Josef Wiegand, a family-owned manufacturer of toboggan runs, rail-mounted toboggans and stainless steel dry slides, has unveiled its latest generation of Alpine Coasters.

The firm has further developed its popular Alpine Coaster concept with the 2.0 version, bringing a substantial improvement in rider comfort and less maintenance for operators. Speed can be controlled easier than before thanks to magnetic brakes, lessening the burden on riders to apply as much pressure within the vehicle itself. Once activated, a magnet will lower under the sledge, utilising a metal fin to break smoothly and safely.

With only about 3000 residents, Birtonas is a spa town on the Memel River in southern Lithuania. The three man-made lakes where visitors can swim, as well as the landscape, the climate, and the mineral water springs, all add to Birstonas’ appeal as a holiday spot. With all the aspects of a traditional resort, the area has undergone changes since the Alpine Coaster opened in late summer with ride installation starting at the end of May. 

Follows a brief ride uphill on the roughly 150-meter-long lift track, The terrain quickly descends with curves, elevations up to three metres high. Speed builds up on straights built just above the ground interrupted by graceful turns, with ample time in between for a look at the incredible surroundings.

The new track is Lithuania’s second, following the opening of Anyksciai which was constructed in 2009.

Across the Atlantic

Where the Illinois River and Mississippi join in the US, American colleagues from WiegandSports GmbH, along with Josef Wiegand fitters, have installed almost a kilometre of downhill and approximately 270 metres of uphill track at Illinois’ Aerie’s Resort.

In the Mexican state of Veracruz, construction started on a 550-metre-long Alpine Coaster this summer. To be supplied with twenty green, yellow, and red toboggan, this installation features two towering helixes in addition to the various turns and leaps.

Brazil’s third Alpine Coaster is under construction in Capivari, at a midpoint between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The lift line will be 135 metres long, with 340 metres of track zigzagging its way down the mountain. Like the other projects, this coaster will implement a distance control system, with a garage system included in the delivery to store the toboggans securely. Installation is set to complete later this year.

Josef Wiegand is also a specialist in dry slides, with five new installations recently in Switzerland and Germany.