"Bobkart" - Powered Alpine Slide at Toverland!

[robbalvey]

Hey everyone,

 

A while back someone had asked some questions about that Powered Alpine slide that we had in our update from Toverland called "Woudracer."

 

Well, Soren sent me a POV of it, but I never had a chance to post it until now!

 

The ride is very cool! If you've ever been on a traditional alpine slide (see photos below) this is a powered version of it! The first one we saw was in Japan at Nagashima Spaland, then we found another one duing our Europe trip.

 

Has anyone else seen these Bobkarts at any other parks? They really are a lot of fun! Enjoy the photos and pictures below...and thanks to Soren for doing the video!

 

--Robb

bobkart.zip

Here is the full POV of the Toverland Bobkart filed by Soren during our visit!

Here's a better look at the Bobkart car modeled by Elissa!

The version at Toverland (where Soren's video below is from) has both an indoor and outdoor part.

Like the alpine slide, you can also control the speed. You can see the arm from the car that is attached to the electric rail which gives it power.

Here is the Bobkart from Nagashima Spaland, similar to the Alpine Slide, but powered so you don't need a big mountain to install one.

Here is a tradtional Alpine Slide. Its set in usually a concrete track and you control the speed of the cart yourself (this one is in Pigeon Forge)

[Canadmos]

Alpine slides are awesome! It sucks that the one near me was taken down

 

Those powered ones look cool too.

[roeterich]

I rode the one at Toverland as well. They are pretty cool in the noon but in the morning you can crap them. When they aren't properly distributed on the course they brake automatically all the time and that is really lame. So I'd recommend waiting untill noon for riding, espacially if you'd have a long wait.

Otherwise those Bobkarts are really fun rides!

[Kroger8]

I have ridden the ones in Pigeon Forge, as well as some in Jackson, WY, and it looks as though that it would be more fun if the Bobkarts were made to brake at a certain speed, but went downhill instead. Non-the-less though those things are awesome, and I'd like to see what they are like.

[Canobie Fan]

Attitash in NH has a great alpine slide that even has this steep drop part in the middle where if you go to fast you well get air time I have even fell off it more then once... Once at the air time hill.. and twice in some of the lesser banked turns... lol

[BiCoastal Kid]

ARRRRGH, I had a video of a really fast indoor one before, but now I'll have to find it again. Really, this other one HAULED through this building or something, it was crazy.

[Hicko]

I went on a HUGE alpine slide going down the mountain from the Great Wall of China. It's located at Mutianyu north Beijing. Excellent fun.

 

Anyway that powered version looks a lot of fun. 8)

[Hattuchili]

Hey Robb,

thanks for posting the video! It was really fun at Toverland and the bobkarts are awesome. I have never ridden that before. Thats why I was really surprised.

I hope you all enjoy the video!

 

--Sören

[Wishmaster]

I live about 40 minutes from Toverland so obviously I rode that one. Last time I was there I even got chased by a few weird Americans.

 

I also rode the traditional alpine slides in Télécoo (Belgium) and Panorama Park (Germany) and the alpine coaster in Fort Fun (Germany).

 

Here is the official website from Wiegand, the company that builds these bobkarts. The site also contains lists of all their installations.

[robbalvey]

Holy crap! There's one of those alpine coasters in Switzerland that is 3,000 meters long??? that's nearly 2 miles of track!

 

Switzerland

 

Churwalden

Carrier: Pradaschier AG, 7075 Churwalden

Year of construction: 1999 Length: 3060 m

 

Uplift system: chairlift with device for sled transportation

Internet: http://www.pradaschier.ch

[BiCoastal Kid]

^That's like Steel Dragon 2k without the wheel flinging, or ugliness.

[Jeezus Juice]

I went on this one in Austria. It's the longest at 3525 meters.

 

Imst

Carrier: Alpine Coaster Tyrol Rodelbahn GmbH, 6460 Imst

Year of construction: 2003 Length: 3525 m

 

Uplift system: transportation device for sleds

Additional info: longest toboggan run all over the world

Internet: http://www.alpine-coaster.at

 

It was really cool.

 

-Don

Edited September 10, 2005 by Jeezus Juice

[rollermonkey]

(Kicking self, repeatedly)

 

I wasn't even thinking that I had seen the Bobkarts on the Japan DVD, and passed them up believing they were just gokarts.

 

SIGH.

 

I guess if SD2K reopens before I leave Japan, I'll be back down there for the credit and check these out.

 

Chris B

 

(continues kicking self)

[AllisonY2K]

are those designed to seat 2 people? looking at the pic with Elissa it didn't look like she could reach the handlebar at the front, but it looked like maybe someone could sit just in front of her and hold on that way.

[kenshinmac]

How cool would a themed indoor one of those be... Oooh... You could theme it to some sort of alien attack or something where you are on an escape sled or something...

 

Ok maybe I should stop typing what I am thinking...