banked turns at 60+ mph my head was basically slammed into my chest and i couldnt lift it up to see anything haha. after i was done i was sore for a couple days. at the very least a very unique experience. i heard sitting toward the front of the sled lets you keep your head up and wits about you a little more.

 

[jaywbigred]

I did it in LP and, if its possible, it was both thrilling and underwhelming at the same time. I guess that's another way of saying it wasn't quite as thrilling as I thought it would be. But it WAS still thrilling.

I am sure at real Olympic speeds, it is a diff. experience.

 

[jaytrem]

A friend of mine did the LP one a few years ago. He said he took quite a head beating. I still remember his quote. "I paid $65 to get on and after 5 seconds I would have been happy to pay another $65 to get off". I guess it's not for everyone. Looks like a good time to me.