Whistler Sliding Centre

Sports complex · Whistler ·

Whistler Sliding Centre

Sports complex · Whistler ·

Experience Olympic bobsled, luge, & skeleton rides on fastest track

Information

4910 Glacier Ln, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4, Canada Get directions

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"An Olympic sliding facility where visitors can experience high-speed bobsleigh rides and learn about sliding sports in a venue used during the area's Olympic events, offering an adrenaline-focused off-mountain activity." - Julia Eskins Julia Eskins Julia Eskins is a writer and editor covering travel, design, and culture. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, National Geographic, and more. She’s traveled to more than 50 countries, lived in five, and currently calls Toronto home. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/skiing-trips/whistler-canada-ski-winter-vacation

Whistler Sliding Centre

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"There is no Winter Olympic legacy quite like the bobsled run, simply because you can get in on the fun, winter or summer. The Whistler Sliding Centre track remains the fastest in the world, and careening downthe track at 78miles per hour (56 mph in summer) will definitely test your own mettle. Treat your teenagers to a luge class, surely to become a much-liked social media share. Adults can takea skeleton runduring the winter, because who doesn’t want to zip face-first around six serious corners at 62mph on a sheet of ice? Don’t miss a ride at the sliding center, whether your sled is on winter blades or summer wheels."

The Best Things to Do in Whistler

Photo by Mike Crane/Tourism Whistler

Whistler Sliding Centre

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

The Somewhat Unexpected Active Adventures of Whistler, B.C.

Photo by Mike Crane/Tourism Whistler

Whistler Sliding Centre

Kristin C.

Google

Please understand that they have to scare the living daylights out of you before you ride BUT if you can make it past the scary warnings, it is totally worth it. Though the ride is short it is completely exhilarating, and you walk away with a true appreciation of what those athletes do. Mackenzie was our driver and she did great. The Winter Olympics will never look the same. I am tall and got bruises on my upper arms from the sleigh but bruises aside, it was the most unique experience I had on my trip to Whistler. Do it!!

Vernon K.

Google

My family toured the centre in August, simply because a facility like this is rare and unique (and my family likes the movie Cool Runnings). It's free to go into the main building and to the track. The centre is located up a windy hill and walking wasn't recommended by the tourist Visitor Centre so we took a cab that was $10 each way. The main building has a bobsled you can jump into and a small display about the history of the spirt and the facility. There's another bobsled you can try outside as well as a section of the ammonia cooled track. It's a small walk up the hill into the track area and you can watch people on their runs. For the runs, you go with a random staff member, two of which were Olympians.

Steve C.

Google

What an amazing adventure. I visited with 2 children 16 &17 and all 3 of us had a great time looking at the centre - and then actually having a proper Bob-sled run down the track. Everyone was helpful and knowledgeable about the sport and the fact the not-for-profit ethic made me feel especially grateful, thanks team❤️

Arvind R.

Google

Visited the Whistler Sliding Centre to see the track and watch the sleds in action. It was impressive to see how the course is built, and watching a sled hit speeds of around 126 km/h was incredible. A quick stop, but very cool to see in person.

lee V.

Google

Reading some of the other reviews, I agree with the fact that even though they have to scare the life out of you with their legal obligations, as long as you are in decent condition its a fun ( but violent and fast) experience. I also wish there was a nominally priced second run available right after the second. You barely have enough time to realize what's going on before you are being whipped left and right and then Its already done! After the ride you get to see what you just did by watching the other riders come down from a view point. Only then do you appreciate what you just did. I have a lot of respect for those sled guides that do this every day. I am happy that the money I payed for me and my kids to experience this adventure is going to support future Canadian Athletes. I have one suggestion to management, please figure out a way to video the sled going down the track to add to the video we can purchase. its the only reason i didnt buy the video. It would be so cool to see

Zana K.

Google

one of the best experiences of my life, the crew, the pilots, everyone is amazing, informative, and helpful. they made the best experience for me. they want you to enjoy and would make sure to give you everything for this to happen. very professional pilots, well planned and great support. I wish I could've afford to do this every week.

Thomas A.

Google

Brilliant experience. Did the skeleton experience and it was fantastic. A huge adrenalin rush and very well run. The instructor put everybody at ease before completing the two runs. Would highly recommend for a fun and unusual experience.

Shyamal J.

