Falling and spiraling, the roller coaster contest continues
Two vie for $10k prize package at MOABy Fritz Busch Journal Staff Writer
Article Photos
BLOOMINGTON - At last report, a 25-year-old former New Ulm resident is one of two men still competing in the 101.3 KDWB $10,000 "Coast for the Cruise" roller coaster contest at the Mall of America.
Tim Smith, the son of former New Ulmites Greg and Kathy Smith who now live in Atlantic, Iowa, has ridden the Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom plunge roller coaster for more than a week.
Smith's regular vocation as a St. Paul Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and firefighter might serve him well in the contest.
The roller coaster reaches heights of 70 feet before falling and spiraling riders into 90-degree turns.
Ten contestants - four men and six women - began the competition on Wednesday, March 25.
Since then, contestants have taken thousands of coaster rides.
On Tuesday, March 31, the only contestant left besides Smith was Kevin, a 34-year-old public service worker.
In addition to the roller coaster, contestants rode the "Arbetrar" for an hour at a time.
Coast for the Cruise contestants get a 10-minute break every hour and two 34-minute daily breaks to eat.
They sleep under blankets on the ride that is shut down from midnight to 6 a.m.
The contest grand prize includes a Nickelodeon Family Cruise for four with Royal Caribbean International.
|
LJGibbs
|
|
|---|---|
|
04-02-09 12:07 PM
|
According to another news source, they ended up doing a coin toss and Tim won. Good for him! Hope he has fun on the cruise--I want to barf just reading the article, can't imagine actually doing that many rides!!
|