WHOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!
November 22, 2011 10:24 PM Subscribe
Mieders Alpine Coaster - No Brakes. SLYT. POV ride down a single-pipe alpine coaster in Mieders, Austria. Strap in, headphones on, full screen. That is all.
Here is the what the carts look like.
Being 6'4", they look like discomfort.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:37 PM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Is this a ride anyone can do? I tried Googling it but I get like 10,000 hits and they're all just pages for this video.
posted by crapmatic at 10:42 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by crapmatic at 10:42 PM on November 22, 2011
This is the only time I've been glad that a video like this wasn't in HD.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 10:43 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by beaucoupkevin at 10:43 PM on November 22, 2011
I went on a similar but much shorter one of these in CO a few years back (this one). It's pretty fun when you actually get to go fast, but the whole self-braking thing means that you WILL get stuck behind someone slower (that's clearly what happened in Pogo's video.) The no brakes guy must have been the first rider of the day, or an employee or something.
(the carts were manageable for my 6'3" length, but not particularly comfortable)
posted by Wulfhere at 10:45 PM on November 22, 2011
(the carts were manageable for my 6'3" length, but not particularly comfortable)
posted by Wulfhere at 10:45 PM on November 22, 2011
Using the guy's Youtube channel, I now no longer have to go to a whole bunch of amusement parks around the world!
I also liked the contrast between say, this one and this one.
posted by kmz at 10:56 PM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
I also liked the contrast between say, this one and this one.
posted by kmz at 10:56 PM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
I notice he just says he was going to try it without using the brakes, not that he actually made it without using the brakes. :-)
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:57 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:57 PM on November 22, 2011
Ow ow ow ow ow. (Somewhat NSFW.) But I guess that coaster does look like a relatively smooth ride. I can't even imagine how painful that would be on a wooden coaster like the Texas Giant.
posted by kmz at 11:03 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by kmz at 11:03 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wonder if you get to ride that alpine coaster back up or if they make you decart at the base.
posted by ceribus peribus at 11:04 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by ceribus peribus at 11:04 PM on November 22, 2011
The signs probably just keep reminding you not stand up and pretend your on a surfboard.
posted by longsleeves at 11:12 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by longsleeves at 11:12 PM on November 22, 2011
you're^
posted by longsleeves at 11:13 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by longsleeves at 11:13 PM on November 22, 2011
A unique one (street tobogganing).
Another alpine coaster, apparently the world's longest.
posted by kmz at 11:14 PM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Another alpine coaster, apparently the world's longest.
posted by kmz at 11:14 PM on November 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Looked like he was going through clear-cut blocks in the beginning.
posted by mannequito at 11:22 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by mannequito at 11:22 PM on November 22, 2011
I thought that looked like great fun, but, yeah, it would be a bummer to ride and then discover you're behind the same people who crawl around on the highway here at 60% of the speed limit.
Thinking about that, though...really? So some dude can be whizzing down the hill and come upon someone going at walking pace? Do they collide at that point?
posted by maxwelton at 11:46 PM on November 22, 2011
Thinking about that, though...really? So some dude can be whizzing down the hill and come upon someone going at walking pace? Do they collide at that point?
posted by maxwelton at 11:46 PM on November 22, 2011
The 19th-century version: The Devil's Shingle
posted by Knappster at 11:56 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Knappster at 11:56 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Max, I've seen this happen at a similar 'ride' on Mt. Hood. Fast rider coming up on someone who wants to stop and take pictures. The aftermath is not pretty. Nor is the guy who uses no brakes and ends up in the field of gravel meant to stop riders at the end.
posted by efalk at 11:59 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by efalk at 11:59 PM on November 22, 2011
that was exhilarating. now i feel all amped up and excited, but i'm in my pjs... standing next to my bed.
gonna watch this again in the morning! yes!!
posted by raihan_ at 12:11 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
gonna watch this again in the morning! yes!!
posted by raihan_ at 12:11 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
His videos are pure joy, just jokey, happy, fun with friends. I need to go to the amusement parks this year.
posted by PinkMoose at 12:11 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by PinkMoose at 12:11 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
All I can say is that I'd love for this guy to either make all announcements I ever hear, or to record a solo rock album where he goes "WHOA" and "WOOHOO" a lot. He has fun with such authority in his voice!
posted by Mooseli at 1:01 AM on November 23, 2011
posted by Mooseli at 1:01 AM on November 23, 2011
Ace, would love a go.
