The temperature was hovering around freezing when I visited Jiminy Peak, a ski resort and summer playground in western Massachusetts. I went there to experience their new Mountain Coaster, an Alpine-Coaster from Josef Wiegand of Germany. What I discovered was a coaster that both thrillseekers and timid riders will enjoy; it has the broadest demographic appeal imaginable.

Broad appeal? Yes, here’s why. In delivering various presentations about rollercoasters over the years I’ve discovered that about half the people love to ride coasters, the other half, having ridden once, choose not to ride again. I believe it’s because there are two types of people in the world, those who want to maintain control of their environment and those who are willing to give up control for short periods. If you ride a coaster the coaster is in control; you are out of control.

On the Mountain Coaster there are rider-controlled hand brakes. If you’re a thrill-seeker you can go fast. If you are riding with a child or are less adventuresome you can slow to a gentle descent.

The top speed is limited to about 28mph. I like to go fast, so ignored the brakes and went balls-out fast. Skimming just feet above the ground, flashing past the trees, around hairpin turns and over whoop-de-doos, 28mph felt like 100. It was as thrilling as any major coaster I’ve been on.

About 20 years ago I has a rather more calamitous adventure on an Alpine Slide in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Racing down the hillside in a single cart over a shallow concrete through, there were no seat belts and, unlike the Mountain Coaster, no rails to which the vehicle was locked. There was a sign advising riders to use the hand brakes but as I said, I like to go fast. The car left the slide; I left the car, and slid down the slide on the seat of my powder blue polyester shorts.

When I came to a stop I had a brush burn. That’s OK. Bumps and bruises are a frequent result of thrill seeking. But my shorts had melted. Where there had been fabric there was now solid polyester, and I spent the rest of the day displaying this shining melted badge of courage on the seat of my shorts. You live and burn.

Rides like the Mountain Coaster are altogether safer, and flexible too. They work best at an outdoor venue with a topography variation of 100ft or more, and they cost about the same as a new flat ride, or about one-third the cost of a similar length traditional coaster. I loved it, and think your guests would too.

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