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Storm Coaster

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Coordinates: 27°57′23″S 153°25′33″E / 27.9563°S 153.4258°E / -27.9563; 153.4258
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Storm Coaster
Sea World (Australia)
LocationSea World (Australia)
Coordinates27°57′23″S 153°25′33″E / 27.9563°S 153.4258°E / -27.9563; 153.4258
StatusOperating
Soft opening date2 December 2013 (2013-12-02)
Opening date6 December 2013 (2013-12-06)
CostAU$20 million
ReplacedBermuda Triangle
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerMack Rides
ModelWater Coaster
Track layoutWater Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height28 m (92 ft)
Length470 m (1,540 ft)
Speed70 km/h (43 mph)
Inversions0
Duration2 minutes[1]
G-force3 Gs[2]
Height restriction110 cm (3 ft 7 in)
Trains6 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Storm Coaster at RCDB

Storm Coaster is a Water Coaster located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia.[3] The ride is designed by Mack Rides of Germany and combines the flume and splashdown elements of a log flume, with the chain lift hill and drops of a steel roller coaster.

Original plans for a Water Coaster at Sea World were released by the local council in 2008; however, they were put on hold. In 2010, the Bermuda Triangle ride closed, sitting dormant until mid-2012 when construction for the Storm Coaster began. After demolition works were completed, track for the Storm Coaster arrived at Sea World, taking five months to erect. Storm Coaster officially opened to the public on 6 December 2013.

Storm Coaster is themed to the effects of a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone at a coastal shipping port. The 470-metre-long (1,540 ft) ride stands 28 metres (92 ft) tall and features a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). The ride has been well received, with praise for it being both fun and thrilling.

History

In January 2008, the Gold Coast City Council released plans for a Mack Rides Water Coaster at Sea World. The ride would have been located at the front of the park, with the ride's station situated where the Penguin Encounter exhibit exists and the main track extending out and over the car park.[4] These plans were shelved. In December 2008, Sea World opened Jet Rescue, an Intamin JetSki Coaster.[5][6]

In June 2012, Sea World applied for a permit to demolish the Bermuda Triangle water ride system and the interior of its show building.[7] The Bermuda Triangle had been sitting dormant since its closure in October 2010 and had been earmarked by the park as a site for a future attraction.[8][9][10][11] On 12 July 2012, Christian von Elverfeldt from Mack Rides revealed Australia would be receiving a water roller coaster in 2013;[12][13] leading to speculation that Sea World might have revived its plans.[13] Further development application filings, and reports by the Roller Coaster DataBase and the Gold Coast Bulletin, confirmed this speculation.[3][14][15][16] In September 2012, Sea World asked Austrian firm Dynamic Motion Rides (DyMoRides) to develop a theming and show design concept for the yet-to-be-announced Storm Coaster. DyMoRides was ultimately contracted for the full turnkey project in April 2013.[17] DyMoRides subsequently contracted PEL Creative for creative direction, Full-On Lighting for lighting design, Volume One for audio and visual effects, and Sculpt Studios for theming design.[18][19]

Prior to the commencement of construction, Sea World announced a new attraction for 2013 and released a promotional image on their Facebook page which read "The storm is building. It's gonna be a big one.".[20] Demolition works began in August 2012.[21] Due to this construction, nearby attractions, including Viking's Revenge Flume Ride, Jet Rescue and the Skyway, were intermittently closed throughout the latter part of 2012 and into 2013.[22][23] The first pieces of ride track arrived on site in April 2013, with vertical construction commencing in the following month.[24][25] An official announcement for Storm Coaster made by Sea World in May 2013 detailed the ride would feature 470 metres (1,540 ft) of track and a series of water and fire effects.[26][27] Although an opening date of September 2013 was initially set, Sea World later revised this to be Summer 2013.[26][28][29] By September 2013, the ride's track was complete, with focus moving towards theming and testing the ride.[30] On 2 December 2013, Storm Coaster soft opened to the public,[31] with an official opening held four days later.[1]

Characteristics

Storm Coaster is a Water Coaster designed by Mack Rides.[3] The 470-metre-long (1,540 ft) track layout is identical to Skatteøen at Djurs Sommerland in Denmark.[3][32] The ride stands 28 metres (92 ft) tall and features a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph).[1][33] Unlike most roller coasters which have two rails and a wheel assembly to wrap around the track, Storm Coaster features six rails where the wheels run within the track.[34] The ride features six Coast Guard-themed vehicles that each seat eight riders in four rows of two.[33] Riders are restrained through the use of both lap bars and seat belts.[3] Storm Coaster is reported to have cost $20 million, making it the single biggest investment in an Australian theme park attraction.[1][35]

Experience

Storm Coaster is themed around the effects of a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone at a coastal shipping port.[36] Theming surrounding the ride depicts a path of destruction from the storm, with boats, cars, shipping containers and other debris strewn throughout.[37][38] However, the port is in the eye of the storm and everyone must evacuate via Coast Guard rescue boats.[36]