Google

We had a wonderful Bobsleigh experience —it truly made us feel like Olympians! The setup lets even non-athletes feel the thrill and excitement that the sport has to offer, which made the experience incredibly special. It was amazing to be part of a run like that, and we’re so glad they make it accessible and memorable for everyone. Thank you for such an unforgettable experience. We’re looking forward to many more runs like this!

S K.

Yelp

I don't even know where to begin! Probably one of the best experiences I have ever had. We did the bobsled here...I love the fact that the place is a non profit and committed to helping athletes. Yes, a bit pricey but think of it as a charitable contribution with an added bonus of riding the fastest rollercoaster you have ever ridden. The place is very low pressure and they give you every opportunity to opt out with a full refund. The ride is extremely special and probably one of the best experiences I have ever had!

Katy H.

Yelp

I was skeptical of another way to spend money at Whistler, but boy was this memorable. You get some history of the sport, walk down ON the track for a tour, sled down at ~60 mph, then can hang around the track. All in all we spent an hour and a half here and really recommend it. Plus, they're a non-profit and tourist fees from this go to supporting the center and letting their athletes train. The bobsledding itself was amazing. As soon as we put our safety gear on my husband and I were up next (even though we were two people they didn't pair us with the other two-some). Our lead, Aaron, was great and we made it down in 51 seconds. The experience was rickety and smooth with you gaining speed as you progress. I was in the front so my head bumped around more than most but it was worth it to see the track laid out in front.

Natasha P.

Yelp

I had heard about the experience of riding on the Olympic track in a bobsleigh. I was surprised to find that they offer this to the average person. I was a little hesitant as I recall someone had passed away on this track in the 2010 Olympics. But nonetheless, I was seeking a thrilling experience so I wanted to try it out. I booked about 4 weeks in advance as it was a long weekend and they do offer refunds even after you get there and don't feel comfortable. However, I would definitely recommend proceeding even if you're nervous! When I arrived I completed a waiver. I then was guided through a 20 minute information and safety presentation. I was then shuttled to the start of the track where I was fitted for a helmet and the off I went! It's important to know that you do not complete the entire track because you would be subjected to 5g or 6g forces and 150+km/h, which would require a lot of training. So, you start about 1/4 into the track. The entire ride took about 44 seconds while experiencing 4g forces. You get to ride with 1 or 2 other people, plus the trained pilot (so 3 or 4 people per bobsleigh depending on weight). At the end, you get to watch your video back with the option to purchase ($35) which I recommend as it happens so fast and you get to support a not for profit. You'll also receive a photo of you, your team, and the bobsleigh. I would definitely recommend this experience to all! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that you get to say you've competed on an Olympic track (the fastest track in the world) and gone approx. 125km/h with 4g forces!

April N.

Yelp

Very fun experience. Didn't realize it also included a tour so it ended up taking a few hours instead of what I assumed would take 30 minutes.... I wish I'd allowed more time so we could've taken our time instead of rushing. There was quite the hike (10 minutes or so up a very steep hill) to the main entrance so I'd recommend driving to the info center instead of taking the bus as we were instructed to do. Really cool tour and super fun!

Salim P.

Yelp

A must do for the able while in Whistler. This place works best if you have two adults and two teenagers with you. The adults pay full price and the teenagers get in free. The bobsled sits 4 and a pilot which is from the centre to steer and brake. It takes less than a minute typically to do a round (~50-55 seconds). The top speed is close 100/kmh! You get bused to a place , where you change and get trained and wait for your turn. The ride is exhilarating to say the least. One of the best 55 seconds of your life. They give you a picture and a certificate for the ride which is cool. And the best part, you do this it helps Canadian athletes train there for less because this money keeps the place running. The staff are amazing and so friendly. The whole thing takes 60-90 minutes. But worth it!! Don't miss it. Amazing scenery around the track as well

Kristina C.

Yelp

Hands down, the craziest experience of my life. Getting to bobsled like the Olympic athletes was amazing and terrifying all in one. They have either an Olympic bobsledder or one of the coaches take you down. You hit some crazy speeds and its exhilarating. One in a life time experience - don't think i'd do it again because its so crazy but so happy I did it once! Side note: they don't guarantee that you will be with the people you came with even if you booked together. Fortunately, we were able to get in the same sled, but saw other people who were split apart.

Sarah J.

Yelp

If you are thinking about doing this, you should. This was a once in a lifetime experience on the Olympic track. We did the bobsled and skeleton run which were amazing. They give you detailed instructions with each activity. They do give the option to opt out if you dont feel comfortable. They also do not charge you until after you complete the activity just in case. At the end when you come back to the guest center there is a printed picture waiting for you. The staff was nice and they are very organized.

