Tsunami Surge
{{Short description|WhiteWater West water coaster}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox water ride|name=Tsunami Surge|image=TsunamiSurgeWaterCoaster.jpg|caption=The total layout of the attraction|location=Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago|section=Riptide Bay|status=Operating|opened=May 29, 2021|soft_opened=May 27, 2021|manufacturer=WhiteWater West|type=Water coaster (water slide){{!}}Water coaster|model=Master Blaster|height_ft=86|speed_mph=28|restriction_in=48|rows_per_boat=2|riders_per_row=1|duration=1:08|boats=Several|length_ft=950|coordinates={{Coord|42.3686|N|87.9367|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}|logo=Tsunami Surge Water Coaster (logo).webp|capacity=320}}
Tsunami Surge is a water coaster located in Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, in the Riptide Bay area that opened on May 29, 2021. Manufactured by WhiteWater West, the water coaster claims the title of the tallest water coaster in the world at {{Convert|86|ft|m}}. Announced in 2019, the water coaster suffered a delay following the effects of the park's closure and construction delays relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
On August 29, 2019, Six Flags Great America announced Tsunami Surge, in which the park claims as the tallest water coaster in the world. The attraction would be located across from Maxx Force, utilizing the former Pictorium site.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-28 |title=Case Study: World's Tallest Water Coaster, Tsunami Surge |url=https://www.whitewaterwest.com/en/insights-and-events/news/case-study-worlds-tallest-water-coaster-tsunami-surge/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=WhiteWater |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Stilwell |first=Andrew |date=2019-08-29 |title=Tsunami Surge, World's Tallest Water Coaster, Arriving at Six Flags Great America in 2020 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2019/08/29/tsunami-surge-worlds-tallest-water-coaster-arriving-at-six-flags-great-america-in-2020/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Coaster101 |language=en-US}} As the 25th attraction at the water park, Tsunami Surge would utilize "AquaLucent" effects.{{Cite web |title=Tsunami Surge: Six Flags Great America plans new 86-foot-tall water ride in Gurnee |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-great-america-tsunami-surge-st-0830-20190829-piqy3i77zrgatkgya6agsdzv4q-story.html |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=August 29, 2019 }}
File:Construction of Tsunami Surge at Hurricane Harbor Chicago.jpg
More plans were announced at the American Coaster Enthusiasts' No Coaster Con event on January 18, 2020, in which the park announced that groundbreaking was in early-January, and had released the renderings for the attraction.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-24 |title=Coastin' the Country Ep. 15: Six Flags Great America Tsunami Surge update and more |url=https://wgntv.com/podcasts/coastin-the-country-ep-15-six-flags-great-america-tsunami-surge-update-and-more/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=WGN-TV |language=en-US}}{{Cite tweet|number=1218568757771108355|user=marcusleshock|title=Construction began on Tsunami Surge a few weeks ago...|author=Marcus LeShock of WGN-TV|date=January 18, 2020|access-date=September 15, 2022}} Later in March of that year, the park had temporarily paused construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Knowles |first=Becci |date=2021-02-12 |title=World's tallest water coaster to debut at Six Flags Great America |url=https://www.parkworld-online.com/worlds-tallest-water-coaster-to-debut-at-six-flags-great-america/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Park World Online - Theme Park, Amusement Park and Attractions Industry News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2020-03-30 |title=Six Flags Great America announces delayed opening for 2020 season |url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/six-flags-great-america-announces-delayed-opening-for-2020-season |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=FOX 6 Now Milwaukee |language=en-US}}
After the announcement that Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago would be separate from Six Flags Great America, the park confirmed that Tsunami Surge would be opening for the 2021 season.{{Cite web |title=They're back! Six Flags Great America opens April 24 and Hurricane Harbor opens May 29 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-ent-six-flags-opens-st-0423-20210414-toejpglxerfyjhonsu3ub5dvsi-story.html |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=April 14, 2021 }} Soft opening for the attraction began on May 27, 2021, for the media, and the attraction's grand opening was on May 29, 2021.{{Cite web |title='World's tallest water coaster' to debut Saturday at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-hurricane-harbor-opens-st-0529-20210527-buunp2diorbphbiv6p232ocyaa-story.html |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=May 27, 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=2021-05-27 |title=Six Flags Hurricane Harbor reopens in Gurnee this weekend |url=https://abc7chicago.com/six-flags-hurricane-harbor-gurnee-great-america-chicago/10702106/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}}
Ride description
The ride starts {{Convert|86|ft|m}} above, and drops into the ride's first uphill blast, and turns left into its second uphill blasts. After the second blast, the ride turns into a helix before its turn into the final uphill blast. After two turns, the ride has two pre-drops, before dropping into a splashdown section.
In total, the water coaster features five turns, five drops and three uphill blasts. The attraction utilizes "AquaLucent" effects during each turn, which create "bursts of colors" and "dreamlike patterns" during the turns.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Bea |date=2021-06-02 |title=Tsunami Surge water coaster now open at Hurricane Harbor Chicago |url=https://blooloop.com/water-parks/news/tsunami-surge-open-hurricane-harbor-chicago/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Blooloop |language=en-GB}}
Awards
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago, WhiteWater West and Ramaker won an award for the Leading Edge Award in August 2021 by the World Waterpark Association for their work on the attraction.{{Cite web |last=Coates |first=Charlotte |date=October 27, 2021 |title=WhiteWater recognised with three WWA Leading Edge Awards |url=https://blooloop.com/water-parks/news/whitewater-leading-edge-awards-2021/ |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=Blooloop}}{{Cite web |last=Whittaker |first=Adam |date=November 4, 2021 |title=WWA Show returns to form with trade show and awards |url=https://blooloop.com/water-parks/news/wwa-show-2021-returns/ |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=Blooloop}} Additionally, the next month, the ride placed third place in Best New Water Slide on Amusement Today
{{S-bef
| before = MASSIV Water Coaster
}}
{{S-ttl
| title = World's Tallest Water Coaster
| years = May 29, 2021 – Present
}}
{{S-inc|current
}}
{{S-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborchicago/attractions/tsunami-surge Official website]
{{Six Flags Great America rides}}
Category:Six Flags Great America