Photo: David Buston, Calgary Olympic Development Assoc.

Calgary, Alberta- Olympic dreamers, adrenaline junkies – experience what it really feels like to be an Olympic athlete by sliding into an authentic four-man Olympic bobsleigh and shooting down the same 1,500-metre track made famous by the Jamaican Bobsleigh team at the 1988 games. This amazing opportunity is offered just 15 minutes west of downtown Calgary at Canada Olympic Park, the main site of the XV Olympic Winter Games (now a competition, training and year-round recreation area).

Members of the public ride with a professional driver/brakeman (this has included retired members of the national team), and hurl down the course at speeds up to 120 km per hour, while sliding around 14 curves and enduring a 4.5 to 5 G-force (that’s more than astronauts!). Dates (winter only) are limited and worked around team training on the track and competitions, so book well in advance. Minimum age 16. You can follow on Twitter @WinSportCanada

The park is located in western Calgary, south of the Trans Canada Highway. It is also the home of the the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum.