AT: Tim Baldwin
HUADU, Guangzhou, China — Park goers at Guangzhou Sunac Land in China may be delighted with an ingenious new roller coaster, but it would not be surprising for countless Americans to find a soft spot for it, even from a distance.
Capturing the essence of a retired dueling roller coaster of the same name from Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Orlando, Fla.), this new creation was supplied by Intamin. The interactive nature between the two trains, as well as the dragon motif styling bring back to life many of the aspects of the lost Florida attraction. But this new incarnation offers even more.
The new dueling coaster features two tracks. The red track sports a traditional sit-down train. The green track offers an inverted coaster with passengers positioned below the rails with feet dangling freely.
In a never-before-seen maneuver, the two trains share the same loop. One train rides the rails on the inside, while one traverses the loop suspended on the outside. It’s an iconic moment that most roller coasters can only aspire to achieve, certainly one that makes an iconic statement.
As the ride experience unfolds, both trains, one on top of the other, leave the station and curve onto a launch track. Once a section of switch track behind them moves positions, a mild LSM launch moves both trains partially through the loop. Rolling backward, a second launch pushes each train up a 183-foot vertical reverse spike creating a moment of zero gravity. Plummeting toward the ground once again, the third launch creates top speed: 62 mph for the sit-down train, 68 mph for the suspended train. Both trains navigate the same loop at the same time, delivering a spectacular “wow” for onlookers.
The tracks diverge at that point but continue to intertwine, interact and both courses feature an underground tunnel. During the flight, each track boasts four inversions and the layout design creates five “near miss” encounters. The breathless journey culminates with the trains stacking once again on the brake run. Track length for the green track is 2,592 feet; the red track is slightly longer at 2,723 feet.
Intamin has taken great pride in the innovation of the ergonomic seat design, as well as the water-cooling system integrated in to the LSM drives.
With each train offering a different experience, guests will be eager to try both tracks for the full impact of what the innovative and creative concept can offer.
This article appears in the AUGUST 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
Get all the industry news delivered to your door!
SUBSCRIBE TO AMUSEMENT TODAY
or download our FREE app to view on your mobile device!