Riders enter the queue area by passing through a shipping container with a rusty Storm Coaster sign on it.[39] A short outdoor path leads riders towards a stack of containers.[38][40] Riders enter the containers through a series of black rubber flaps, before emerging into a warehouse.[41][42] Once at the station riders board one of the Coast Guard boats.[43]

After departing the station, the boats travel through a short flume section before emerging from the building and ascending a 28-metre-tall (92 ft) chain lift hill. Once at the top of the hill, the track dips and turns 180 degrees to the right, entering a mid-course brake run. A sweeping 180 degree downward turn to the right is followed by an upward turn into another brake run. The ride then drops below ground, passing under the queue path before emerging over an air-time hill, where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. This hill drops into the hull of an upturned boat and is followed by the ride's splashdown. On the boat's return path to the station it passes a variety of lighting, fire, and water effects.[1] Riders exiting Storm Coaster pass alongside the ride's finale, with the chance to get soaked by other boats in the splashdown area.[44]

Reception

The reception of Storm Coaster has been positive. Shaya Laughlin of the Gold Coast Bulletin described the air-time hill and indoor splashdown as more thrilling than the rest of the ride. Laughlin concluded that the "Storm Coaster was definitely worth every cent Sea World spent".[1] Michelle Tapper of Seven News stated the ride was "really fun, but not as scary as [she] thought it would be". Tapper suggested riders might want a spare change of clothes due to the extent of the final splashdown.[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Laughlin, Shaya (5 December 2013). "Shaya Laughlin tries out Sea World's newest attraction - the Storm Coaster". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ^ Bochenski, Natalie (6 December 2013). "Sea World opens new rollercoaster and flume ride: the $20m Stormcoaster". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Storm Coaster  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. ^ Department of Infrastructure and Planning. "Gold Coast Marine Development Proposal – Northern Development Area" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 December 2010.[dead link‍] Alt URL
  5. ^ Marden, Duane. "Jet Rescue  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ^ "JetSki Coaster". Intamin Worldwide. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Demolish Bermuda Triange ride & building interior". Development Application BLD201204743. Gold Coast City Council. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  8. ^ Messenger, Jordan (22 November 2010). "Bermuda Triangle The Ride – RIP 1994 to 2010". GC Guy. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Attractions Maintenance - Sea World". MyFun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  10. ^ "Attraction Maintenance". MyFun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  11. ^ "What is happening..." Facebook. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  12. ^ "Das Looping-Märchen" (PDF). Interview. insideB. 12 July 2012. p. 54. Retrieved 16 July 2012.[dead link‍]
  13. ^ a b Wilson, Richard (16 July 2012). "Water coaster bound for Australia in 2013". Parkz. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  14. ^ Elder, Jessica (3 January 2013). "Secret's out on new Sea World ride". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Sea World Water Coaster Ride". Development Application BLD201208267. Gold Coast City Council. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Water Coaster Ride - Stage 2 - Full Works". Development Application BLD201209344. Gold Coast City Council. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Motion rides and more". Park World Magazine: 33. January 2014.
  18. ^ "Storm Coaster - Sea World surges into 2014". Park World Magazine: 32–33. January 2014.
  19. ^ "Storm Coaster". Sculpt Studios. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  20. ^ Sea World (29 July 2012). "Timeline Photos". Facebook. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  21. ^ Wilson, Richard. "Sea World, August 2012". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Attractions Maintenance". Sea World. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  23. ^ "Attractions Maintenance". Sea World. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  24. ^ Wilson, Richard; Mason, Chris (16 April 2013). "Sea World, April 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  25. ^ Wilson, Richard (11 June 2013). "Sea World, June 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  26. ^ a b "Storm Coaster". Sea World. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  27. ^ "Media Release" (Press release). Sea World. 2 May 2013.
  28. ^ "Storm Coaster". Sea World. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  29. ^ Village Roadshow Limited (21 February 2013). "Results Commentary For The Half-Year Ended 31 December 2012" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. p. 16. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  30. ^ Wilson, Richard (20 September 2013). "Sea World, September 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  31. ^ Seipelt, Gavin. "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  32. ^ Marden, Duane. "Skatteøen  (Djurs Sommerland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Storm Coaster (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  34. ^ Seipelt, Gavin. "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  35. ^ "A new & exciting Storm arriving at Sea World" (Press release). Sea World. 5 December 2013.
  36. ^ a b Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Entrance". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  37. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Theming". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  38. ^ a b Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Theming". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  39. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Entrance". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  40. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  41. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  42. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  43. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  44. ^ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  45. ^ Tapper, Michelle (5 December 2013). "Most expensive theme park ride". Sunrise. Seven News. Retrieved 10 December 2013.

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