Michelle N.

Yelp

We were happy to be here on opening day for the season. It was raining but we still got to go for our ride. The office is where you meet to fill out the waivers, get weighed and await your adventure. Since we were a family of 5 we had to split up. There is lots of info to look at including an olympic torch from the 2010 games you can do a photo op with. We walked over to the track and learned more about the sport and specifically this track. We were organized in to our groups and brought up to the top of the track by a van. When it was our turn we loaded in and met our guide. Her name was Tirza. She is a 17 year old skeleton athlete who is training for Worlds. It was fascinating to hear her story and I can't wait to watch for her in the coming years. At the top we learned about how the teams prep then we started the walk down the track. We started about 1/3 of the way down the track so we got to walk along the track and see the turns up close. When we arrived at the start for the ride we went into a building to fit our helmets. While the sled in front of us were going we all rang the cow bells like in the real bobsleigh runs. It was finally our turn and we loaded in to the sleigh. Our driver Jim took some pics of us and loaded up. Snowy pushed us off and we were on our way. Jim had a GoPro on his helmet so we could get a video of the ride. It went by so fast but was amazing to be going around all the corners and up on the walls of the turns. It lasts under a minute and we were climbing out to get our official pic and commemorative certificate. We decided to pay the $20CA to get the footage of our rides. They put it on a flash drive for you to take and share. It was an exhilarating experience and now I want to do it in the winter to see how fast the track really is!

William M.

Yelp

I injured my ankle so I was not able to experience the bobsleigh but my family said it was great. I am giving them props as I cancelled, for myself, prior to the 24 hour cancellation period and they honored their policy and provided me with a full refund. Hopefully I can try it again another time.

Sam W.

Yelp

Riding in a bobsleigh on the fastest track in the world was amazing! The staff did a terrific job teaching us about the sport. I've never been a fan of the sport until now. Can't wait to watch the next Winter Olympics just to see the athletes compete. Highly recommend sledding while in Whistler.

Aaron K.

Yelp

Well worth every penny. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We had schedule for the 1:30pm but was running and they accommodated our reservation for a later time since we went Whistler Olympic Park for the biathlon. Tierza (sp?), our tour guide, was amazing. She gave us the history and background for the walk down tour and I didn't think it was a part of the roller thunder. We learned quite a bit about the sport. The ride itself was cooler than a roller coaster ride, wished it was a bit longer and faster so I'll need to come back during the winter. Thanks again to all the staff at the facility and keep up the great job!

Cheryl S.

Yelp

My hubby came here to do the bobsleigh. What a great experience! From check in, to the instruction and tour, to the actual event itself was well executed. Too bad the actual event is only about 1 minute long. He enjoyed it and would do it again!

Phood I.

Yelp

Bobsleigh experience was amazing. Quick briefing and training to make sure you make it down safe. There is an experienced pilot that takes you down the fastest track in the world, going at around 128+ km/hr. It's a quick ride but based on the G forces you feel, you probably don't want to do too many more rides. Price may appear a bit much but these activities for tourists at the Whistler Sliding Center keeps the track alive so that athletes don't have to absorb the (high) costs of operating the track. It's for a good cause, sliding tracks aren't exactly plentiful and it's also sad to see Olympic venues shut down. You can optionally purchase a video of your ride which you can download. One of the most thrilling and unique experiences ever (and safe!).

Matthew M.

Yelp

What an incredible out of this world sports experience at the Whistler Sliding Center! Taking a bob sled down the official 2010 Olympic track going speeds of 100 mph is something I never thought id get an opportunity to do. Everything about the experience was great! Easy to book online, great employees at the center direct you where to be, in-depth safety walk through and then boom going super fast with 3-4 G turns. The adrenaline was pumping, the nerves were well nervous but I would do it again on my next visit to Whistler! My wife really wanted to join but they frown on pregnant ladies going down the track. Which is completely understandable. It takes about 1.5 hours to get prepped for the experience and literally less than 2 mins to get down the track! Just an unbelievable life event that you must do if you are in Vancouver! Oh and it is the fastest sledding track in the entire world!! Happy sledding!!!!! Book this now!!!!!

Mike G.

