Published: July 11, 2009 11:49 pm      

Pretzel contest puts twist on roller coaster creations

Although 22-year-old Emily Johnston is not studying engineering or architecture, she is a finalist in a national contest to build a roller coaster.

Though she played with Legos as a child, it’s probably a good thing no one will ever take a ride on Johnston’s twists and turns.

Her creation is built entirely from pretzels.

The Pitt-Johnstown student is one of six winners in The Pretzel Coaster Build-off Contest sponsored by Snyder’s of Hanover and Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va.

The Johnstown woman will compete for the grand prize Thursday at the amusement park.

An engineer, representatives from Busch Gardens and Snyder’s, and a roller coaster fan from the American Coaster Enthusiasts club will judge the six.

They will have three hours to build a replica of one of the park’s coasters – Apollo’s Chariot, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. They will use only pretzels and a glue gun to make their creations.

The winner will receive four two-year season passes to all Busch Gardens locations and a year’s supply of Snyder’s pretzels.

“I’m excited,” Johnston said. “I never won anything big before.”

Johnston had some help from her sister, who also will be able to assist at the competition.

“We like roller coasters and it was just something fun to do,” she said.

“We’re pretty crafty.”

Johnston constructed the coaster at home over a period of about three weeks. It took seven bags of pretzels.

The Sourdough Screamer was patterned after Busch Garden’s Loch Ness Monster, but the track layout was Johnston’s.

“There are some real tight spots that I don’t think a real roller coaster could get through,” she said.

“It’s collapsed now. It’s real sad. I can’t bring myself to throw it away.”

To view other coaster entries, go to coastercontest.snydersofhanover.com.