STEELE SPORTS

The Steele County Free Fair had a new visitor this year in the form of a roller coaster from Montana known as the “Arctic Blast.”

The thrill ride was placed at the southern end of the fairgrounds and featured plenty of dips, twists and high-speed fun.

Naturally, I had to check out the action to see if the new addition lived up to the hype.

Arctic Blast definitely looked the part of a fair ride as it stood pretty compact in stature, but what it maybe lacked in size, it more than made up for in fun.

In standard fashion, the ride begins with a long trip up a ramp to gain height before offering riders a complete view of the fairgrounds before running a quick semi-circle lap toward the down slope.

Once at the drop-off, riders were greeted by a high-speed dip that led straight into a near-sideways loop that funneled the car back toward the other side of the structure.

Riders were then taken on a small course of dips and twists before arriving safely back at the gates.

Despite the muddy terrain from the week’s rain, Arctic Blast held up strong and offered a fun experience for all who dared enter its gates.

At just an extra $10 ticket’s price, Arctic Blast was a wallet-friendly option and served its main purpose of giving fairgoers a traditional roller coaster experience.

It will remain to be seen if the ride makes a return in 2026, but for the time being, the fair succeeded in giving a fun new opportunity to its community.