Yelp

Most reviewers got one thing wrong... For me, I seriously hope this is not a "once in a lifetime experience" but something I get to do at least every year and only regret not living closer so I could be back on a skeleton more often than that. My wife and I went up to Whistler in February mostly for the opportunity for us to actually do bobsled/bobsleigh and for me to try skeleton. I expected it to be, as many reviewers have said, a "once in a lifetime experience" and while that may be true for bobsleigh for me, that's only because I became addicted to skeleton. There are a lot of reviews that talk about the professionalism and helpfulness of the staff and those are, if anything, understated. Every person involved clearly loved the sliding sports and that love came through as being willing to do anything to make sure that everyone interested had the chance to share that love. And for many of us, it worked. I'll skip the step by step description of what to expect since there are already quite a few reviews that cover that very well but will tell you the one thing that most people seemed surprised by in their runs. While watching the sliding sports, it appears graceful and you expect the G-forces to gradually shift from side to side. That is not the case. The G-forces are intense and brutal and surprising the first time. I suspect that's a big reason why first skeleton run times are pretty consistently a bit slower than the second. But, by your second run you know what to expect and surprise turns into that feeling that you get when auto racing, that "just one more lap and I can do just a little better". In my case, "Just one more run down the hill and I can do a better job of keeping my shoulders down in the 'Gold Rush Trail' corner complex and shave off a few hundredths of a second". OK. I admit it. My name is Mike and I'm a Skeleton Addict.

Becky K.

Yelp

Worth the money. This is a once in a lifetime experience. It is pricey but we actually found a deal on Groupon. The staff is very friendly and informative and puts safety first. The first hour you will spend getting weighed, fitted for a helmet, and given a safety presentation. Then you will be split into teams and taken to the starting line. The staff sits you in the bobsled. You do not have to run and jump in. The driver is a professional who works at the track. The ride was amazing and we reached 125km. The ride is about 40 seconds. The staff takes pictures afterwards and they do sell videos and souvenirs.

Dylan H.

Yelp

I went here for the bobsled experience and it was a blast! It was also great to know that all the money goes towards subsidizing the athletes training cost. I would 100% recommended anyone come and try out either events if they are in whistler as it is definitely a once in a life time experience. It was also very easy to get to if you use the gondola.

Laura P.

Yelp

Fantastic, once in a lifetime opportunity! We made reservations a few weeks in advance to be on the safe side. There ended up being 11 people for our time slot. They provide us with a tour of the facility and tons of safety info. You get broken up into groups. My bf and I went together with a pilot. Some groups went 2 or 4ppl at a time +pilot. Trip down takes less than 55 seconds and can hit speeds of up to 90km! Only shock to me was how much my head bopped around from side to side, but they provided beefy helmets which helped. This experience isn't cheap. Approx $100 CA. But the money goes back into their athlete programs which I feel great about. Plus our tour guide was fantastic and super knowledgeable as he is on the Australian bobsleigh team. This is a must do activity in whistler!

Richard N.

Yelp

Just went down this crazy madness!!!! It is much more intense than I thought. I was holding on for dear life. Our driver got us down safely. We hit 124 km/h. This is a must try while in whistler! Only reason it got 4/5 stars is because the video option at the end only had one camera working. Still got the single camera angle but for an experience like that I wanted the whole video. Still a great time.

Melissa N.

Yelp

We visited with our two kids. All of us enjoyed the tour and rides. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. First they start a ~30 min tour that walks through the top part of the track. Then they prep you for the ride with helmets and a safety video. The bob sled seats 4 and the pilot sits in the back. It lasts less than a minute and goes about 50 mph. Don't miss this while in Whistler!

Patrick C.

Yelp

The sliding is cool. The drivers are cool. The operations staff sucks. Their service is awful. After you finish sliding you wait 45 minutes for a shuttle. The wait is so long you don't get to your car on time. So instead of leaving at 4 and beating traffic you get stuck in traffic. For hours. The staff is so bad and they claim they give the money to athletes. God I hope the athletes have better leadership or else Canada will never win another sliding medal.

Megan B.

Yelp

Great staff and a unique experience. It takes about 90 minutes to get there from downtown BC. If you plan to ride or sit in the front you have to have closed toed shoes and pants. They can provide these to you if you are wearing shorts during the summer. Everyone there was very friendly and made sure you had an awesome and safe fun experience.

Theresa V.

