Go-karting in Rotorua, New Zealand
Downhill luging a real adventure
This is a recipe for disaster. Ten testosterone-pumped all in control of pseudo Go-karts that they have only just learned the basics of controlling, about to race each other on a steep downhill race track, complete with tricky corners and everything.
We are at Skyline Skyrides in Rotorua, which ostensibly is a cable car service to the top of a hill overlooking the city. But as with most things Kiwi, they don’t do things that simply. Along with the cable car, gondola and restaurant, they have also built a ‘luge’ track. Why they’ve called it luge I don’t know – as far as I’m concerned, luging is that mad sport they show every four years at the Winter Olympics. This is basically downhill karting, and very good fun it is too.
There are three tracks to take on: The 2km scenic track (for the elderly, the boring and absolute jessies), the intermediate track (which you’re forced to go on first so you can learn how to steer properly) and the daddy – a 1km long advanced track.
This track has steep drops, tight corners, the works, and ten of us are about to bomb down it at once, which is probably against the rules, but like we care.
I set off from fourth on the grid, eagerly pursuing the Danish bloke in front of me. He’s not getting away any further, but I’m not getting any closer, as we pelt down the track.
But the guy behind me is getting cocky, and is beginning to close in. There’s no way he’s going to overtake me, though, the spoon-fed public schoolboy.
Unfortunately, we’re coming up to the tightest corner, which is followed by the steepest drop. I do the maths – if I slow down, he’s going to overtake. Therefore the brakes aren’t going on, I’m going to try and take the corner at full speed, and it looks like Posh Boy has the same idea. Bring it on…
A few seconds later, I am face down on the bank, absolutely covered in the dirt that I landed in. my competitor has also gone flying, although he’s somehow managed to graze his knee, shin and elbow at the same time. Boys will be boys, and the rest of the procession fly by, having had the sense to lightly dab the breaks, laughing at the pitiful sight behind them.
Eventually we dust ourselves off, and trundle our way down the remainder of the track to the bottom, where we are greeted with jeers and howling laughter.
Still, it was a great laugh, and we all get back up for a few more goes. The luge is the first of its kind in the world, and for a couple of hours of cheap entertainment, you can’t find much better.
For more information, take a look at www.skylineskyrides.co.nz or call +64 7 347 0027.
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