Avalanche (Pleasure Beach Blackpool) - 0871 222 1234

Avalanche is the first ever steel bobsled roller coaster constructed in the UK. It was built by Mack of Germany in 1988 at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, an amusement park in Blackpool, England.The ride uses three trains, each consisting of 7 cars. Each car can hold two riders, one behind the other.HistoryAvalanche opened in 1988 and was the first ever Bobsled type roller coaster to be constructed in the UK, it was also the third Bobsled coaster built by Mack Rides, who were in competition with Intamin, the only other company who designed Steel Bobsled Coasters. The ride was to be themed around an Alpine bobsled course, and the station was built to reflect this. The ride was officially opened by Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, a famous British ski-jumper, and the British Bobsleigh Team.The rideAvalanche starts by passing through the storage room of the trains, then out of the building and onto the lift hill, so far the ride follows a normal ride track, at the top of the lift hill, the ride is released onto the main downhill track, which the ride is not physically held onto, it travels through various bobsled track style curves, picking up speed, before reaching the lowest curve and curving back up again, it then flattens out and travels into the first brake run, it then releases and the train travels around a bend and onto the second brake run, before being released again to travel into the station. The two brake runs are designed for when the roller coaster operates in full capacity, with all three trains running, so that the two trains returning to the station can wait on the brakes while the train in the station loads and unloads.

Tags: Amusement & Theme Park