Six Flags Great Adventure's Polar Coaster Challenge a Chilly Success

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Yesterday was the first Polar Coaster Challenge that Six Flags Great Adventure has held, and the event was a smash success with more than 300 participants coming to the park from 9 different states and even Canada.

Seen in the photo above, the park offered coaster fans a chance to ride Nitro, which hits 80 miles per hour, in only a t-shirt and shorts on a chilly December day.  Thankfully at least the sun was out!

© Six Flags Great Adventure

The event was held to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey, and in the end 348 guests took their chilly ride - some more than once!  The guests ranged in age from only 8 all the way up to 65, I guess that a wide variety of folks like to freeze their buns off on coasters for a good cause!  Make sure to look some of the riders faces in the larger version of these photos, they're pretty hilarious!

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Here's a group shot of many of those who survived the Polar Coaster Challenge, which according to Meteorologist Dan Zarrow featured a real-feel temperature of about 17 degrees with the coaster in motion.  The Polar Coaster Challenge was just one of many fun events the theme park is holding to celebrate Holiday In The Park, which is current running through January 1st.  With so much success at yesterday's event I wouldn't be surprised to see it return next year!