ALPINE SLIDES
Popular since the 1970s, alpine slides
have been around a lot longer than
mountain coasters. ADG has taken this
long-time summer attraction and
completely re-designed it for a whole
new alpine sliding experience.
According to ADG, the new non-abrasive
fiberglass construction of its mountain slide
track provides a smoother, safer surface
that heightens the sensation of speed, while
eliminating road rashes and other injuries
associated with older poured concrete
slides. In addition, the sleds are designed
to eliminate fishtailing on curves and the
tracks feature deeper channels that greatly
improve maneuverability and rider control.
The system’s patented speed restrictor system
also ensures rider safety.
mountain coaster ride lasts around
five to six minutes.
Mahoney adds that the average of
length of an ADG alpine coaster track
is about 5,000 feet. The new one at
Copper Mountain is among the longest
in North America, with a track that’s
5,800 feet long (of which nearly 4,000
feet is the downhill descent) and with
a vertical drop of 430 feet.
Each ADG coaster track is prefabricated
at the company’s manufacturing
facility in New York state. The modular
design and flexible track configurations
of ADG coaster systems enables
them to be tailor-made for each mountain’s
terrain and also cuts down on installation
time.
According to Mahoney, an ADG
coaster track can be built from start to
finish in under four months. ADG assists
clients not only with the planning
process, both in terms of assessing
potential routes and the operational
needs of coasters, but also provides
project managers who work on-site to
ensure construction goes smoothly.
“It’s a partnership,” Mahoney said.
COVER FEATURE
Jessica Mahoney, ADG’s director of
marketing, says the company’s alpine slides
typically cost $1 million to design and build.
She adds that unlike a mountain coaster,
alpine slides don’t operate in winter since
they’re typically located on ski slopes at
resorts and are covered up with snow during
the ski season.
Camelback Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania
has both an ADG alpine slide and a mountain
coaster. According to Camelback’s director
of mountain adventures, Bob Serfass, both
are very popular, but he says some people
may prefer the “little bit extra adrenaline
kick” they can get from alpine sliding.
For more information on either the ADG
Mountain Coaster or Alpine Mountain Slide, visit
their website at www.adgmountainsides.com
or contact jessica.mahoney@aquaticgroup.com.
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