Olympia Eiskanal — Local services in Innsbruck

The rennbob (faster bobsled) ride was amazing. It is a bit pricy for a 60 second ride, but they did a great job in also giving some information and history during the walk up from the cafe to the top of the bobsled track to make a longer experience. The ride itself goes quickly, but was quite fun - like an icy fast roller coaster.

What to expect: When we went, there were about 18 two-person groups booked in. The paid car park was easy to park in, then a short walk to the cafe to check-in (where toilets also available). We were given a ticket post-check-in, which determines the order you ride down in. About 30 minutes before the timed ticket, we started walking up the hill to the start of the track, where they shared information about the track’s history and Olympics along the way. Once at the top, it was quite a quick start as they had two bobsleds and teams available to start. The first two teams of riders went up, put on the helmets, and were put into the bobsled (in the middle between brakeman and driver) within about 2 minutes, then started down. The runs were timed to see how your group did, and a video of the run was available to watch or download from their website immediately after, which was pretty cool. Once both teams down, it was interesting to watch them load the bobsleds into a truck and drive back to the top for the next two teams to go down a few minutes later. Once your ride is done, it’s a short walk back to the car park.

A few visitors were accompanying riders, and were able to watch either by going up with the riders during the tour to the top and stopping in key places to take photos, or could watch from near the start (in/outside the cafe) which was near the end of the track and a large jumbo monitor to watch the action.

The ride does go by quickly, so I personally wish I could go down 2-3x in a row to better remember the details of the experience, but...

The ride itself is a great tourist attraction but it is poorly organised . We arrived (11th Feb) at the lovely restaurant and were called to travel up to the top. A lorry reverses to the loading bay and drops tailgate. There are approximately 10 drop down seats on each side and I saw a sign indicating the need to put on seat belts . Before we had a chance to do this a second group arrived and were told to get on and stand. It was a crowded "Cattle Truck" that then went up the track around sharp corners. Those seated had to support those standing and lurching from side to side. If this continues someone will be injured. At the top there is just a mass of people with no queuing system. We were effectively first to be called and last to descend. Please call people up in smaller groups and do a couple of runs with the lorry (20 people seated at a time ) rather than this fiasco. I had considered the possible danger of the descent but not the avoidable one...

This is a great place to visit in winter or in summer, when there is competition on or when it is open to the public. The venue runs events where the public can be taken down by an experienced driver on the winter ice or in a special...