The 2015 coaster season
is finally upon us, and we all know what that means, new thrilling and exciting
rides, and most importantly, new coasters. This year promises to be a great one
with coasters in all shapes and sizes, from heart-pounding heights to compact thrills.
Every year there always seems to be a debate with which one will be the best; maybe
it will the be the tallest and fastest, or maybe the one with the most
inversions, or maybe the one that has the most theming. It always seems to be a
never ending discussion that leaves enthusiasts torn. But not this year. This
year, there’s one that stands out from the crowd, a coaster that is relentless
and doesn’t give you the chance to catch your breath between elements. The most
anticipated coaster of 2015 is without question Wicked Cyclone.
Wicked Cyclone, opening
at Six Flags New England, is the newest storm to hit the East Coast with enough
power and force to leave your head spinning with adrenalin until the next time
you decide to brave it.
To make way for this new
epic thrill, New England had to say farewell to a classic in the region,
Cyclone. Cyclone was a classic wood coaster built in the 80’s, and in its
heyday was marveled as the best, most intense coaster in the world. As we all
know, wooden coasters and age don’t mix well, but the park throughout the
Riverside years and Six Flags ownership did everything they could to keep it
running in tip top shape, which also sometimes means that changes have to be
made. To make the aging ride more comfortable for riders, new trains were added
and the first drop was re-profiled, along with re-tracking portions to make the
experience better and more fluid. Cyclone thrilled riders for decades, and a
couple of years ago, the park decided on an option that would give the old
coaster a new life, presenting an opportunity for the ride to continue giving
guests an amazing experience for many decades to come.
With the ingenuity of
Rocky Mountain Construction, Six Flags New England started to craft an entirely
new breed of coaster that the world had rarely seen before, a one of a kind to
come to the East Coast. Wicked Cyclone may not be the tallest, fastest, or
longest coaster that we’ve ever seen, but it may just be the most wicked. With
a total length of 3320 feet, the storm stands 109 feet tall and reaches speeds
of 55mph. Seem average? You’re wrong. Although these initial stats seem average,
its what lays within the entire ride that makes this experience unlike any
other.
Wicked Cyclone is the
only coaster of its kind to feature two zero-g rolls, and the first coaster to
feature a 200 degree stall, totaling 3 inversions. But that’s not it. Wicked
Cyclone is also the first coaster in the world to feature an outward banked
airtime hill, but just a few weeks ago, when we didn’t think this coaster could
get any better, the park announced that they were adding yet another outward
banked airtime hill, further setting the bar for future coasters to come. Just
when you thought there couldn’t be any more, there’s also another world’s
first, the first double reversing bank airtime hill. To polish everything off,
the ride also features 4 airtime hills, a 78 degree first drop, and when you
hit the final breaks, you realize that you just experienced the most intense
and thrilling 97 second storm of your life.
Wicked Cyclone is showing
us all what a true coaster experience can do, pushing all the limits of physics
and reality to deliver a truly world-class ride that can entertain riders for
generations to come. So when you’re debating on what new coaster is the most
anticipated and what you should ride next, just remember that Six Flags New
England delivered a one of a kind ride that is sure to surprise you. Don’t run
from the storm, battle it for yourself. Become a storm chaser and tame the
Wicked Cyclone.
Don't believe me? Check out a POV of the ride and some construction photos courtesy of Six Flags New England.
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