Sea Viper (roller coaster)
{{Short description|Defunct roller coaster}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=Sea Viper
|previousnames=Corkscrew
|logo=Sea Viper logo.png
|logodimensions=250px
|image=Sea Viper station - Sea World.jpg
|imagedimensions=250px
|caption=The Sea Viper's station.
|location=Sea World
|locationarticle=Sea World (Australia)
|section=
|coordinates={{Coord|27|57|24.9|S|153|25|35.26|E|display=title,inline}}
|type=Steel
|type2=
|type3=
|status=Removed
|opened={{Start date|1982|9|17|df=yes}}
|closed={{End date|2014|7|17|df=yes}}
|manufacturer=Arrow Dynamics
|designer=
|model=Loop & Corkscrew
|track=
|lift=Chain Lift Hill
|height_m=28
|drop_m=
|length_m=600
|speed_km/h=70
|inversions=3
|duration=1:35 minutes
|angle=
|capacity=
|cost=
|gforce=
|restriction_cm=130
|rcdb_number=1137
}}
The Sea Viper was a steel roller coaster at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
History
On 17 September 1982, Sea World opened the Corkscrew roller coaster. The ride was the first to feature three inversions in Australia{{Parkz|ride_name=Sea Viper|location=Sea World|parkz_number=251|accessdate=27 July 2014}} and the second roller coaster for the theme park (the Thrillseeker opened within the prior year).{{cite web|author=Sea World|title=History and Development of Sea World|url=http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/en/Excursions/Project-Information/History-and-Development-of-Sea-World.aspx|publisher=MyFun|accessdate=17 March 2011}}{{Parkz|ride_name=Thrillseeker|location=Sea World|parkz_number=256|accessdate=17 March 2011}} The Corkscrew was attributed to a 20% increase in attendance in the year after opening.
In 2005, Sea World approached Kumbak to develop a new train for the then Corkscrew roller coaster.{{cite web|title=KumbaK makes comeback!|url=http://parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1486/KumbaK_makes_comeback!.html|publisher=Park World Online|accessdate=18 November 2011|date=1 November 2009}}{{cite web|title=Sea World (AU) - Sea Viper (2009)|url=http://www.kumbakcoasters.com/sea_viper.html|publisher=Kumbak|accessdate=18 November 2011}} 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. 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.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Sea Viper|location=Sea World|metric=m|rcdb_number=1137|accessdate=17 March 2011}}{{cite web|title=PhotoMaps by NearMap|url=http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.957193,153.426561&z=20&t=k&nmd=20091111|work=Satellite imagery showing both trains|publisher=Near Map|date=11 November 2009|accessdate=16 March 2011}}{{cite web|author=Sea World|title=Sea Viper {{!}} Sea World|url=http://seaworld.myfun.com.au/Attractions/Rides/Sea-Viper.aspx|publisher=MyFun|accessdate=17 March 2011}}
Sea Viper was closed in early 2014 for maintenance, however, it was announced on 17 July 2014 that its closure would be permanent.{{cite web|title=Sea Viper Roller Coaster Ride at Sea World|url=http://seaworld.com.au/rides-and-attractions/rides/sea-viper.aspx|website=Sea World|publisher=Village Roadshow Theme Parks|accessdate=27 July 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625102105/http://seaworld.com.au/rides-and-attractions/rides/sea-viper.aspx|archivedate=25 June 2014|url-status=live|date=July 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Burke|first1=Liz|title=Sea World has started dismantling its Sea Viper - aka Corkscrew - roller-coaster|url=http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/sea-world-has-started-dismantling-its-sea-viper-aka-corkscrew-rollercoaster/story-fnj94idh-1227017235373|accessdate=10 August 2014|work=Gold Coast Bulletin|publisher=News Corp Australia|date=8 August 2014}}
Ride
The ride began 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 took riders up to a height of {{Convert|28|m}} 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 continued 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 Monorail System before curving up and back over it. The train's speed was reduced in a brake run before arriving back in the station.
Gallery
File:Corkscrew at Sea World.jpg|An overview of the Sea Viper's layout. This picture was taken when the ride was the Corkscrew.
File:Sea Viper - Sea World.jpg|The Sea Viper's train entering into the first of two corkscrews.
File:Sea World - Corkscrew - in corkscrew.jpg|The original Corkscew train in the first corkscrew.
File:Sea Viper train at IAAPA 2009.jpg|A closeup of Sea Viper's train when it was on display at the IAAPA trade show in 2009
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://seaworld.com.au/rides-and-attractions/rides/sea-viper.aspx Official webpage]
- {{RCDB|1137|Sea Viper}}
{{Sea World}}
Category:Roller coasters in Australia
Category:Roller coasters operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks