No
professional pilot, no one else, just you and the ride of
your life. Are you ready to scream down the track at around
90km/h, in a semi-horizontal position all alone in a one man
bob? Thrills and adrenaline guaranteed! you'll have an
unbeatable view all the way down... and there'll be no
looking back!
late afternoon -
early evening DEPENDENT ON OTHER TRACK FIXTURES
DEPENDENT
ON WEATHER AND ICE CONDITIONS
.
Due to the Mono-Bob activity needing ice the Bobsleigh track is
only open during certain months of the year. October is the
earliest that the track can open with the warmer temperatures of
March forcing the track to close early in the season.
.
The Bobsleigh
track in La Plagne is the only Bobsleigh track in France
meaning not only is it open to the General public but more
importantly it is open to Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge teams
from France and other teams from across the World that come
and train on a regular basis. Due to this training the track
itself is open to the General public to take part in the
Mono-Bob on daily basis except Mondays BUT ONLY
between certain times (Late afternoon - Early evening) These
times can be open to change by right of
the operating company.
.
The Bobsleigh
track and Mono-Bob activity can also be prone to closure
when the weather or ice conditions are not right. If it is
snowing excessively heavy the workers sometimes don't have
enough time to clear the snow away from the track before it
is covered again. Although rare it does happen when it does
the track does not operate.
La
Plagne has one of the best bobsleigh tracks in the world. It was the official
Olympic track used for the Olympic Games at Albertville in
1992. It is 1500m long which allows you to experience an
average speed of 90km/h in a Mono-Bob feeling forces up to 2.5 G's in the bends.
.
TRACK STATISTICS
.
LENGTH OF TRACK
1507.50m
.
DEPARTING ALTITUDE
1684.35m
.
ARRIVAL ALTITUDE
1559.85m
.
DEVIATION
124.50m
.
NUMBER OF LEFT HAND BENDS
8
.
NUMBER OF RIGHT HAND BENDS
11
.
how to get
there from meribel
.
La Plagne is
not connected in anyway to Meribel other than road or by
air. To drive to La Plagne it is necessary to drive down the
mountain from Meribel to Moutiers. From Moutiers you need to
head up the valley road towards Aime and Bourg St Maurice.
After about 20 minutes driving you need to turn off and
enter Aime. From Aime you need to start making your way back
up the mountain to La Plagne. The whole journey from Meribel
to La Plagne takes about 50-60 minutes depending on traffic
and weather.
Collected from
your chalet you and the other participants will be
transported straight to the Olympic Bobsleigh track in La
Plagne. The Whitetracks host will
then walk with you to the main desk where they
will introduce you all the operators, answer any final
questions or queries that you may have and make sure that
you are being looked after properly.
.
The
Whitetracks host will then make their way down to corner six
the first major G force corner to take photos of the Bob
Raft as it whips past. Once the Bob Raft has gone past the
host will then walk back to the top of the track and wait patiently
for your return ready to escort you
back Meribel, straight to your chalet or hotel. Whitetracks
Host
Catch a
Helicopter from the helipad at the Altiport in Meribel to
the Olympic Bobsleigh track in La Plagne. A
Whitetracks Host will
at the Helipad in La Plagne awaiting your arrival ready to
escort you and the participants to the Bobsleigh track. Once
you have finished the Mono-Bob activity the Host will again
escort back to the Helicopter where you will catch it back
to Meribel. -
Click Here for Details
5-15 minutes -
signing in, brief and collection of helmet
5 minutes -
getting into and organisation in MONO-BOB
Approximately
90 second descent
5-10 minutes
organisation at the bottom and then transfer back to the top
.
When you
arrive 10 minutes before your allocated time you will need
to go to the front desk to sign in. To get to the front desk
from the Bobsleigh track car par park you will need to walk
through the big open metal gates turn right, walk across the
top of the track 'the push start area' and through the doors
into the competitors changing room.
.
Once signed in
you will need to wait until you are called. Once called the
operator will open up the desk and direct you through a door
which will lead you to a room where you will need to choose
a helmet. When choosing a helmet make sure you choose one
that is firm and secure on your head. PLEASE remember to
fasten the clip which will ensure that the helmet does not
come off. The Mono-Bob helmets are the helmets with the
visors.
.
Once you have
you helmet you are now in line to take part in the Mono-Bob.
You will need to wait until you are called for your turn.
When it is your go one of the instructors will call you
forward. Using the metal steps provided you will climb over
the track ice wall and make your way to the empty Mono-Bob.
BE CAREFUL it is sheet ice and very slippery. When you are
next to the Mono-Bob, one of the instructors will make you
get in and fasten you in safely, he will then tell you to
hold on to the hand bars which are located by your sides.
When securely in the Mono-Bob with the front cage closed its
just a matter of waiting until its time to go! When ready
the Instructor will start pushing you forward till
eventually he will let go and away you will go!.... ENJOY
THE RIDE!!
.
The Mono-Bob
is a single person Bob based on the Luge. You will be lying
down in a semi-horizontal position with you head slightly
raised on a padded head rest with a seat belt across your
waist. The Mono-Bob runs on 20cm wide runners it is a self
steering and self braking pod/cage that uses gravity to
follow the curvature of the track until it reaches the end.
.
At the bottom
of the track, the Mono-Bob will travel up an incline to slow
down. When the Mono-Bob has come to a complete standstill
the instructor will connect a wire to the front of the
Mono-Bob ready to pull it up the rest of the slope. The
instructor will then open up the front and will tell you to
jump out. AGAIN be careful you will be stepping out onto
sheet ice. Once you are out of the Mono-Bob they will drag
it to the top where they will remove it from the track, and
slide it onto the back of the truck. You will need to make
your way to the top of the slope where you will get into the
truck and be brought back up to the top of the track.
The Bobsleigh
track supply you with a helmet it is compulsory that you
wear it whilst taking part in the Mono-Bob activity. The
Mono-Bob helmets have a visor so you will not need to bring
goggles with you to take part in the activity.
Warm clothing
-
Ski Clothing -
jacket, sallopettes and gloves
.
The Bobsleigh
track by its very nature needs to be kept cold to help
preserve the ice, due to this the track was built in a
valley. Past a certain time in the day the track receives no
daylight. The Bobsleigh track in La Plagne is one of the
coldest places on earth. Dress warm there is nothing worse
than feeling cold whilst taking part in an activity
especially one so spectacular as the Mono-Bob. REMEMBER if
you are cold it's only going to take the edge of your
overall enjoyment. WEAR warm
ski
clothing - Jacket, Sallopettes and Gloves.
1 passengers -
'just you and the ride of your life'
.
There are a
number of staff at the Bobsleigh track who are all there to
perform their individual jobs. You have the guy that puts
you into the Mono-bob who then straps or seat belts you in
and closes the front. Once ready he then pushes the Mono-Bob
which then sends you down the track.
.
There are guys
dotted down the track on the different corners who after
each Mono-Bob descent sprays the corners with water and then
scrapes the ice smooth again with special scrapers keeping
the ice in near perfect condition for the next Mono-Bob.
The Mono-Bob
is based on the Luge. It is a cage/pod made of composite
materials in which the participant lies down in a
semi-horizontal position on a foam padded seat/bed with a
raised headrest that angles your head slightly forward so
that you can see everything that is coming your way. The
Mono-bob has a seat belt that goes across your waist and has
a hinged front that opens and closes to encage you inside.
