Sea Viper (roller coaster)

Sea Viper
The Sea Viper's station.
Previously known as Corkscrew
Location	Sea World
Coordinates	27°57′24.9″S 153°25′35.26″E / 27.956917°S 153.4264611°E / -27.956917; 153.4264611Coordinates: 27°57′24.9″S 153°25′35.26″E / 27.956917°S 153.4264611°E / -27.956917; 153.4264611
Status	Operating
Opened	1982 (1982)
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Model	Loop & Corkscrew
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift Hill
Height	28 m (92 ft)
Length	600 m (2,000 ft)
Max speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
Inversions	3
Duration	1:35 minutes
Height restriction	130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
Sea Viper at RCDB
Pictures of Sea Viper at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

The Sea Viper is a steel roller coaster at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

History

In early 1982, Sea World opened the Corkscrew roller coaster.^[1] The ride was the first to feature three inversions in Australia^[2] and the second roller coaster for the theme park (the Thrillseeker opened one year prior).^[3][4] The Corkscrew was attributed to a 20% increase in attendance in the year after opening.^[3]

In 2005, Sea World approached Kumbak to develop a new train for the then Corkscrew roller coaster.^[5][6] Throughout 2009, the Corkscrew roller coaster was repainted from white to orange. In the middle of 2009, a sign appeared outside the attraction stating that Sea Viper, a "new ride experience", would be opening by summer.^[2] In November 2009, the Corkscrew roller coaster closed to allow the original Arrow Dynamics train to be replaced with a new low-profile train manufactured by KumbaK.^[1][2][7][8]

Ride

The ride begins with the train being sent down a small hill followed by a 180° turn to the right under the queue. A chain lift hill then takes riders up to a height of 28 metres (92 ft) before going down another small hill followed by a larger 180° turn. The track then drops to near ground level and enters a vertical loop. The ride then continues to run parallel to the station and up a hill before descending down a curved drop and into the double corkscrews. The second corkscrew passes directly under the Sea World Mono Rail before curving up and back over it. The train's speed is reduced in a brake run before arriving back in the station.

Gallery

• 

  An overview of the Sea Viper's layout. This picture was taken when the ride was the Corkscrew.

• 

  The Sea Viper's train entering into the first of two corkscrews.

• 

  The original Corkscew train in the first corkscrew.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Marden, Duane. "Sea Viper  (Sea World)". Database Entry. Roller Coaster DataBase. http://www.rcdb.com/m/1137.htm. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Sea Viper (Sea World)". Database Entry. Parkz. http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/_/_/_/rides/251-.html. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Sea World. "History and Development of Sea World". MyFun. http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/en/Excursions/Project-Information/History-and-Development-of-Sea-World.aspx. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
4. ^ "Thrillseeker (Sea World)". Database Entry. Parkz. http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/_/_/_/rides/256-.html. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
5. ^ "KumbaK makes comeback!". Park World Online. 1 November 2009. http://parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1486/KumbaK_makes_comeback!.html. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
6. ^ "Sea World (AU) - Sea Viper (2009)". Kumbak. http://www.kumbakcoasters.com/sea_viper.html. Retrieved 18 November 2011. 
7. ^ "PhotoMaps by NearMap". Satellite imagery showing both trains. Near Map. 11 November 2009. http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.957193,153.426561&z=20&t=k&nmd=20091111. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
8. ^ Sea World. "Sea Viper | Sea World". MyFun. http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions/Rides/Sea-Viper.aspx. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 

External links

• Official webpage