Coaster Rhapsody - Day Four
Coaster Rhapsody - Day Four
David & Susan Ellis
The day started with an ERS on the world's longest alpine coaster at Imst. The ride, over 2 miles in length was really great fun, and lasted forever! The chairlift ride to the summit was equally enjoyable, albeit at a somewhat slower pace. As a surprise, after having lunch and crossing the Europabrucke (192m high bridge) we visited another alpine coaster. This one was almost as long but twice as steep, and had some very hair-raising moments. Excellent fun. Onwards to Verona.
Malcolm Marr
Today was alpine coaster day. The first at Imst was very impressive and I had it down as my favourite alpine coaster until we got to the other at Mieders.
There are a few coasters that scare you just by looking at them, and this can be added to that list. With just a single lap strap you are very exposed and the whole ride has an out-of-control feeling too it. I'm glad we were able to have more than one go on the ride.
Andrew Bannister
Spent a lot of the day reading Harry Potter, again... I thought that we got up too early but... being a teenager, that applies to any time before 1 O'Clock! However, contrary to that the day was fantastic, good food and goo(o x infinty)d rides, second of the alpines being far superior to the first... Watch out for popping ears. Had a good day! Was surprised by being sold to strongest alcohol I've ever seen, without questioning! I think it would taste like lighter fluid but the comic value is great! One Vodka, two vodka, three vodka, floor!
Keith Johnson
My name is Keith Johnson (HEY KEITH!!) and I'm an alcoholic. It has been 4 days since my last Strawberry colada. In that time I have not fallen off any kerbs or tried to speak to drunken locals and I feel better for it.
Linz and Darren Hoy
Where did we go first, we went straight to the first Alpine; you can type whatever I say, I don't mind; erm, it was quite good, I went down with Sue first of all; David and Darren went down together and did a time trial. And the second time I went on my own, and it was really good fun. Then we went to the surprise second alpine thing, which was just nuts. First time I went down it was really good fun, though the second time I got really bad sled rage and screamed at the woman who was holding up five of us. My apologies to Roger again for kicking him in the back! :-)
Justin Garvanovic
[in six year old voice] Mummy says I mustn't eat too much chocolate or I'm going to be sick!
Patrick Flumet
As always the surprises of the club are the best. That was my first alpine coaster, and to have a second in the same day was something like heaven. Thanks, and see you next trip!
Richard Bannister
Two alpine coasters in one day, the second of which at Mieders was simply insane. We need an ERS here in the future to fully appreciate it properly, though I was lucky enough to get a clear run for my first ride, and the speed, drops, and airtime (yes, really) was positively frightening. Unfortunately, I had a slow child in front of me on the second go. After catching him up, I parked the sled for two full minutes by my stopwatch, but this wasn't enough; I managed to catch him a second time. At nine euro a pop some solution to this would be good, as one child managed to spoil the ride for a whole convoy of club members who got trapped behind him.
Andycoasterboy
Day four and Alpine Coaster day. We started in Imst on the worlds longest, which was a hoot! Then we had a surprise of another alpine coaster at Mieders, which I preferred to the first for its airtime and no brakes to belgium! Paul W and Martin - I am switching from Austrian Beer to try Italian Vino, which I've heard is also very nice.
B. Derek Shaw
Both alpine coasters can be summed up in one word; phantasmagorical! It was really eerie in the morning to catch the ski lift to the top of the mountain and be going through thick fog and haze, which all heightened the experience of what was to come. It was great to ride the longest alpine coaster in the world at full throttle. The alpine coaster at Mieders was truly an experiment in terror. It was a fun and extreme alpine coaster at the same time. My first ride was not real good due to general public not knowing how to properly operate the ride, however the second go was much better. There were sections where I was very nervous about running full throttle, with some extreme banking and drops, what have you. (The surprise stop at the second tallest road bridge in Europe was a real treat. No, I will not Bungie off that). All in all a great day.
Michael Nash
I think that a few of us were a bit fearful of the prospect of riding our first alpine coaster. We were, however, very pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had. I couldn't wait to ride it again. We were also surprised to get a bonus alpine coaster, which was much scarier than the first but still a lot of fun. Another great day.
