Pumping adrenaline with karts, flights and guns

If you like sound of rumbling motors, wind your hair, watching the ground way up above or shooting pellets colour at your friends, then you are the right place. Bratislava region can provide all manner of ’adrenaline experiences’ only limited the time you have, the money in your wallet and people want to take with you.

The forests of Bernolákovo provide a perfect spot paintball. A small river forms a natural border on side and a rising hill other. Between them are trees, trenches, barricades, moats and built towers, patrolled by battalions of men clasping guns, wearing helmets, protective vests and camouflage clothes.

“Paintball is about shooting as much you can,” said Michal Velčík, a 31-year-old paintball event manager. “That’s Rambo style. The winning team will be the that communicates better and is coherent.“

are several different game styles to try. The most common is the “team death-match”, the aim is simple: shoot your enemies. But strategy changes games where the objective is to capture a flag, or in participants have only 10 pellets in the magazine, forcing to think wisely when to shoot and when to fire.

Games require at eight players (smaller groups should call in advance), and cost €12.30 person, including equipment hire and an initial 100 pellets. Not for something that lasts upwards of three hours.

Fans of fast cars should head the kart-racing track in Ivanka pri Dunaji, an indoor hall filled artificial light and whizzing carts speeding around a tyre-walled track.

“You should come with a friend or family so you can compete with each and compare your race times,“ said Linda Kočišová, 34, an operator standing a counter of a small bar, where the riders can relax a while and prepare for another round.

A spin on the track costs €8 a circuit, and works at about a euro per minute. The price kart hire and helmet (but not a balaclava, is an additional €2.50 unless you bring your own) and you are free drive as fast you want.

Although tourist flights in Kráľová pri Senci are not officially considered of the adrenalin sport family, flying about 200 metres the ground in a light aeroplane constructed for two people likely get many people’s blood pumping.

“Flying is for lunatics want to see places from above,“ said Peter Chromek, 48, a pilot with about 7,000 flight hours, as he gently teased a small airplane of its hangar. But up in the air, after a quick look someone like Chromek, who pilots the two-seater plane, any fear is replaced the exhilaration of flight.

The passenger is the boss and can instruct the pilot fly practically anywhere around the Bratislava region. The only limitation is the fuel in tank and, again, the money your pocket.


Adapted from: The Slovak Spectator, April 11, 2012.