Alpine speed slide

Press, 2 September 1986, Page 27

Alpine speed slide

Four years ago a 600 m alpine slide was installed at the Queenstown ski area for summer use, and since then thousands of people have made runs down the slide on specially designed sledges. With a 15 per cent gradient the slide has been carefully designed to carry one and two-person sledges at speeds of up to 40km an hour.

Each sledge is equipped with a set of wheels at the rear and teflon runners in the front with a braking system that gives complete control over forward speed at all times. Normal resistance and weight determines the maximum speed. The slide commences about one-third of the way up Coronet Peak’s main chairlift which is used to transport sledges and

riders to tne starting point. There are seven sharp turns and a number of curving straights on the way to the bottom. At the end of each ski season the slide is uncovered and usually operates from October until June. The experience has proved popular with all ages and nationalities — Japanese and Australian tour parties being some of the biggest users.