Longest Rodelbahn in the World!

At the top, before the run.



Thomas at the start.  Notice the green netting surrounding the track in the background.  Made me nervous.  Why is that necesary??




Off he goes!




Jon and Sophie



Noah and I at the finish.

We had our friend Charlie visiting us last weekend so we took him to Churwalden (about a hour south of us) to go down the longest rodlebahn in the world!  It is 3.1 km long with lots of curve, dips and bends.  It has been unseasonably warm and the snow is terrible for skiing so this seemed like a good Swiss alternative!  It was great, terrifying but great.  Sophie road with Jon, and Noah with me.  Charlie and Thomas each had a sled to themselves.  You ride the chair lift up to the halfway point on the mountain.  It was strange to ride the chair lift without skis on!  You get a brief, very brief lesson how on to work the slide, pull up on handle to brake, push down to go faster.  Ok, simple enough. Strap yourself in, really the sleds had seat belts!  I wondered what it would do for me as my sled was hurtling down the elevated metal track at unknown speeds if the sled decided to jump the track.  Best not to think too much.  First ride down was ok.  We took it really slow, so slow that we actually caused a traffic jam on the track.  Second ride down we were elected to go last, hmmm.  Noah spent the whole ride down yelling "No more bremsen (german for braking)" at me.  There were little signs at each steep curve or dip that stated "Bremsen"  I took them as orders, everyone else interpreted them as suggestions.  Lots of fun although if we do it again I am sure I will be alone.  Noah stated at the bottom, "Lots of fun but we could have gone faster Mom!"  I don't agree.