Behemoth

Behemoth
Behemoth front entrance
Location	Canada's Wonderland
Park section	Action Zone
Type	Steel
Status	Open
Opened	May 4, 2008
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Model	Hyper Coaster
Height	230 ft (70 m)
Length	5,318 ft (1,621 m)
Max speed	77 mph (124 km/h)
Duration	3:10
Max vertical angle	75°
Cost	C$26 million est.
Max G force	4.5
Height restriction	4 ft 6 in (137 cm)
Behemoth at RCDB Pictures of Behemoth at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada.^[1][2] The ride is similar to Diamondback (Kings Island), Goliath (La Ronde) and Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure).

After a year and a half of preparation and development, Behemoth premiered in May 2008.^[3] With its high speeds, tall heights and rapid changes in both direction and elevation, the attraction is one of the most aggressive thrill rides in the park. ^[4][5] Behemoth also has a high hourly passenger throughput  – making it one of the most efficient rides in the park.^[5]

The ride features a prototype seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider  – a first for a roller coaster of this type. The Behemoth experience lasts for approximately three minutes and will subject the rider to a maximum speed of 125 km/h achieved in less than 3.9 seconds followed by five air-time hills, a hammerhead turn and two helixes.^[5][6]

Behemoth has been praised by critics and is the most popular attraction at Canada's Wonderland.^[7][8][9]

Development

On August 27, 2007, Behemoth was announced and revealed to be a roller coaster in the works from world renowned Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. The estimated C$26 million ride represented the single biggest investment in the 27-year history of Canada's Wonderland. When completed, Behemoth became the 15th roller coaster at the park.^[3]

After 18 months of planning and construction, steel construction of the track and supports was completed on January 22, 2008.^[3][10][8] The ride was officially opened on April 24, 2008 for Media Day. On Season Pass Preview Night, the ride was open to season pass holders on April 25, 2008. Behemoth opened to the public on May 4, 2008.^[7]

Characteristics

A train climbs the 70 meter lift hill of Behemoth

Height, speed, airtime characterize the Hyper Coaster.^[11]

—Bolliger & Mabillard

Behemoth is rated a five out of five (double black diamond) according to Wonderland's Attraction Rating System. This rating specifies that the ride will have "high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces and rapid directional or elevation change."^[4] Passengers of any age must be 137 cm (54 inches) tall to ride.^[8][4]

Behemoth has a high throughput and will accommodate approximately 1545 passengers an hour, making it one of the most efficient roller coasters in the park.^[5]

Train

Behemoth's three open-air steel and fiberglass trains feature a prototype v-shaped staggered seating arrangement to ensure an unobstructed view for every rider."^[5][12] This prototype design is a first for Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters which was later reproduced for Diamondback at Kings Island. The trains are named Red Train, Orange Train, and Yellow Train, after their coloured fronts. Each of the trains comprise eight cars, seating four guests each for a total capacity of 32.^[5] Each passenger is seated in a bucket seat restrained by a lapbar harness;^[5][13] some persons over a certain weight/waist size cannot be accommodated by this arrangement.

Station

A two-story sheltered station house contains the ride loading and unloading area. The ground floor of the station contains the maintenance area for the trains, equipped with Radiant Heaters.^[14]

At the boarding area, the station features three colour-coded cabinets for loose belongings  – one designated for each of the three trains. The operator's booth is also located on this platform.^[15]

Track

The steel track is 1620.9 meters (5318 ft) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 70 meters (230 ft).^[5] The angle of the first descent is approximately 75 degrees.^[5] The track includes trim brakes and magnetic brakes for smoothness.^[13]

Gift shop

Unlike all of the park's other attractions, Behemoth has its own gift shop at the exit. The shop sells ride memorabilia and displays the photos taken during the ride.^[16]

Experience

Point of view of the hammerhead turn from the first air-time hill

A ride on Behemoth lasts approximately three minutes and ten seconds.^[5]

First drop

After departing the station, the train turns right and begins to slowly climb the lift hill through the use of a chain lift. After approximately thirty seconds, the maximum height of 70 meters is reached.^[5] From the top, a passenger can clearly see the iconic CN Tower to the left and overlook the entire park to the right. The train will drop from the peak at a 75-degree angle to reach the maximum speed of 125 km/h (77 mph) in 3.9 seconds.^[3][5][6] The drop creates an air-time sensation for the duration of the descent.