Talhat Mahmood
Although the first alpine coaster is the record holder, the second one stole the show for me. It was totally crazy. I have never used such abusive language in my whole life that I had did during the first run of the surprise coaster. Also the drive all around the Alpine Slides was breathtaking. The alpines might be cold, but this trip is certainly heating up.
Dave Elliott
The ERS on the alpine coaster at Imst was excellent. After two solo rides I doubled up with John Musk for the third, which was faster and fun and laughter all the way. The second surprise one at Mieders was awesome. Sleds like Oakwood on tubular pipe like Steeplechase at BPB, down the mountainside. A wonderful addition to the trip.
Mary Wilkinson and Darren Smith
First time on an Alpine Coaster. First ride, very slow. Second ride, bit faster. Third time, I only used the brake three times, and really enjoyed it. Darren of course preferred the third ride, because it went faster. The Mieders ride was made more awesome by Darren riding tandem, making it go much faster, but Darren and I enjoyed it in amongst the wonderful scenery.
Diana and Luke Horn
The first alpine coaster at Imst was absolutely brilliant, although it wasn't a patch on the second one at Mieders, which was awesome. On the second ride we were held up numerous times and had to brake severely due to a child in front. As a caution, allow plenty of space in between so that you can enjoy the ride to the fullest.
Louise Horn
The alpine roller coasters were fairly good. There was a big difference in how the two of them were. We didn't know about the second one at first; it was a very good surprise. The only problem was if you had someone slow in front of you; it slows you down a lot. Overall the ride was very good.
Jeff Graham
The Alpine coaster at Imst was a total blast, and featured over 5 minutes of pure gravity, which was downright scary in the rain. Leslie (aka the Blue Bomber) enjoyed the tremendous surprise, and she especially enjoyed seeing so many scardy cat men. Jeff thought the ride would have been perfect if it wasn't for the Arrow type elements, but still you can't complain about 4 minutes of gravity in a spectacular setting.
Robert Sisk
Alpine coaster day and I have not enough superlatives for these rides: amazing, terrifying, ...AMAZING! I didn't know my body could pump that much adrenaline!
Keith Johnson
I loved both Alpine coasters that we did today. I will never forget how much I screamed my head off thinking I was going to die, BUT I survived both coasters. I just wish that I could have gotten more rides.
Jeppe Nygaard
Quite an early start today, and we went to the Alpine Coaster that was a lot of fun due to its extensive size, and the speed that could be maintained over the entire course. After that a lovely surprise with the other alpine coaster which turned out to be very intense and fast - and extremely fun. The area around us just unbelievably beautiful - it takes your breath away. Trip has been great so far, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, and we are now looking forward to Italy.
Jeff Holmes
We have just ridden two fantastic alpine slides, the first one being the longest in the world, the second was not as long but more intense.
Martin and Wortsie - we have now said auf weidersehn to Austrian beers.
Lisa Scheinin
Well, I thought the alpine coaster at Imst was great - then I rode the one at Mieders! Both were superb, but the one at Mieders was sooo steep and wickedly fast - awesome!! An excellent surprise (thanks, Justin and Mark)! Now we're in Italy - oh boy, pizza!!
John Coffield
The Alpine Coaster at Imst with its approximate 4km course twisting through the trees was unbelievable. By the third run Cindy and I had mastered all the moves required to navigate the course at maximum speed. The experience in one word, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
As for the Alpine Coaster at Mieders with its terrifying twisting course was a site to behold but due to my discomfort with the configuration of the cars I was unable to let gravity have its way with me, but it was still a brilliant ride.
Andy Rathe
Good day in two different locations. The second Alpine Coaster was absolutely insane, which contrasts well with the first, which is the world's longest. The day was not what I expected, and was great fun.
Ken Simmons
The last day in Austria was spent in Imst, riding the world's longest Alpine Coaster. This thing was like the Energizer Bunny, it just kept going and going and going. A surprise for the day was a visit to a second Alpine Coaster, which seemed a bit faster and more wild than the first. Both excellent rides. Now Italy awaits.
