The driver leans through the banked turn, before steadying the bobsled and picking up speed over the long straightaway, as snow-covered slopes blur by.

    A scene from this month’s Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver? Hardly. Instead, this picture plays out daily at the Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, home to the only authentic bobsled ride of its kind in Southern California. While most of us will get no closer to experiencing the thrills of Olympic bobsledding, luge or skeleton than we will to flying in outer space, Alpine Slide brings much of the excitement and gravitational forces of the sport down to Earth as part of a ride that never needs snow and always delivers excitement.

    Riders discover Olympic-style excitement as they descend aboard sleds they control with teflon runners and ball-bearing wheels. Two quarter-mile long cement tracks with banked turns and long straightaways duplicate the thrilling ride experienced of a real bobsled course and let everyday folks get a taste of the most exciting event in the Olympics, and the Alpine Slide is fun for riders of all ages.

    The Olympic experience begins with a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain, while guests enjoy panoramic views of beautiful Big Bear Lake along the way. Grab a sled, choose one of the two tracks, and prepare for a ride like no other.

    Push the control handle forward to pick up speed...or pull back to slow down. Riders can go as fast or slow as they please, as they zip down the snow-lined track in an authentic alpine setting. At the bottom, gently apply some brake and ride the chairlift back to the top for another run.

    Make no mistake, this is no mass transit amusement park attraction, where there’s typically little or no interaction by the rider. Skill does matter, as riders use just enough brake to stay in control and lean into each turn to garner momentum. They can go into a tuck for less wind resistance like Olympians do down straightaways and go a little faster. On the other hand, apply the brake to go slower.

    In short, skill plays a big role in determining the experience guests enjoy, and with the Alpine Slide, like any other sport, riders improve the more they do it. No two trips down are ever quite the same, and the Alpine Slide experience is a completely unique one, since there isn’t another one west of Colorado. Bobsled rides cost just $4 each, or $18 buys a five-ride book

    Bobsledding isn’t the only winter sport in season at Alpine Slide. The area’s tubing hill is in terrific shape with 20-plus feet of snow, groomed nightly into perfect corduroy to provide optimal conditions, more than enough to ensure tubing through Easter and beyond. All downhill runs are open, along with the famous, twisting “Snake” with berms that serve as high-banked turns, kind of like a boardercross track.

    The tubing hill is open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and costs $25, which includes tube rental and use of the Magic Carpet uphill lift. For after-dark excitement, try night tubing Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from 5-9 p.m., priced at $15.

    Alpine Slide is on the boulevard 1/4 mile west of the Village. (909) 866-4626.