Air-time hills

At the base of the first drop, the train banks a few degrees to the right and climbs the first air-time hill and descends. Following this, the train climbs up to a hairpin 180 degree hammerhead turn to the left.^[6] The train descends from the height of the turn to travel up and over three more air-time hills. After the hills, the train climbs up a steep slope into the mid-course brake run.^[6]

Helix pair

After the momentary reduction in speed, the train turns to the right and descends into a downward 540-degree helix. Immediately following the first helix, the train climbs into an upward 270-degree helix to the left. Following the climb is a small descent and a final hill. The train climbs up from the final hill into the terminal brake run.^[6]

Disembarkment

The train waits at the terminal brake run until it is cleared for return by the station. The train proceeds forward and turns 180-degrees to the left to return to the station.^[6] At this point, the train passes directly above people waiting in the main queue below.

Operation

Passengers board the Red train and secure their harnesses at the station

Behemoth is negatively affected by unfavorable weather conditions as both a high altitude and high velocity ride. "Rain, high winds, and/or lightning" may result in the closing of the ride depending on the severity. Behemoth will close in high winds, but may remain open in light rain.^[17]

A specific answer as to which rides close or remain open on a given day is not possible because varying degrees of inclement weather cause different effects on different rides.^[17]

—Canada's Wonderland

There is no minimum age requirement, but passengers must meet the height requirement of 137 cm (54 inches) to ride.^[8][4] Some persons over a certain weight/waist size will not be permitted to ride if the seat and lapbar harness cannot accommodate them.^[5] Passengers on Behemoth may not bring any loose articles onto the train and will be required to wear shirts and footwear.^[17]

Passengers are advised that they should not ride Behemoth if they have "a history of recent surgery, heart trouble/high blood pressure, neck trouble, back trouble, or any other condition that may be aggravated by riding, or who are pregnant".^[18]

Reception

Behemoth is the most popular attraction at Canada's Wonderland and it has enjoyed a great deal of success since its establishment.^[7] The ride appeals to a wide demographic with park staff noting that both young children and senior citizens line up for the attraction.^[8]

The unofficial Wonderland fan club, CWMania, is impressed with the ride and considers the experience to be the invocation of "a massive and powerful mythical beast," faithful to its namesake, the biblical Behemoth.^[19] Behemoth has also attracted a following of marathon roller coaster enthusiasts whom park staff have regarded as "celebrities, by sight, if not by name."^[8]

Canada's Wonderland is aware that Behemoth has become their biggest attraction and capitalizes on the success by hosting special events for the ride (some of which have been exclusive), such as the annual Behemethon, an evening of uninterrupted access for members of CWMania.^[8]

With the addition of Behemoth, we wanted to compliment our already impressive line-up of more than 200 rides, shows and attractions with a world class roller coaster that will showcase Wonderland as one of the premier amusement parks in our industry.^[3]

—Raffi Kaprelyan, Vice President and General Manager, Canada’s Wonderland

Awards

The Golden Ticket Awards is an annual set of awards given out by Amusement Today, a newspaper published for the amusement industry. The rankings are selected by an international poll conducted by the newspaper. When Behemoth was completed in 2008, it ranked third as the best new ride of the year.^[9]

See also

• Hyper Coaster
• Canada's Wonderland
• List of roller coaster records

References

External links

• Behemoth's Official Website
• Canada's Wonderland Official Website
• Official Behemoth Forward Point-of-View 3D Video
• Official Behemoth Aerial Isolated Track Rendering
• Behemoth on RCDB (Roller Coaster Database)
• CWMania (unofficial Wonderland fan club)