This is the best time of the year for roller coaster enthusiasts as parks across the country are getting ready to open after another long winter of no riding, but a winter full of exciting news of new rides. Our first order of business here is to profile and preview these one by one, and first up is the debut of the year's first new big ride, which opened Saturday at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
LEGEND OF VALRAVN
Rooted deeply in the storied tales of coaster folklore, the Valravn is a regal king of all birds, swooping in to conquer all other dive coasters on the planet with its powerful and intense maneuvers, massive structure and immense ride vehicles. No other creature on the planet can match what Valravn will deliver.
This untamed beast possesses superhuman strength, an inspiring collection of magical powers and boundless knowledge and vision. Valravn is, quite simply, an unstoppable force.
With the ability to soar high above its kingdom and dive with unbridled force and speed, it rules the skyline with its limitless power and unsurpassed tenacity. None dare challenge the power of Valravn.
Are you ready?
And so goes the introduction of this new monster of a ride on Cedar Point's website. Valravn is a ten record-breaking dive coaster according to the folks at The Point, keeping the park on par with its fiercest competitor, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.
A dive coaster, in case you weren't aware, is a relatively new design by Swiss manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard in which a wider train, usually 10 seats across, goes to the top of the lift hill where it moves straight along a short distance before pausing momentarily at the top of the first drop, tantalizingly terrifying riders for a brief couple of seconds of anticipation before careening down the hill. The ride has become quite popular with the likes of SheiKra in Busch Gardens Tampa, Griffon at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, and now Valravn at Cedar Point.
Here's the lowdown on Valravn:
Height: 223 feet
Length: 3,415 feet
First drop: 214 feet at 90 degrees
Second drop: 131 feet
Inversions: 3 of them, with an Immelmann loop of 165 feet
Top speed: 75 mph
Impressive, huh? I bet you're just salivating, wanting to ride this thing. Man, you are so lucky if you live in northern Ohio! Just wait, though...here are the ten records being broken with this one...
Fastest dive coaster (75 mph)
Longest dive coaster (3,415 feet)
Most inversions on a dive coaster (three)
Longest drop on a dive coaster (214 feet)
Highest inversion on a dive coaster (165 feet)
Most roller coasters taller than 200 feet at one amusement park (5)
Most rides at one amusement park (71)
Most steel roller coaster track at one amusement park (52,125 feet/9.9 miles)
Most roller coaster track at one amusement park (60,110 feet/11.4 miles)
Source: nbc4i
Okay, so the last four don't really have anything specifically to do with the ride, but in the coaster wars, everything counts, I guess. So, are you ready to take a ride? A virtual one, that is. Check out Valravn...
Impressive, huh? I tell ya, I've been to Cedar Point a couple of times and the beauty of Lake Erie really adds to the experience of any of their great coasters. That first drop is wicked cool, and even the second hill is impressive. So if you're an enthusiast like I am, hopefully you're making your plans to get to The Point. America's Roller Coast is shining once again!
Stay tuned for more...
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