Yelp

My husband was so excited after he found out that the public could go bobsleighing in the actual sliding center where the Olympics were held! It holds the record as the fastest track in the world and you can reach up to 4 G forces. For the public, though, they begin 1/3 way down the track at the women's start, and there is a professional driver. The entire experience takes a little less than 2 hours which includes the safety training and the ride to the start. Non-riders can view the riders from the middle of the track where I took video.He came away with a certificate of his speed (129+ km/hr), which I think was top speed of the day and a picture of his team. I thought it was a little pricey at $169 pp for something that lasts a mere 40 seconds. You can also do the skeleton for the same price-- you go solo and run the track twice.

Mrs S.

Yelp

The run was fun, Customer Service, not so much! Reservation for one time, went an hour later! When we checked in the receptionist could have shared that information as well as what observers should expect! No seating, no guidelines, no nothing! Then we were waiting for the paid for photos, the printer could not print but did anybody say anything? No! Really poor after payment service, just be prepared!!

Kylie P.

Yelp

The Whistler Sliding Centre was built for the Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics that happened back in 2010. This meant they decided to build the longest, fastest and steepest track apparently in the whole world. The Public can now experience this for themselves if you come to Whistler in the Winter. For a mere $169pp you can opt in for a ride with a pilot and 2 others in a bobsleigh or you can have a go at two solo Skeleton runs for the braver person. We opted in for the Bobsleigh and as we are locals we got a special $69 locals discount that was going on at the time. The experience takes about 2 hrs including helmet fitting and orientation and then you get shuttled up to the Novice/Womens start line which is about a 1/3 of the way down the track for your 40 second bobsleigh run. If you don't want to ride the track you can still have a look at the track on a free self guided tour during Winter and Summer. It is a very pricey experience but after seeing just how many staff they have to have for safety it is understandable and it is one of those experiences you are probably only going to do once but is definitely a fun experience.

Keri K.

Yelp

Omg! That was my team name on this crazy once in a lifetime ride. OMG was the perfect team name because the g-forces on this thrilling ride left me scared, amazed, and tingling for the entire 50 second ride. I get bragging rights on this- I am a pro bobsled person now and rode down the fastest/Olympic worthy bobsled track on earth. Ok, I'm not considered a pro but I do keep the bragging rights. Don't be scared just try it and follow the directions carefully. I want to go back in the winter because I heard the ice creates higher speeds. Loved this adventure!

Mary L.

Yelp

What an awesome experience! This is definitely a must do if you are visiting Whistler. It is such a rush. You have the option to purchase a video at the end and we just got the video today and they did a great job editing the video. I definitely hope to get the chance to do this again!

Andrea G.

Yelp

The bobsled experience was great! I went with a group of friends and everyone enjoyed the day. The staff were very nice and the speed and G-force on the bobsled was crazy. The only down part was that the battery died on the camera on our sled and the staff forgot to even turn on some of the cameras on some people's rides. That was quite disappointing and I would expect that to be better. I would of really liked the opportunity to buy a video but instead all I got was an 'oops sorry about that'. Bobsled is an awesome thing to do but I would not pay that price again.

@travelleisure

28,641 Postcards · 5,542 Cities

How to Plan a Ski Trip to Whistler

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/skiing-trips/whistler-canada-ski-winter-vacation

Whistler Sliding Centre

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

The Best Things to Do in Whistler

Photo by Mike Crane/Tourism Whistler

Whistler Sliding Centre

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

The Somewhat Unexpected Active Adventures of Whistler, B.C.

Photo by Mike Crane/Tourism Whistler

Whistler Sliding Centre

Kristin C.

Google

Vernon K.

Google

Steve C.

Google

Arvind R.

Google

lee V.

Google

Zana K.

Google

Thomas A.

Google

Shyamal J.

Google

S K.

Yelp

Katy H.

Yelp

Natasha P.

Yelp

April N.

Yelp

Salim P.

Yelp

Kristina C.

Yelp

Sarah J.

Yelp

Michelle N.

Yelp

William M.

Yelp

Sam W.

Yelp

Aaron K.

Yelp

Cheryl S.

Yelp

Phood I.

Yelp

Matthew M.

Yelp

Mike G.

Yelp

Becky K.

Yelp

Dylan H.

Yelp

Laura P.

Yelp

Richard N.

Yelp

Melissa N.

Yelp

Patrick C.

Yelp

Megan B.

Yelp

Theresa V.

Yelp

Mrs S.

Yelp

Kylie P.

Yelp

Keri K.

Yelp

Mary L.

Yelp

Andrea G.

Yelp

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