Hypercoaster

The world's first hyper coaster, Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point

A hypercoaster can mean one of two things;

• A style or model of roller coaster with three features:^[1][2][3]
  • A height of 200–299 feet
  • Lacks inverting elements
  • A lift hill, not a launch

• A height classification of roller coasters that incorporates only one of the above features, a lift hill or drop of 200–299 feet. Because of the more common usage of the term "Hypercoaster" for a style of coaster, the term "Megacoaster" is more appropriate for height classification.

History

The world's first hypercoaster was Magnum XL-200 by Cedar Point. Costing $8,000,000 USD, Cedar Point chose Arrow Dynamics to design and construct Magnum XL-200. Construction on the world's tallest, fastest, longest, and steepest complete circuit roller coaster (at that time) began in 1988. By May 6, 1989, Magnum XL-200 was ready for riders. Since its debut, Magnum XL-200 has served more than 36 million guests.^[4]

Description

A hypercoaster in the style sense is one that is built for speed and airtime. To accomplish this the elements of a hypercoaster are a large first drop, generally several additional drops of declining height, a turn around and then many airtime-inducing hills. Hypercoasters are commonly designed with an out and back layout, although some hypercoasters, such as Raging Bull, are built with a twisted design. All hypercoasters feature lap bar restraints.

Hypercoasters dominate the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards. For 2006, Superman: Ride of Steel, now known as Bizarro, located at Six Flags New England was ranked highest at #1. Several hypercoasters followed such as Magnum XL-200 (#3), Nitro (#4), Apollo's Chariot (#5). The hypercoasters make up the majority of the 2006 Top 10 Steel Coasters, filling 7/10 positions.^[5]

Hypercoasters were first manufactured by Arrow Dynamics in the late 1980s to early 1990s. Since then, Bolliger & Mabillard, Intamin AG, Chance-Morgan, and Giovanola have all begun to design and construct hypercoasters. The price tag of hypercoasters continues to rise, currently, Bolliger & Mabillard manufactures the most expensive hypercoasters, many of which cost $20,000,000 USD and above.

Notably, there is only one wooden hypercoaster on Earth, Son of Beast at Kings Island. It follows, then, that Son of Beast is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster. Upon it's opening, it was also the only wooden roller coaster to feature a vertical loop, thus disqualifying it from the category of "hypercoaster" proper. However, the loop was removed in 2006 when Cedar Fair Entertainment Company purchased the park from Paramount. The coasters layout, however, is custom and not out-and-back in the general sense. Despite its size, Son of Beast is a highly polarizing coaster having been called by some roller coaster enthusiasts "the greatest bust of all time" due to its status as a "sequel" to world-famous wooden coaster, The Beast being paradoxical to its rough and uncomfortable ride.

Hypercoasters

By style

The Silver Star at Europa-Park

The hypercoaster, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure

Hypercoaster Steel Force

The following are hypercoasters in the "style" sense of the word. They conform to the hypercoaster style of not having inversions or launch mechanisms, and the manufacturers specifically list them as hypercoasters.

* These coasters received hypercoaster style or model status when they were renovated, but still met the height classification.

By height

An Intamin AG coaster that meets the height requirement for a hypercoaster Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm

The following are hypercoasters in the height sense of the word only. They may feature inversions and/or launch mechanisms, unlike coasters that conform to the hypercoaster "style." However, shuttle roller coasters are not considered hypercoasters.

References

External links

• Bolliger & Mabillard's Official Website
• Intamin AG's Official Website