originally posted on 5/13/2024
Photo: Jackie Edwards Collection. View full-sized image.
On Saturday, April 27, 60 ACEers came from across the country for Gills and Thrills at SeaWorld San Diego (California) to celebrate the park’s 60th anniversary, hosted by ACE Pacific Southwest. Most of the group was from the region, but some members traveled from Washington, D.C., Georgia and Colorado. 2024 was the inaugural year for the event and a few days late to celebrate World Penguin Day (April 25), but attendees were still treated to morning ERT on Arctic Rescue and Emperor. The small group meant no lines or waiting, so there were many re-rides of both coasters.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
The group enjoyed an amazing lunch buffet followed by a presentation by Jim Potter, vice president of rides and maintenance. Potter shared with the group the challenges of building roller coasters over the areas where water chillers (to maintain 56-degree temperatures) are already in place for the underwater attractions. Evidence could be found at Emperor, which showed the park had to modify a few of the supports so the chiller lines didn’t have to be moved. Potter also shared that SeaWorld uses reclaimed water from Mission Bay and returns it after a filtration process, thereby returning it to the bay even cleaner.
Lastly, he announced Journey to Atlantis received some new track and supports in 2019, and soon the park will be replacing 50 miles of wire. Corrosion control is a big concern at the park owing to it being on the water; as enthusiasts, it was great to learn that the park is keeping on top of maintenance.
Thug with his handler.
Photos: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Attendees then got to enjoy a meet-and-greet with Thug, the Magellanic penguin! It turns out these penguins are well adapted to the warm SoCal weather as they hail from the warmer climes of South America.
Jim Potter and Bailey Kurkov of SeaWorld San Diego (left); the organization’s newest ACEer came dressed for World Penguin Day.
Photos: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
Additional fun was had with ACE takeovers of Manta, Electric Eel, the Orca Encounter and Shipwreck Rapids. The ACEers who braved the rapids later in the day had the pleasure of being targeted by nonriding ACEers who were ready with the water guns.
Takeovers of Electric Eel and Manta were a highlight of the day for many attendees.
Photos: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
In addition to riding roller coasters, attendees got soaked on Shipwreck Rapids and settled in for Orca Encounter.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
Photo: Derek Perry. View full-sized image.
Once SeaWorld closed for the day, a group of ACEers ventured over to Belmont Park (San Diego, California) to check out the new track on Giant Dipper. The first drop on this ACE Roller Coaster Landmark has received some recent attention, and the rest of the coaster will receive some TLC before its 100th anniversary in 2025.
Giant Dipper will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025.
Photo: Jackie Edwards Collection. View full-sized image.
ACEers enjoyed an informal takeover of the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, originally constructed in 1925.
Photos: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
— Jackie Edwards, ACE Pacific Southwest Regional Representative
#ACENews