The Flash: Speed Force

The Flash: Speed Force is an upcoming steel shuttle roller coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It is an Intamin Half Pipe roller coaster themed to the DC Comics superhero the Flash that is set to open in April 2024. The ride originally opened as Surfrider at the nearby Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast, where it operated from September 2007 until 2020, before being removed in April 2023.

Not to be confused with Surfrider Foundation.

The Flash: Speed Force
Before its removal in 2023, the ride operated at Wet'n'Wild Goast as Surfrider
Warner Bros. Movie World
StatusUnder construction
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
NameSurfrider
Coordinates27°54′51.5″S 153°18′59.2″E
StatusRemoved
Opening dateSeptember 2007 (2007-09)
Closing dateApril 2023 (2023-04)
Surfrider at Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast at RCDB
General statistics
TypeSteel – Shuttle – Launched
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerIng.-Büro Stengel GmbH
ModelHalf Pipe Roller Coaster
Lift/launch systemLSM
Height30 m (98 ft)
Drop25 m (82 ft)
Length70 m (230 ft)
Inversions0
Duration1 minute
Max vertical angle90°
Capacity460 riders per hour
Height restriction140 cm (4 ft 7 in)
TrainsSingle train with a single car. Riders are arranged 6 across in 2 rows for a total of 12 riders per train.
Restraint StyleOver the Shoulder Restraints
The Flash: Speed Force at RCDB

History

In February 2007, roller coaster parts began arriving in Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast's car park.[1][2] The Gold Coast Bulletin later reported the ride as being an Intamin Half Pipe roller coaster with an opening date scheduled for the September school holidays.[3] In late April, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast officially confirmed this report by announcing the Surfrider.[4] After a relatively short construction period, the ride was fully assembled by July 2007.[5] The ride opened in September 2007.[6][7][8]

Surfrider was originally planned to be installed at Sea World, a theme park owned by the same company as Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast, Village Roadshow Theme Parks. After purchasing the ride from Intamin, the location where it was to be installed was changed.[2][6]

The ride stood without operation from 2020 until April 2023,[9] when it was removed pending relocation to Warner Bros. Movie World.[10] It is scheduled to open at the park in April 2024 as The Flash: Speed Force, themed to the DC Comics superhero the Flash. It will be built within the footprint of the existing Superman Escape coaster.[10][11]

Ride

Riders are placed in one of two cars on the train which is made to resemble a giant surfboard.[12] Each car is a free-spinning circle that holds six people.[6] The track is essentially a giant, upright U and trains are loaded at the bottom of the U.[12] Linear synchronous motors accelerate the train up both sides of the track.[9] A typical ride lasts for approximately 1 minute.[6]

Several water features were originally included to simulate riding a wave[8] but later were not used. Surfrider was listed as a seasonal attraction and did not operate in the winter months.[13]

See also
  • Avatar Airbender, a similar ride at Nickelodeon Universe
  • RC Racer, a similar ride at several Disney parks

References
  1. "Wet'n'Wild Coaster". Parkz. 22 February 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  2. Wilson, Richard (22 February 2007). "Parts arrive for Wet'n'Wild's latest". Parkz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  3. Meers, Daniel (2007). "Park's ride revealed". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  4. Wilson, Richard (25 April 2007). "Surf Rider to debut at Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast". Parkz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  5. Wilson, Richard (5 July 2007). "Surfrider". Parkz. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  6. "Surfrider (Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast)". Parkz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  7. Wilson, Richard (27 September 2007). "Warner Village parks deliver strong results ahead of new attractions". Parkz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  8. Jabour, Bridie (27 September 2007). "Giant board takes riders for a spin". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Surfrider  (Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  10. Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  11. Potts, Andrew (5 July 2023). "Warner Bros Movie World: New Southern Hemisphere-first thrill ride for Gold Coast theme park". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 5 July 2023. (subscription required)
  12. Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast (22 July 2010). "Surfrider – Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast". MyFun. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  13. Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast (2012). "Attraction Maintenance". MyFun. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
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