Kat Soderquist
Cost of a non-stop ticket from CVG (Cincinnati) to LGW (London Gatwick) - $960.
Fee to cash a 50 Euro travellers at an Austrian Bank, 12.70 Euros.
Three days in Austria with ECC - priceless.
Yvonne Janik
WOW!!! I have been on alpine slides but never on alpine coasters. The first one today had a track that was wide, and I felt very safe and in control of my sled, but the second one had only a metal edge that the sled ran on. I am never scared on any coaster, but this one was scary and out of control. I loved the terrain and the bridges. At one point, I thought there was no more track on the other side of the hill. Both coasters were incredibly fun, fast, and wild.
Justin Garvanovic
What a fun day! The Imst Alpine Coaster - the longest in the world - is just amazing, with the ride up to it - on a cable car - being almost as thrilling. The coaster itself is something else... With both brake handles jammed forward, down it goes, faster, faster, hard into the corners, trying hard to throw you into the flimsy side netting. Some multiple dips make you bounce up and down, amusing those in the cable car above. The end is signalled with a slap in the face from the plastic "you are going far too fast" strips. But the cable car awaits - it's an ERS after all - so it's back on again, and again.
The Alpine Slide in Mieders is another kettle of fish. More thrilling - it's precariously steep - but the cars aren't as good, as isn't the engineering. The track flips directions instead of turning. If this ride had better track dynamics and better designed cars, it may just be the most thrilling ride out there.
Chris & Claire McFarlane
Hooray for bobslieghs every single one that we have ridden has just got bigger and better and the one at Mieders being frightning, it just does not look right on its insane layout. Glad that we got to do them both.
Simon Baynham
What a great day, two very different Alpine Slides - one being the world's longest - and both were terrific. James L you're missing a great trip, maybe next time you will make it. On the road to Italy now, read you all soon.
John & Margaret Drinkwater
The first Alpine coaster was superb but the wet seats left you damp in the posterior department. The second one was formed on single rail similar to "Steeplechase" at Blackpool. It was taller, with tight curves, big drops and a bit rough in places.
David Cornell
"It was the best of time. It was the worst of times...." I won't mention the worst right now. But WOW the best was amazing. Not since my first ride on TTD have I been even a little scared by a ride. This one had my knee shaking for 15 min after the ride. The alpine coaster at Meiders south of Innsbruck, a surprise on the trip, was so fun and so scary. Its single rail provides no assurance that one will be able to make any of the turns on the tiny sled under you. Only one lap belt kept you and the nearby rock and trees from meeting at great speed. Anyone who says they went all the way down with no breaking is surely fibbing. Actually, on my second 9 euro ride I held the side handle most of the way and let the stick float free. It only breaked a little and had a very fun ride. Still I was throughly worked out and breathing heavy at the bottom. Wow.
Oh yeah the 3.5km on we rode earlier in the day was fantastic too. But Wow! This second one was intense. An what a view of the Alps. Now it's down and south to Venice.
Don and Monica
OMG dude Alpine Coasters are awesome! The first one we did reminded me a lot of the Endor speederbike segment from return of the jedi. The second bonus alpie was incredible though. Nothing like rideing at breakneck speed down a heavily wooded hill with only a lapbelt connecting you to the serving tray you're riding on. Tahoe are you listening? Get these now!! Oh and Dave, I only braked when someone was stopped infront of me...mostly.
Phil Ariss
Two superb "little" alpine coasters in breathtaking scenery. What more could we ask for?
Andy Hygate
I really liked the insane bobsleighs!
Yngve Oestbye
I rode my first alpine coasters today and they were amazing. They should really get some of these in Norway, I know plenty of places were they could build one. What a fantastic day...
Greg Pearn
Two breath-taking bobsleighs set amoungst equally breath-taking scenery. The Anglo, Scottish and Norwegian 'daisy train' down the rocky hillside was interesting... Two crazy rides where bigger IS better!
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