Faster than a speeding bullet, pulling 5Gs along the way, the Comet Bobsled flew down the track at the Utah Olympic Park. I can’t remember the last time that my adrenaline kicked in like that. When your bobsled leaves the station, there’s really nothing else you can do but hang on for dear life.
I remember my heart pounding and how the ride was fun and frightening at the same time. The Comet Bobsled is unlike any roller coaster or thrill ride you’ll ever try. You actually get to climb into a real bobsled and travel down an Olympic bobsled run at 80+ mph. How many people can say that they have tried that?
Before you board the Comet Bobsled, you have to sign a few waivers and get a safety briefing. There are things to remember like how to use your arms to brace against the sides of the sled and the importance of keeping your head up. The driver (a trained professional) sits in front of the sled where he steers and brakes. The three passengers pile in behind.
After the safety spiel, everyone boards a bus that takes you up to the top of the bobsled run. Your family members can stay with you for the safety briefing and ride with you up to the top. Before you board the bobsleds, you pick out a helmet and get to meet the drivers. They give you another safety spiel, and it is worth paying attention. They really do mean it when they warn about sitting out if you have preexisting back conditions.
A few tips. During the safety spiel they explain that the ride gets more intense the further back you sit. I happened to get the last seat and can confirm it is a very bumpy ride. I found that my ski coat helped provide some cushion, so wear your biggest coat to help reduce bouncing around. I was also glad that I wore gloves, as it would have hurt to hang onto the steel cables inside without them.
You are then split into groups of three and assigned a number. Soon enough, it is your time to board. The drivers are really helpful and make you feel like you’re in good hands. They have been down the course countless times and seem like they could drive the sleds in their sleep. But even with all that reassurance, I still found myself hyperventilating as I boarded the sled. Fortunately, one of the guys raised the foggy visor on my helmet so I could see where we were going.
The crew wear spiked shoes, which gives them the traction to run on the ice as they push your sled. As you start coasting down that first little hill, you see your family waving and then have an oh s#!t moment as you realize there is no way off this crazy train.
In the safety briefing, they warn you not to get complacent during the first couple turns. You pick up speed and it is fun as you bank through turns two and three. When you reach turn four, your butt gets compressed down into the bottom of the sled, your heart goes down to your ankles, and you suddenly have a death grip on the steel cables.
The trip takes about 50 – 60 seconds. When you’re on the bobsled, it feels much longer because your adrenaline is going and you’re bracing during every turn. Eventually, you reach the final turn which goes uphill to slow you down. When they said we could climb out, I was just happy that my wobbly legs didn’t fail me. It was a heck of a lot of fun, but certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
After you catch your breath, they load you and your bobsled into a truck for a drive back up the mountain. During our drive back, our bobsled driver told me that he makes about six trips down the track each day. I was proud to have survived one trip. I can’t imagine doing that for a living.
The Comet Bobsled ride is $200, but is well worth it. Where else can you get an experience like this? It will likely be one of the most thrilling things you’ll do in your life. We did a lot of amazing things during our vacation, but I can’t stop telling everyone about the Comet Bobsled. It scared the bejebus out of me, but was also the most fun I have had in a long time. If you’re ever in Park City, UT, conquer your fears and go for a ride. You won’t regret it.
[…] athletes and their ridiculous bravery. And speaking of being brave, the Olympic Park is home to the Comet Bobsled if you feel like racing to the bottom of the mountain at 80 […]