Josef Wiegand, a family-owned manufacturer of toboggan runs, rail-mounted toboggans and stainless steel dry slides, has announced the opening of three new alpine coasters found across the continent.
South Korea
The shortest of the three new additions at 900 metres long, Donghae’s new Alpine Coaster can be found near the East Sea of Korea. The system and ride, with automatic distance control, was approved for use by the German TÜV authority in November 2021.
Following overwhelming success on its soft opening day, the system was opened early to guests by the city of Donghae on a permanent basis, ahead of its originally proposed opening date of March 2022.
Visitor figures are approximately are around 300 visitors on weekdays, doubling on Saturdays and Sundays.
Azerbaijan
Shahdag can be found four kilometres above sea level. As the largest ski resort in Azerbaijan, it is amongst the top ten ski resorts in the region.
The venue has recently been upgraded with a brand new Wiegand alpine coaster, which has been in operation since the beginning of this year following its January 2022 debut.
Wiegand says that this installation “is also not for the faint-hearted”, with a 1.6-kilometre descent making it one of the longer versions of this type of coaster.
Trundling down the circuit is a colourful collection of fifty sledges with the latest safety enhancements.
Shadag’s unique layout is equipped with both a double and a single helix, providing snow-capped views for adventurous guests.
United Arab Emirates
The ‘Jais Sledder’, can be found at Ras Al Khaimah, a paradise for adventure seekers in the UAE.
The new 1,840-meter long toboggan run winds along the Hajar Mountains, offering panoramic views for riders. Officially opened on 15 February 2022, this alpine coaster can hit speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour.
Each rider is securely strapped in by a safety seatbelt, with controllable speed through an onboard braking system.
The installation was planned and conceived with sustainability in mind, as one of the longest of its type in the region. Jais Sledder is one of a number of new attractions set to open this year on the UAE’s tallest mountain, Jebel Jais, with eco-tourism being a large consideration of the development.
The Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority reports that the new additions will “fit seamlessly into the mountain ecosystem”, with ongoing improvements at Jebel Jais forming part of a half billion-dirham investment, as announced by the agency in recent months.
German manufacturer Josef Wiegand is also known for its dry slide products, with projects including the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and the upcoming Harz Tower in Germany.
