page_title: Summer toboggan
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: Summer toboggan / Operation
caption_attribution_description: Beijing, China - September 2011 (cc) David Berkowitz - &lt;a href="http://www.marketersstudio.com" rel="nofollow"&gt;www.marketersstudio.com&lt;/a&gt; / &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/dberkowitz" rel="nofollow"&gt;www.twitter.com/dberkowitz&lt;/a&gt;
context_page_description: A summer toboggan is an amusement or recreational ride which uses a bobsled-like sled or cart to run down a track usually built on the side of a hill. There are two main types: an Alpine coaster or mountain coaster is a type of roller coaster where the sled runs on rails and is not able to leave the track, whereas with an Alpine slide the sled simply runs on a smooth concave track usually made of metal, concrete or fiberglass. Both of these types of ride are sometimes denoted with the German name Sommerrodelbahn.
  They are often built by ski resorts in order to use existing winter infrastructure and provide additional summer income, although some installations are part of amusement parks or are standalone.
  As of 2007, the longest summer toboggan in the world is the 17,400 feet long Tobotronc alpine coaster at Naturlandia in Andorra.
  The highest in the world is the 3,300 feet long Glacier 3000 alpine coaster in Gstaad, Switzerland which starts at an elevation of 9,747 feet.
  The type of track, safety features, speed and layout vary by manufacturer.
context_section_description: Each sled accommodates one or two passengers and is controlled by a hand brake lever located either on both sides or in the middle. Riders are advised to keep their hands on the brake at all times for safety reasons.
  Pulling the brake handle causes the sled to slow down or stop; pushing or letting go of the handle causes the brakes to release, allowing the sled to accelerate.
  With this control comes responsibility: the rider must ensure that they do not go too fast as otherwise accidents can happen, although with a properly designed installation this should not be possible.
  Summer toboggans are unique among amusement park rides in that the rider has complete control over his or her speed and ride experience.  Riders can opt for a slower leisurely run, or one with minimal or no braking for a faster thrilling ride.
caption: View along the alpine slide track at Mutianyu, China
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