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Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Coordinates: 28°24′39″N 81°27′50″W / 28.4109°N 81.4639°W / 28.4109; -81.4639
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Pipeline: The Surf Coaster
The overbanked turn of Pipeline: The Surf Coaster
SeaWorld Orlando
LocationSeaWorld Orlando
Park sectionSea of Power
Coordinates28°24′39″N 81°27′50″W / 28.4109°N 81.4639°W / 28.4109; -81.4639
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMay 12, 2023
Opening dateMay 27, 2023
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelSurf Coaster
Lift/launch systemLinear motor launch
Height110 ft (34 m)
Length2,950 ft (900 m)
Speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Inversions1
Duration1:50
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
ThemeSurfing
WebsiteOfficial website
Restraint typeOver the shoulder vest restraints
Quick Queue available[1]
Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at RCDB

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster (shortened to Pipeline) is an upcoming launched steel roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster was designed as a surf coaster model that will open on May 27, 2023. The roller coaster is themed on surfing, which will utilize surfboard-shaped vehicles.

The roller coaster will be the first-of-its-kind surf coaster, a roller coaster prototype that shifts the seats of riders up and down. It will have vest restraints and it will reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h), with a track length of 2,950 feet (900 m) and at a height of 110 feet (34 m) tall. Following Mako, Manta and Kraken, the roller coaster will be the fourth roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard located at SeaWorld Orlando.

History

Development for a prototype for a new type of roller coaster begun on May 28, 2019, when roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard filed a trademark for the name "surf coaster".[2] A project codenamed "Project Penguin" was revealed in January 2020 after site-work plans were filed with Orange County, Florida officials in what appeared to be a new attraction for 2021.[3][4] This new project was planned to be built near the front of the park and a pathway near the Bayside Stadium, on a plot of land used for festivals in the park.[5][6] Subsequent plans were made in June and September 2020, which also confirmed the new project would be a "custom launch coaster" after Bolliger & Mabillard filed a patent for a stand-up roller coaster restraint. The plans fueled rumors that the surf coaster model would be built at SeaWorld Orlando.[2][7]

Teasers for SeaWorld Orlando's new roller coaster started on April 14, 2022. In this first teaser, a picture of trees with roller coaster track behind it. Construction fencing was erected along with demolition of the surrounding area.[3] The following month, on June 3, 2022, the park teased the attraction, warning those of a "high surf advisory" in 2023.[8] The phrase "high surf advisory" would later be used as a hashtag to tease and promote the roller coaster.[9] Due to the effects of Hurricane Ian, the announcement was delayed on September 28, 2022.[10] During the teaser period, the park had started construction on the attraction.[11][12]

The last teaser for the ride was on October 14, 2022. In the teaser, the park had included in the teaser a video of construction on the attraction.[13][14] The park officially announced Pipeline: The Surf Coaster on October 18, 2022.[12][15] The park revealed details about the ride, that it would open in spring 2023.[16] Additionally, the park revealed the ride would also be the first surf coaster in the world.[17] Track for the roller coaster went vertical on October 24, 2022.[18] The trains for the attraction were unveiled at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo on November 15, 2022.[19] SeaWorld Orlando announced on December 19, 2022, that installation of roller coaster track was completed.[20][21] Testing for the ride begun in March 2023.[6] The park announced on April 30, 2023, that Pipeline: The Surf Coaster would open on May 27, 2023, with soft opening to passholders starting on May 12, 2023.[22]

Ride experience

Layout

After exiting the station, the surfboard-themed train launches 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) into a 110 feet (34 m) overbanked turn to the right. Following the overbanked turn, the train turns left into an inversion billed as the "wave curl" inversion by the park, before the train goes up and turns right into one of two helix elements. After succeeding the 360° helix, the train immediately turns into a second overbanked turn. Traveling into a banked airtime hill, the train turns right and then whips to the left into a second, 270° helix. Then, the train turns left immediately after the helix, before turning right, into the final brake run.[23][24] The total duration for the roller coaster is approximately one minute and fifty seconds.[25]

Characteristics

Manufacturer

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is a surf coaster model manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard. Though the ride strikes similarities with the stand-up roller coaster model, the ride was clarified as not being one, as stated by Jonathan Smith, SeaWorld's vice president of rides and engineering. Smith expressed at the IAAPA Expo on November 15, 2022 that the differences were that unlike stand-up roller coasters where riders stand "erect", the restraints on surf coasters have movement.[26] The roller coaster is the fourth Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, the other three being Mako, Manta and Kraken.[9][17]

Track

The steel track for Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is approximately 2,950 feet (900 m) long and the height of the highest peak, the first overbanked turn, is 110 feet (34 m).[27][28] The color of the track is teal and the supports are white.[29][30]

