Sigulda Bobsleigh Track

Sigulda has one of the world's handful of bobsleigh and luge tracks, a genuine international competition run threading down the valley side. In winter you can ride it as a passenger in a bob at serious speed with a professional pilot; in summer a wheeled soft-bob gives a tamer version of the same plunge.

History

Sledding took place in Sigulda as early as 1887, and by the late 1960s the town approved a new track designed by the Leipzig sports facilities centre in East Germany; construction began in 1984 (Wikipedia, Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track).

What's there

• The winter bob run - a passenger ride down the iced competition track behind a pilot.
• The summer wheeled sled - a slower ride on wheels when there is no ice.
• The track itself - the curling concrete run down the wooded valley side.
• Training crews - national teams sometimes practise here in season.

When to go

Winter for the real iced bobsleigh experience, which is the thrilling one; summer for the gentler wheeled version. Rides run to a schedule and weather, so check and book ahead.

What to expect

The winter ride is fast and not for the nervous or those with back or neck problems; the summer version is far milder and a different thing. Rides depend on conditions and can be cancelled, so do not build a whole day around it without checking. It is a short, expensive thrill rather than a long visit.

Nearby

The Aerodium wind tunnel is minutes away; Turaida castle and the Gauja valley are across the gorge.

Key facts