Red Hot Summer for Wild Ride
Connor Gilbert
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2018 is shaping up to be the best year yet for California amusement parks. Southern California is getting five new rides! Here are the exciting new attractions that are sure to heat up your summer vacation:
Photo credit: Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego
Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego www.seaworld.com/ san-diego/rides/ electric-eel The first new roller coaster for SeaWorld in six years, Electric Eel aims to be the tallest, fastest and craziest ride in San Diego. The super speed launch coaster, located near Journey to Atlantis, features the only inversion in a San Diego coaster. The attraction starts with a mild launch that doesn’t gain enough speed to take riders to the top. As they come back down, riders are launched backwards, but still with not enough force to push them all the way up. During the third and final launch, a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour is reached. At the top, a slow-motion inversion provides a fantastic out-of-your-seat experience. Zoom through a non-inverting loop before the ride ends. Be sure to make Electric Eel part of your summer plans.
HangTime at Knott’s Berry Farm
www.knotts.com/explore/hangtime Hold on to your shoulder restraint because HangTime at Knott’s Berry Farm is a wild one! This exhilarating coaster is the first on the west coast to have a vertical drop in excess of 90 degrees. The surfing-themed ride starts with a unique 90-degree lift hill, followed by a brake that holds riders over a colossal drop for four seconds of pure fear, then plummets down a 96-degree drop and speeds through five inversions. HangTime pays homage to defunct Knott’s coasters by featuring Boomerang’s signature cobra roll and Corkscrew’s signature, well, corkscrew. Plans include dazzling lights, making the ride more spectacular at night. A game changer for California attractions, HangTime may be one of the best experiences in the park.
CraZanity at Six Flags Magic Mountain www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/whats-new Soar up to 172 feet in the air on the tallest pendulum swing ride in the world! Located in the new Boardwalk area of Six Flags Magic Mountain, CraZanity reaches speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. Swing back and forth while spinning counter-clockwise—it’s sure to be a disorienting experience. The Boardwalk will also feature new dining options, carnival games and sleek, colorful bumper cars. Plan a road trip to north L.A. when it debuts this summer! cont. on p. 30
28 • SanDiegofamily.com • June 2018
