Surfrider is a
steel shuttle
The original meaning of the word shuttle is the device used in weaving to carry the weft. By reference to the continual to-and-fro motion associated with that, the term was then applied in transportation and then in other spheres. Thus the word ma ...
roller coaster
A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides ar ...
at
Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast located at
Oxenford,
Gold Coast,
Australia. The ride is an
Intamin
Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement insta ...
Half Pipe roller coaster that opened in September 2007. It has
stood but not operated since 2020.
History
In February 2007, roller coaster parts began arriving in Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast's car park.
The Gold Coast Bulletin later reported the ride as being an
Intamin
Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement insta ...
Half Pipe roller coaster with an opening date scheduled for the September school holidays.
In late April, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast officially confirmed this report by announcing the Surfrider.
After a relatively short construction period, the ride was fully assembled by July 2007.
The ride opened in September 2007.
Surfrider was originally planned to be installed at
Sea World, a
theme park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
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.
The ride has
stood but not operated since 2020.
[
]
Ride
Riders are placed in one of two cars on the train which is made to resemble a giant surfboard. Each car is a free-spinning circle that holds six people. The track is essentially a giant, upright U and trains are loaded at the bottom of the U. Linear synchronous motors accelerate the train up both sides of the track. A typical ride lasts for approximately 1 minute.
Several water features were originally included to simulate riding a wave but these are no longer in use.
Surfrider is listed as a seasonal attraction and does not operate in the winter months.
See also
* Avatar Airbender, a similar ride at Nickelodeon Universe
* RC Racer, a similar ride at several Disney parks
References
External links
*
*
{{Intamin
Roller coasters introduced in 2007
Roller coasters in Australia
Roller coasters operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks