Summary

**PLEASE NOTE REPORTER AUDIO DISTORTED FROM SOURCE**

--SUPERS--
:00-:05
Wednesday
Duluth, MN

:43 - :50
John Lauritsen
Reporting

1:04 - 1:10
Jon Regenold
Spirit Mountain Recreation Area

1:24 - 1:30
Oliver Regenold
Duluth Resident

--LEAD IN--
SUMMER IS ROLLER-COASTER SEASON IN MINNESOTA.
THERE'S ONE UP NORTH THAT PROVIDES A DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCE.
IT'S THE "TIMBER TWISTER" AND IT'S FUELED BY PURE GRAVITY.
JOHN LAURITSEN REPORTS.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
nats- "We love looking at the different seasons and how we excel in it."
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF SPIRIT MOUNTAIN IN DULUTH, THEY THINK DOWNHILL SKIING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY DOWNHILL THRILL YOU'LL FIND HERE.
nats-"The full name is the Timber Twister, Alpine Coaster."
THE TWISTER HAS BEEN ON SPIRIT MOUNTAIN FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS.
IT'S MORE THAN A HALF MILE LONG AND IT TAKES ABOUT 7 MINUTES TO REACH THE END.
nats- "In order to go forward you push forward. In order to slow down you pull back, and to stop you really pull back."
NATS OF SOMEONE, POSSIBLY ME, GOING DOWNHILL.
John Lauritsen standup: "You're in your own car, controlling your own speed, zipping through the beautiful Duluth hillside. From the very top to the very bottom is about 500 vertical feet."
UNLIKE TRADITIONAL ROLLER COASTERS THERE'S NO MACHINE INVOLVED, JUST GRAVITY.
AND INSTEAD OF SPEEDING THROUGH AN AMUSEMENT PARK, YOU'RE SPEEDING THROUGH A FOREST, WITH BEAUTIFUL NORTH SHORE VIEWS ALONG THE WAY.
Jon Regenold/Spirit Mountain Recreation Area
"The thing that differentiates the coaster is the fact that you are actually attached to the rails. Amazing views, you are in control of it."
ONCE YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM, A CONVEYOR BELT BRINGS YOU BACK TO THE TOP- AND IT MOVES SLOWLY SO YOU GET A MORE LAID-BACK VIEW COMPARED TO YOUR TRIP DOWN.
Oliver Regenold/Duluth Resident
"I think its fun because you go as fast as you want and if you want to go fast you can lean into the corners and pop the rollers and yeah, its fun."
MOS: "I like the twisty-turning things, its just really fun."
AND IT DRAWS A CROWD.
PEOPLE COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY JUST TO SAY THEY RODE THE TWISTER.
VISITORS QUICKLY LEARN THAT A DAY HERE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS.
Jon Regenold/Spirit Mountain Recreation Area
"The only one in Minnesota. Alpine coasters actually have a following that people will go around the country to find other Alpine Coasters. It's a blast and we love to welcome folks here."
--TAG--
THE TIMBER TWISTER CAN REACH SPEEDS OF UP TO 25 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S OPEN THROUGH THE THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER.
-----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----

--KEYWORD TAGS--
MINNESOTA TOURISM FUN ALPINE COASTER