Running alongside the steel and wood tracks while being cheered on by park staff is a unique opportunity that provides the satisfaction of achieving a fitness goal, followed by the thrill of plummeting down the first drop of a roller coaster.
Charlottesville, VA (PRWEB) December 10, 2015
Roller Coaster Race, a national race series that partners with amusement parks, has steadily grown its customer base and expanded its race offerings over the past year. Appealing to adventure and roller coaster enthusiasts, serious and casual runners, and families alike, Roller Coaster Race is the first series to combine USATF-sanctioned foot races with the novel roller coaster event, Roller Coaster Ride.
Building on the model of its parent company, WorldStrides, whose tagline is “Explore. Discover. Become,” Roller Coaster Race aims to create one-of-a-kind experiences for its participants and establish itself as an event series that promotes fitness and entertainment for all skill levels and ages. "The Roller Coaster Race is no ordinary run to the finish line and my experience could not have been more positive,” says Wade Abbott, New York State Regional Representative for American Coaster Enthusiasts, an organization with over 5,000 members representing 16 countries. “Running alongside the steel and wood tracks while being cheered on by park staff is a unique opportunity that provides the satisfaction of achieving a fitness goal, followed by the thrill of plummeting down the first drop of a roller coaster.” Participants can register for a race event, the Roller Coaster Ride, or both.
Roller Coaster Race’s 2015 growth metrics include:
- The series doubled its race offerings from three to six races
- The number of runners surged by 471% over 2014
- Average event size grew upwards of two and half times
- Over 2,200 people participated in the Roller Coaster Ride, a 379% increase over 2014
- Approximately 4,500 people took part across all Roller Coaster Race events.
Race organizers are gearing up for the series’ third season and finalizing the 2016 lineup, which will be announced in January. In addition to adding several new locations to the calendar, Roller Coaster Race has confirmed that it is again pairing up with Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags New England, two of the first 2014 host parks, for a 3rd year in a row. Also returning is Kennywood located near Pittsburgh, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, and The Great Escape in Lake George, NY, each of which will host the series for the 2nd year in a row. Furthermore, event attendees in 2016 can expect redesigned courses as well as more pre- and post-race social events to create a robust weekend of activities.
Roller Coaster Race works with large park chains such as Six Flags as well as independent theme parks that have at least four or five roller coasters. “We enjoy working with parks of all sizes, from big cities like Dallas, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis, to smaller parks in picturesque tourist destinations like Lake George, New York,” states Adam Slate, Race Director. “Everywhere we’ve held races, our event has been warmly welcomed by both the park and local community.”
While the Roller Coaster Race is a for-profit series, all events support area charities through its fundraising program. The SYTA Running for Youth and the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives also receive funds raised at the events.
About Roller Coaster Race
Launched in 2014 and the first of its kind, Roller Coaster Race is a running series that partners with theme and amusement parks across the country to create family destination events combining fitness and entertainment. The series produces USATF-sanctioned running events in conjunction with the original-concept Roller Coaster Ride, where participants attempt to ride a total distance of 5K on park coasters. Roller Coaster Race’s parent company, WorldStrides, is the nation’s largest and most respected accredited travel organization. Over the course of fifty years and across ninety countries, WorldStrides has worked extensively with student groups, families, and teams attending sports tournaments, amusement parks, music and theater festivals, bowl games, and jamborees.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/runorride
Twitter: @runorriderace
Press Contacts
Adam Slate
Director, Roller Coaster Race
218 West Water Street, Suite 400
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
adams(at)rollercoasterrace(dot)com
(434) 906-8416
