Josef Wiegand, a family-owned manufacturer of toboggan runs, rail-mounted toboggans and stainless steel dry slides, has provided a unique Slide & Hike experience for the Goasberg-Rätseltour in Kirchberg, Austria.
This popular holiday destination can be found in the Brixental valley, six kilometres from the famous town of Kitzbühel. The picturesque town can cater to more than 8,200 guests who come to enjoy winter skiing and summer hikes.
Introducing the Slide & Hike concept
As people turn to staycations in the wake of COVID-19, more winter resorts are working to offer year-round attractions. At Kirchberg, visitors can enjoy the Goasberg-Rätseltour (Goat quest tour), which leads from the Gaisberg chairlift down into the valley. This is now home to four Wiegand slides, embedded into the earth.
As well as having fun on the slides, visitors learn about the local wildlife and plants thanks to the design of the accompanying engaging and educational experience. Both kids and adults alike can discover more about this alpine habitat.
Three of the slides are curved stainless-steel pipes with portholes, and two of these are also race slides which are mirrored in layout. The race slides are 18.2 metres long with a 30° angle, covering a difference in elevation of 6.5 metres.
Meanwhile, the third curved pipe slide has a transparent Makrolon cover and is 31.2 metres long covering a difference in elevation of 11.5 metres, and the grand finale slide is a 16-metre-long open slide called The Wave, which drops 6 metres deep into the valley.
Last month, Wiegand also announced that it has created a bespoke slide for the world’s longest treetop walk, which can be found in Switzerland and connects the two villages of Laax Murschetg and Laaz Dorf. The record-breaking 1.5 km long treetop trail opened to the public on 11 July and is accessible year-round, either by spiral staircases or barrier-free lifts.
Top image © Mathäus Garner
