News Skyrider to be Removed

[Shane]

Two news stories about standup coasters in one day?

TORONTO - Thrill-seekers may want to head over to Canada’s Wonderland and ride the SkyRider one last time.

The stand-up roller-coaster is retiring on Sept. 1.

“After 29 years and over 22 million riders, we had to make a difficult decision and look to the future,” Dave Phillips, vice-president of marketing and sales at the amusement park, said Wednesday.

Opened in 1985, the one-and-a-half minute ride was the first stand-up coaster to be built in Canada and the second in the world with a loop. It also became Wonderland’s fifth roller-coaster addition to the park.

After being strapped in with feet flat on the ground, riders climb 88 feet (26 metres) in the air before taking on a vertical loop.

Classified as a number five on Wonderland’s thrill factor scale, the park says popularity wasn’t a factor in the decision to shut down the ride.

According to Phillips, Wonderland will be undergoing a large redevelopment program after Sept. 1. Currently, SkyRider sits on 5,100 square metres of prime space right between the Splash Works and the mountain. Here, Wonderland saw an opportunity.

“We like to space out (our ideas) over time and we always want to be innovative and leading the industry,” Phillips said. “Guests still like it and it’s a great attraction, but you have to look within the park to understand what’s best for the future.”

Though Phillips was mum on any details about what will be happening next, he said there were “certainly” concepts in mind for a new attraction.

In the upcoming weeks, Wonderland will be announcing a special chance for the last few riders of the roller-coaster to receive commemorative memorabilia. The last chance to race through the skies on SkyRider will be at 8 p.m. on Sept. 1.

Source

 

[I305Evan]

AKA. More parts for Kings Dominion's Stand up TOGO coaster.

 

[Zimmy]

that is terrible news...
EDIT
Not the removal, but the potential spare parts

 

[Nicole]

I'm in favor of mass disposal of all stand-ups.

 

[MAZ]

They are my least favorite too Nicole. A stand-up wing rider might spark my interest, but all TOGOs must go the way of the Dodo.

 

[Zimmy]

splash them with boiling hand sanitizer?

 

[b.mac]

I figured CW's first coaster to go would be Dragon Fire or this. Oh right, for those not savvy about international parks Canada's Wonderland this will be the first coaster they have ever removed.

 

[Shane]

I thought they removed Thunder Run from inside the mountain with the construction of the Guardian?

 

[b.mac]

Nope, still there.

 

[Peter R.]

If Wikipedia is to be believed it was relocated and expanded:

The coaster opened on May 23, 1981, and operated until 1985 as Blauer Enzian, but in 1986 it was relocated, extended, and incorporated into the mountain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Run_%28Canada%27s_Wonderland%29

Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

[Gavin]

Looks to be so according to RCDB.

http://rcdb.com/63.htm

They have a few photos as well.

 

[wombat96]

I think Kings Dominion should buy this!

 

[Ben]

Two stand ups in one park?

 

[Zimmy]

KD already has a ball busting, boob bruiser Togo. It needs to go away, not receive a sibling.

 

[wombat96]

You'll probably spit out your water as I did by get ready for this, Skyrider was sold!

 

[Zimmy]

for what, scrap?

 

[wombat96]

for what, scrap?

No. A park bought it that's unknown at the moment.

 

[Jonquil]

I wonder if the sale and transfer of TOGO stand-up roller coasters violates UN treaties about the transfer of WMDs, or perhaps the Geneva Conventions? Someone should call Amnesty International.

 

[Nicole]

While both the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the 1984 UN Convention Against Torture likely apply, what is the validity and enforceability of any international agreement in the context of the modern state system?

 

[Zimmy]

Does it fall into the parameters of START 2? It is a WMD