Also, +1 for perfect spelling of WHOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!
posted by marienbad at 2:18 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, +1 for perfect spelling of WHOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!
posted by marienbad at 2:18 AM on November 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Texas Giant isn't really a wooden roller coaster but more of a hybrid. True wooden roller coasters are usually pretty smooth since they'll sort of depart controlled flight if they get too energetic.
The idea of riding a roller coaster naked doesn't particularly sing to me for the same reason Pogo Fuzzybutt finds those alpine cars suspect.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 4:10 AM on November 23, 2011
The idea of riding a roller coaster naked doesn't particularly sing to me for the same reason Pogo Fuzzybutt finds those alpine cars suspect.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 4:10 AM on November 23, 2011
There used to be one of these near me, except that the cars were not attached to the track--instead, they were free-rolling inside a concrete chute. Without judicious braking, one was in serious danger of flying off the high side on the banked turns, which made the ride incredibly exciting. This looks fun, but dang, you're on a track--no sense of danger there.
Two weeks ago I did this, which was like the same idea only 180 ft up in the air.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:52 AM on November 23, 2011
Two weeks ago I did this, which was like the same idea only 180 ft up in the air.
posted by kinnakeet at 4:52 AM on November 23, 2011
I wa sort of waiting to see how this contraption stopped.
posted by timsteil at 5:56 AM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by timsteil at 5:56 AM on November 23, 2011 [2 favorites]
Questions, I have many. How much does something like that cost? My enjoyment of the ride depends on your answer because if that ride cost...$20.00 or more I would enjoy it a bit less.
What happens when you meet someone slower in front of you? Do you then have to creep along behind them, forever?
Is this a non-snow thing only or does it operate in winter as well?
Oh, Switzerland. I will probably never have enough money to visit you because Britain, France, Italy, China, and India come first in my queue. But you would totes be my destiny of choice if I was rich and carefree!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:35 AM on November 23, 2011
What happens when you meet someone slower in front of you? Do you then have to creep along behind them, forever?
Is this a non-snow thing only or does it operate in winter as well?
Oh, Switzerland. I will probably never have enough money to visit you because Britain, France, Italy, China, and India come first in my queue. But you would totes be my destiny of choice if I was rich and carefree!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:35 AM on November 23, 2011
How often does someone hit a deer on one of these?
posted by Forktine at 6:41 AM on November 23, 2011
posted by Forktine at 6:41 AM on November 23, 2011
Forktine, I thought the same thing when I was watching but forgot to bring it up. Not just deer, but any wild life that might choose to cross the track at the wrong time. Also, I didn't notice anyone wearing goggles or helmets-- I'm guessing that would never work in America.
Still, a lovely way to view the surrounding alpine area.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:50 AM on November 23, 2011
Still, a lovely way to view the surrounding alpine area.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:50 AM on November 23, 2011
How many bees were swallowed in the making of that video? Inquiring minds need to know.
Also; AWESOME.
posted by dazed_one at 7:14 AM on November 23, 2011
Also; AWESOME.
posted by dazed_one at 7:14 AM on November 23, 2011
I've ridden this concrete chute alpine slide at Purgatory Ski Resort in Colorado. Let's just say that anyone over 100 pounds or so won't be going very fast, because one's weight pushes down the brake. It seems that the "monorail" style alpine coaster is better in this regard.
posted by oceano at 7:39 AM on November 23, 2011
posted by oceano at 7:39 AM on November 23, 2011
the rear wheels have automatic resistor brakes that keep them from going past 26 MPH or so
LAME (though it is probably needed to reduce the odds of leaving the track at speed). Also, the upright posture looks like it would slow people down as well as reduce the sensation of speed. I should probably get up to Lake Placid for some skeleton.
posted by exogenous at 8:45 AM on November 23, 2011
LAME (though it is probably needed to reduce the odds of leaving the track at speed). Also, the upright posture looks like it would slow people down as well as reduce the sensation of speed. I should probably get up to Lake Placid for some skeleton.
