Roller coasters: Who’s got the most?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin

Expedition GeForce at Hoiday Park, Germany

‘The only statistics you can trust are those you falsified yourself ‘. This principle still holds true. However, we all surely agree that playing with numbers are somehow interesting – also and especially when it comes to roller coasters. Perhaps some inclined readers are surprised by one result or another.
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A walkable roller coaster

Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin

Tiger and Turtle - Magic Mountain

In 2009 the German city of Duisburg launched a big competition in order to find a new landmark for its landscaping park called Angerpark. The roller coaster-cum-pedestrian walkway “Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain” designed by Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth came out as a winner eclipsing several submissions.
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Leviathan is coming

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

Leviathan is coming (c) Canada's Wonderland

While Europe is looking forward to its tallest roller coaster “Shambhala”, which is placed at PortAventura this year, the Canadians will vigorously catch up in May. The spanking new thrill machine of 93 m (around 306 ft) in height at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario towers some 17 m (around 55 ft) above the new European record holder. Although both coaster where made by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, the one in North America seems to be way more interesting.
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The return of Turbine

Posted on April 13, 2012 by admin

Turbine at Walibi Belgium (c) Walibi Belgium

In 2009 „Turbine“, the only Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster in Europe, was closed at Walibi Belgium. Opened in the early 1980′s as „Sirocco“ the coaster made it 1998 into the local media when a train stopped at the top of the looping and people had to be evacuated. Although there were no injuries the park decided to rename the rollercoaster and to build a hall hiding the looping.
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Mouse exchange at Freizeit-Land

Posted on April 10, 2012 by admin

Wilde Mouse at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind

Located in Geiselwind, Lower Franconia (Bavaria), Freizeit-Land opened the season as one of the supraregional amusement parks on Good Friday. Unfortunately, the April weather did not appear at its best. It was slightly rainy and bitterly cold when the park’s 43rd season began right off the A3 motorway between Würzburg and Nuremberg.
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Gran Opening of Wodan Timburcoaster at Europa-Park

Posted on March 29, 2012 by admin

Wodan and Blue Fire

The tripoint around Freiburg is known to be the sunniest area throughout Germany. This was proven yesterday at the press launching of the wooden roller coaster WODAN – Timburcoaster at Europa-Park in Rust where not only the sky was shining.
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Wooden coasters in Germany

Posted on March 26, 2012 by admin

Mammut at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill

On the occasion of the launch of Europa-Park’s new wooden roller coaster “Wodan” in the upcoming season, it would be worth reviewing the woodies which have already gained a foothold in Germany, particularly as the number of these art works made of wood has rather been small so far. At present, only four German amusement parks have the pleasure of offering their visitors these attractions requiring high-maintenance.
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Europe’s tallest roller coasters

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

Silver Star at Europa-Park

Today there are more than 700 different roller coasters in Europe, an amount that is increasing from year to year. Besides inversions, wild launch tracks and a breath-taking speed, the height is often the most gut-wrenching element. Therefore, we would like to present our continent’s tallest current coasters, whereas the tallest will be surpassed by the new coaster of 76 m (around 249 ft) “Shambhala” coming to the Spanish amusement park “PortAventura” within this year.
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The world’s oldest roller coaster

Posted on March 15, 2012 by admin

The German actor Heinz Rühmann, the American author John Steinbeck and the roller coaster “Leap the Dips”, located at Lakemont Park, have one thing in common: They were all born in 1902. Whereas the artists mentioned above left this mortal coil a long time ago, “Leap the Dips” is still operating as the world’s oldest roller coaster.
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Mirabilandia’s newest hit

Posted on March 9, 2012 by admin

This year, the battle among Italy’s most popular amusement parks reaches its second round – at least when it comes down to roller coasters. In 2011, Gardaland tried to knock out its competitor Mirabilandia situated in Ravenna, around two hours away by car, with the quite tamed predator “Raptor” built by Bolliger & Mabillard. Mirabilandia queered its rival’s pitch with “Katun” and “iSpeed” being, without a doubt, the best coasters of the country.
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