Ride Profile
Ain’t no mountain high enough
On the 18th of June 2019, Linnanmäki in Finland successfully opened its key attraction and biggest project ever, Taiga, the fastest LSM double launch coaster on the northern hemisphere.
customised to fit the challenging terrain in between different rides and buildings. The track of TAIGA passes four other rides of the park and the 52 metre top hat can be seen from across the city of Helsinki. This highly thrilling LSM double launch coaster is more than
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1000 metres long and reaches a top speed of about 106 km/h featuring a total of four inversions. Taiga is full of surprises and riders will have no time to take a breath while whizzing through this stunning layout guaranteeing more than enough adrenaline. With two launches, a number of weightlessness moments, gripping elements and electrifying turns, this coaster can be described as a coaster enthusiast’s dream. The two brightly coloured eagle themed look alike trains,
seating 16 passengers each, offer a very high comfort for the passengers and an hourly capacity of 860 passengers.
innanmäki is Finland’s oldest and most popular amusement park, located in the Alppila quarter of Helsinki. Taiga is a completely unique coaster,
Park World spoke to Daniel Schoppen, Intamin vice president design and development, to get the inside track…
How would you describe the experience? It’s highly dynamic with up to positive 4g but also minus 1g uplifting airtime. The ride experience continuously develops until the finale, nevertheless highlights are well placed everywhere – e.g. the World’s first 360° Twisted Dive Drop directly after the initial launch or a top hat / inverted stall combination leading with a height delta of approx. 50 meter to the topography valley, where a speed bump with extreme uplifting airtime is waiting. Taiga is extraordinary, diversified and full of energy but riders have always the time to “breathe”.
How closely did you work Linnanmäki on the project? It was a close collaboration, where we received a lot of input from Linnanmäki, since it is their largest ride installation in history. Linnanmäki performed several benchmark visits to parks all over the world and defined their favourite coaster type (launch) and also “must” elements like e.g. the top hat.
Were there any other companies involved in the project? From the park side yes, for example construction companies. Theming wise, Linnanmäki established the story of Taiga in house.
How long did the project take from initial discussions to completion? Nearly three years.
What makes Taiga so special? The entire ride is installed on a mountain site with a 20 metre height difference. While the station and the iconic top hat element are placed at the highest locations, nearly all ride elements are making use of the entire topography. In combination with a double LSM launch system the top speed of 105kph is reached after 70% of the entire ride experience length – not even after launch 2. This allows to build up a continuous growing ride experience level, where the craziest but also the highest and fastest elements are positioned at the finale..
“It was great working with Intamin! They are professionals who are passionate about costers. We really appreciated their willingness to listen to our wishes for the coaster in the planning phase and were impressed with how they incorporated all our ideas to the final layout. The Taiga ride is spectacular
and there is no other launch coaster quite like it anywhere in the world. We have received a lot of praise and excited feedback from those who have been on the wings of Taiga. We continue to be excited about the final layout!”
Pia Adlivankin, managing director, Linnanmäki Amusement Park
Figures at a glance
Height: 52 metres Maximum Speed:106 KM/H Track length: 1104 Metres Inversions: 4
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