posted by exogenous at 8:45 AM on November 23, 2011
The only alpine slides I've ever been on were the concrete chute variety, and I remember them being pretty fun as long as you didn't think about the bones you were likely to break if you flew off the track. My older brother wiped out on one and melted a hole through the sleeve of his nylon windbreaker. My little sister was going relatively slow and got rammed from behind by someone going too fast and not paying attention. She was OK, but now that I think about it we stopped going to the slides after that.
posted by usonian at 8:57 AM on November 23, 2011
posted by usonian at 8:57 AM on November 23, 2011
Ich liebe Osterreich! On my first visit there we visited two Sommerrodelbahns. I was there with my fiancee and her family for her cousin's wedding. Both were of the free rolling cart in a concrete tube variety, and were at the time (August 2001) the longest and the steepest respectively. On the second one I went last after my fiancee, her sister, and her cousin. Since there was no one waiting behind me I gave them a good long lead, about 10 minutes which had been plenty of time to complete the ride on the previous mountain, thinking I didn't want to overtake the poor timid girls.
Well I did overtake her cousin after all. She was crazier than the rest of us combined and had gone flying off a curve about two thirds of the way down, having decided to go no brakes. Fortunately she was just a bit scraped up. I call her "Crash" to this day.
posted by Reverend John at 10:09 AM on November 23, 2011
Well I did overtake her cousin after all. She was crazier than the rest of us combined and had gone flying off a curve about two thirds of the way down, having decided to go no brakes. Fortunately she was just a bit scraped up. I call her "Crash" to this day.
posted by Reverend John at 10:09 AM on November 23, 2011
There used to be one of these near me, except that the cars were not attached to the track--instead, they were free-rolling inside a concrete chute. Without judicious braking, one was in serious danger of flying off the high side on the banked turns, which made the ride incredibly exciting.
I stopped going on those things after I got a nasty scrape on my hand from reflexively trying to brace myself when I almost flipped over. The risk of injury to amount of excitement ratio is just too high. I don't know how the people who run those things manage not to get sued all the time, if you sit around and watch people go down one for a while it doesn't take long before a kid completely wipes out and eats concrete. Although I guess they are usually operated at ski hills, and you can sit around and watch skiers crash and get carted off in ambulances too.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:35 AM on November 23, 2011
I stopped going on those things after I got a nasty scrape on my hand from reflexively trying to brace myself when I almost flipped over. The risk of injury to amount of excitement ratio is just too high. I don't know how the people who run those things manage not to get sued all the time, if you sit around and watch people go down one for a while it doesn't take long before a kid completely wipes out and eats concrete. Although I guess they are usually operated at ski hills, and you can sit around and watch skiers crash and get carted off in ambulances too.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:35 AM on November 23, 2011
Action Park in New Jersey had those concrete Alpine Slides things. The intersection of hubris, terror and road-rash all in one package...
posted by mikelieman at 12:38 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by mikelieman at 12:38 PM on November 23, 2011
This is an Alpine rodelbahn, but one which is engineered much more like a regular coaster with a single rail to which the sled is affixed. It also features safety belts, which is awesome.
More traditional rodelbahn would be a a steel chute with free-rolling sledges without seatbelts. I rode one of these several times in Austria and had a blast until I took a spill. I escaped with some skinned palms and a bruised shin, but it was darned fun up until then!
posted by ooga_booga at 2:14 PM on November 23, 2011
More traditional rodelbahn would be a a steel chute with free-rolling sledges without seatbelts. I rode one of these several times in Austria and had a blast until I took a spill. I escaped with some skinned palms and a bruised shin, but it was darned fun up until then!
posted by ooga_booga at 2:14 PM on November 23, 2011
O, hells, yes!
Careful now; these seem like the sort of gateway rides that result in luging.
posted by ceribus peribus at 2:27 PM on November 23, 2011
Careful now; these seem like the sort of gateway rides that result in luging.
posted by ceribus peribus at 2:27 PM on November 23, 2011
This guy has a one track mind.
posted by ShutterBun at 7:32 PM on November 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ShutterBun at 7:32 PM on November 25, 2011 [1 favorite]
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