The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are currently taking place and with it the bobsledding competition. For many watching Bobsleds scream at 80 miles/hour down an ice track is the highlight of the Olympics. Celebrities like Jason Kelce and Colin Jost are also taking their turns with rides down the track. It looks like a roller coaster ride with its intense turns and speed and the roller coaster industry even designed a special type of coaster based on the bobsled experience.

The most famous of these bobsled coasters was the “Swiss Bob” by Intamin. On the Swiss Bob riders boarded a sled-like vehicle with wheels that went up a traditional roller coaster lift hill and then exited rails to freely roll down the track. Six Flags had 2 of these that were at 5 total locations with their ride rotation program. There were several other incarnations of the Swiss Bob including the “Screamin’ Delta Demon” at Opryland, “Disaster Transport” at Cedar Point and “Swiss Bob” at Efteling in the Netherlands. However, with the closure of La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas on November 4, 2024 to make room for Tormenta, there are no more operating Swiss Bob roller coaster by Intamin.

There is still an opportunity to have this bobsled experience with Flying Turns at Knoebels. This is the world’s only wooden bobsled roller coaster! The structure itself is amazing to look at and every ride on it is different on this trackless coaster. The ride was patterned off of a similar ride from the 1920’s at the long shuttered Riverview Park in Chicago, but is relatively new having opened in 2013 after many construction delays. On February 7, 2026, American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) announced Flying Turns will be recognized as an ACE Coaster Landmark.

Most people will never ride in a real bobsled, although if you have a spare $225 you can ride in one at the former Olympic bobsled track in Salt Lake City, Utah. You may have also missed out on your chance to ride a Swiss Bob by Intamin. I had a chance to ride Rolling Thunder at Six Flags Great America and nothing about it blew you away, but it was unique and had an iconic thunder sound as it rolled through the course. The feeling of leaving track and free rolling for the first time was quite a sensation. Thankfully you can still experience this with Flying Turns at Knoebels, but as seen with the Swiss Bob, these opportunities aren’t always forever. If you have the opportunity to ride Flying Turns don’t miss this unique experience.