Theme

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is themed to surfing,[31] especially surfing cultures in California and Australia.[18] The park bills the launch section of the roller coaster as a "surfing launch", along with "wave jumping motions", which shift rider's seats up and down to resemble the feeling of surfing.[32][25][33] Additionally, the roller coaster's trains are designed to mimic surfboards.[12] The roller coaster's only inversion is titled the "wave curl" inversion, which is based on the "cork alley oop" surfing maneuver.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tuttle, Shannon (October 19, 2022). "Pipeline: The Surf Coaster Coming to SeaWorld Orlando". Pirates & Princesses. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Zachary (December 6, 2021). "BGWFans Leaks SeaWorld Orlando's Project Penguin". BGWFans. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Carter, Ashley (February 10, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando Plans Hint at Possible New Attraction". Spectrum News 13. Retrieved October 27, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Lehman, Mark (January 27, 2022). "Take a ride on Ice Breaker, SeaWorld's first launch roller coaster". WKMG. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Carter, Ashley (March 18, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando drops hints that new attraction is another coaster". Spectrum News 13. Retrieved October 27, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b McReynolds, Landon (March 21, 2023). "SeaWorld: 'Pipeline' surf coaster testing underway". WKMG. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Stevenson, John (September 28, 2020). "Bolliger & Mabillard Files Patent for Stand-Up Coaster Restraint". Coaster101. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Stilwell, Andrew (June 3, 2022). "Surf's Up: SeaWorld Orlando Begins Teasing 2023 Roller Coaster". Coaster101. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Whitworth, David (July 7, 2022). "SeaWorld progress with new "Surf Coaster"". InterPark. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Sim, Natalie (October 17, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando New Coaster Announcement Has Been Rescheduled". Theme Park Tourist. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "New SeaWorld Surf Coaster Taking Shape". Orlando Attractions. September 16, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Carter, Ashley (October 18, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando reveals more details about new "Pipeline" coaster". Spectrum News 13. Retrieved October 18, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ SeaWorld [@SeaWorld] (October 14, 2022). "Get ready for the 🌊..... 10.18.22 #HighSurfAdvisory" (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Shane & Emma (October 14, 2022). "High Surf Advisory! SeaWorld Orlando To Officially Announce Their New Surf Coaster On October 18". Gotta Go Orlando!. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  15. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (October 18, 2022). "SeaWorld: New coaster will be named Pipeline, feature surfing action". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "SeaWorld Orlando's new roller coaster: What we know about Pipeline, and when it's planned to open". FOX 35 Orlando. October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  17. ^ a b White, Tharin (October 18, 2022). "Pipeline – World's first surf coaster, coming to SeaWorld Orlando". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Shane & Emma (October 24, 2022). "PIPELINE: The Surf Coaster Goes Vertical At SeaWorld Orlando". Gotta Go Orlando!. Retrieved October 26, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (November 15, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando unveils Pipeline roller coaster car at IAAPA Expo". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  20. ^ SeaWorld Orlando [@seaworldorlando] (December 19, 2022). "In case you missed it - the track for Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is now complete! 🤩 Tag your 2023 surf buddy below 🏄 #PipelineSWO". Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Instagram.
  21. ^ White, Tharin (December 20, 2022). "SeaWorld's Pipeline Surf Coaster completes track installation". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  22. ^ Zizo, Christie (April 30, 2023). "SeaWorld surf coaster gets May 27 open date, passholder period". WKMG. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  23. ^ Marden, Duane. "Pipeline the Surf Coaster  (SeaWorld Orlando)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  24. ^ "Pipeline: The Surf Coaster - Opening Spring 2023 | SeaWorld Orlando". SeaWorld Orlando (Video). October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ a b Glenn, Brian. "SeaWorld Orlando shares more details on Pipeline - The Surf Coaster; opening Spring 2023". Inside Universal. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  26. ^ Gregory, John (November 15, 2022). "SeaWorld unveils trains for first "surf coaster"". Theme Park Tribune. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "Surf's up: SeaWorld unveils new stand-up roller coaster "Pipeline"". WFTV. October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "SeaWorld Orlando Announces New Coaster For 2023 – Pipeline: The Surf Coaster". Laughing Place. October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ Poulisse, Adam (March 19, 2022). "SeaWorld hints at new roller coaster". WFTV. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  30. ^ Hart, Lance (June 4, 2022). "SeaWorld Florida". Screamscape. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  31. ^ Galbraith, Alex (October 18, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando is building a standing, surf-themed roller coaster". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  32. ^ Burrus, Emily (October 18, 2022). "NEWS: Opening Timeline for Brand New SeaWorld Orlando Ride - Pipeline: The Surf Coaster". AllEars. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  33. ^ Otto, Isabella Otto (October 25, 2022). "Conheça a Pipeline, primeira montanha-russa "em pé" de surf de Orlando". Capricho (in Portuguese). Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  34. ^ Chen, Eve (October 18, 2022). "SeaWorld makes waves with 3 groundbreaking new roller coasters". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
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