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Park Products
www.parkworld-online.com
SURF’S UP BY ZAMPERLA
New
Following the success of its Rockin’ Tug and Disk ‘O’ rides, Zamperla Coasters
has introduced Surf's Up, a spinning tracked ride aimed at the
If you thought new rollercoaster
‘tween’ market but accessible to all riders above 105cm/42 inches in
concepts were few and far
height.
between, you’re right, but here’s a
Up to 20 passengers at a time stand on a giant 27 x 27ft
few worth watching in 2009. As
surfboard, which spins at up to 10 rpm as it travels over a wavy 89ft
well as installing its second El Loco
path at speeds of more than 11 mph. The ride, which is available in
coaster, at Flamingo Land in
park and trailer-mounted versions, boasts an hourly capacity is 480
England, S&S Power will debut its
riders.
first ever Free Fly Coaster this June at Skara Sommarland in Sweden. The
Sales have already been confirmed so far to Minitalia Leolandia
ride includes eight pairs of sideways spinning gondolas that overhang the
near Milan and Skycoaster/Fun Spot USA in Florida.
track as above , coupled with fully adjustable air pressure suspension. The
eight vehicles will transport approximately 720 passengers per hour around a
500-metre track.
Opening this April at Suzhou Giant Wheel Park in China will be Vekoma’s
eagerly-awaited new Stingray Coaster. This new generation of Flying
Dutchman (flying coaster) ride features face down seating and a number of
fresh features including a vertical lift. It also boasts a remarkably compact
footprint – just 37.2 x 56.6-metres.
Sit-astride coasters continue to catch on at various parks around the
globe. One of the latest to open was Jet Rescue, a themed Intamin Family
Launch Coaster at Sea World in Australia featuring jetski vehicles. This
summer, Zamperla will launch its third MotoCoaster at Petapa Park in
Guatemala. Similar to the system pioneered by Anton Schwarzkopf in shuttle
coasters more than 30 years ago, Zamperla's ride uses a flywheel and clutch
system to launch instead of an electromagnetic or hyrdraulic launch.
New Technology
Technology, rather than the ride system, is beginning to take precedent in a
number of new attraction concepts.
A company taking the lead is Total Immersion from France with its
“augmented reality” technology, which superimposes and synchronises
WIND SURFER
computer-generated content on top of “real time” video footage, allowing
guests to interact with in a variety of fantasy situations. The most ambitious
BY WISDOM INDUSTRIES
application to date has been in the Les Animaux du Futur dark ride (pictured
The Flying Scooter is back with an updated look courtesy of Wisdom Industries.
below) at Futuroscope in France, where riders use 3D binoculars in tandem
Wind Surfer features 12 cars holding two passengers each and each wing/sail is
with sensor bracelets to interact with imaginary creatures. Following this
controlled by the riders to make the seats fly.
pioneering attraction, Total Immersion has now teamed up with Mack Rides to
The centre lifts and tips, giving a great swooping action. Twin cables suspend
offer Hidden Reality, a dark ride package employing similar technology,
the cars from the sweeps and the centre, which uses a proven hydraulic lifting
produced in partnership with Clostermann Design.
system.
Elsewhere, multimedia is being used to create a new generation of
The first unit has already been sold to an undisclosed buyer and Wisdom
simulator attractions. Opening soon as part of the OCT East resort in
reports further potential orders.
Shenzhen, China, will be the first Circumotion theatre from 3DBA and
partners including Kraftwerk and Falcon’s Treehouse. The experience
comprises a giant circular rotating motion base surrounded by 360-degree
high definition 3D projection.
Meanwhile the Belgian company Alterface has joined forces with
Clostermann Design to create a new type of haunted house. The concept
introduces a multimedia
element to create what its
developer describes as a
cross between a 4D cinema
and a dark ride. Sitting in
armchairs fixed to a revolving
platform, 25
players/spectators will lose
their spatial awareness before
being plunged into a house
full of surprises. The first
version has already been sold
to an operator in Missouri.
MARCH 2009 39
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