Show Utah Olympic Park offers excitement at 80 mph Andrew Marshall Contributing Writer Due to an error in the initial publication this article is being reprinted Were gonna die screamed a boy to his friend last Saturday morning before walking the plank of the X X-creme Zip line in Park City's Olympic Park This zip line moves up to 50 miles per hour down the K ski jump slope According to authorities it is the worlds world's steepest zip line This is just one of the many attractions available for use atthe at atthe atthe the Olympic Park The Olympics are on Most people enjoy watching all of the many events in the comforts of their living rooms potato chips and drinks close at hand There is a place however where people can experience the games firsthand Longtime staff member Chris expressed his surprise at at athow how little people know about the park They just dont don't know how 1 much we have to offer up here said Rex Dabling the Park Operations Director said that since the Olympics have begun there have been few visitors to the park for recreation or other other- wise He explained that there are currently screen big-screen TVs showing the Olympics for all to watch Apparently the turnout could be better For the Opening Ceremonies we only had one family and the janitorial service watching Dabling said Originally known as the Utah Winter Sports Park the park was approved in 1989 by Utah taxpayers taxpayers taxpayers tax tax- payers to be constructed Construction commenced in 1991 with the ski jump ties In 1997 the bobsled and luge track were added When Salt Lake City won the campaign to host the Olympics many renovations were made to the park including added jumps and upgrades to the ones already in operation During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games the park welcomed welcomed wel wel- corned over people It was the site of 14 different events including ski jumping 1 1 i 10 J nordic combined bobsled luge loge and skeleton Since the Olympics ended in 2002 the rides shows and museum at the park continue to maintain the Olympic spirit In July 2002 what was once the media center for the worlds world's journalists became a museum retail shop cafe and conference area The museum takes visitors down the slope of skiing history focused particularly on Utah's skiing past The museum also features a three-dimensional three Ski Theater Its a great place for a date said graduate and park attendee Scott Swallow Get a bite to eat in Park City then head up to zip line for some fast- fast paced fun The Olympic Park packs in inthe inthe inthe the action for future pro skiers It is still used to train ski jumpers having the worlds world's highest-elevated highest ski jumps It is used to teach aerial ski-jumping ski amateurs how to twist and turnoff turnoff turn turnoff off the jump splashing into a warm pool of water upon land land- ing The park has also h hosted sted multiple World Cup events including the 2005 World Luge Championships Ski-jumping Ski shows are still pe performed ormed at the It u II nr r r nn rr J park The park is full of things to do for the masses as well in winter or summer The zip-line zip is well- well liked for its cheap price and big thrills Another popular event for allis all allis allis is the bobsled run Though it is expensive costing a ride the adrenaline experienced is well worth it According to Park Officials the bobsled zooms down the track at up to 80 mph and reaches reach reach- es up to 5 Gs G's of force equivalent equivalent equivalent lent to a story 40 drop in under a minute Its better than any roller coaster youve you've ever been on said One of the new summer rides is the Alpine Slide the first all steel slide in North America This slide is different from other slides of the same kind The slide wraps itself around you on the turns said If students are interested in attending the park it can be contacted contacted contacted con con- at The park is located on Bear Hollow Drive just off of the Kimball Junction exit in Park City ln mc oHI ll I |