originally posted on 3/5/2021
Photo: Courtesy Extreme Engineering. View full-sized image.
Many enthusiasts won’t be as familiar with Extreme Engineering as they are with most manufacturers. While not in the big leagues with players such as Intamin or Bolliger & Mabillard, the company is very busy with smaller installations and works a lot with family entertainment centers. The firm’s Cloud Coaster has won awards in the past. Its most notable version is Télégraphe at Méga Parc in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In that installation, the coaster travels right through the center of a hubless Ferris wheel created by Larson International. The company is also busy with climbing walls, ziplines and a host of recreational activities.
Early in 2021, Extreme Engineering introduced two new concepts, the reasoning behind theme being twofold. 1) It’s always good to create new product, but also 2) the global pandemic is creating the need for new ideas at a price point that reflects the major impacts of the health crisis. In doing so, the company has evolved its Cloud Coaster line with two new offshoots using that platform: Surfin’ Tsunami and Sky Tag.
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Surfin’ Tsunami is a suspended coaster in which riders enjoy the experience while in a standing position on a surfboard. With appropriate restraints, passengers “surf” with fun sway and swing around corners. This innovative and totally new concept should prove captivating, but it is admittedly limited in terms of capacity. Its likely buyers are not going to be huge theme parks but smaller facilities where ziplines and ropes courses are more in line. Because of its elevated nature, Surfin’ Tsunami could soar over other activities such as miniature golf or go karts.
Surfin’ Tsunami places riders in a standing position on a roller coaster.
Photo: Courtesy Extreme Engineering. View full-sized image.
Photos: Courtesy Extreme Engineering. View full-sized image.
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“With all the creative minds in our industry coming up with wacky ideas for attractions, it’s very hard to come up with something that someone hasn’t done before,” said Pete Barto, vice president of sales and strategic partnerships. “We think this is something 90 degrees different from what they are used to riding. Instead of a left-to-right sway, you are almost getting a front-to-back sway.”
Sky Tag is a first-of-its-kind laser tag Cloud Coaster. This concept is not about high speeds but gravity-fed track through targets and other coaster vehicles at which to aim phasers. The potential to incorporate this into an actual laser tag arena would offer an entirely different dimension for players on the ground. This idea provides cool synergy fusing elements of a dark ride with a roller coaster.
Barto chuckled, noting that it reminded him of the old “Space Invaders” video game. “The spaceship would periodically go across the top of the screen. Vehicles go by and people on the ground would get bonus points. We’re on the tip of the iceberg of what we could do with this platform.”
He admits his love of dark rides and is confident about the uniqueness of the package.
“We started with a very small footprint and [created] a cost effective attraction that small parks and family entertainment centers can invest in during these very hard times,” Barto stated. “From talking to parks, I know they want to do that. Having a reasonable price point is going to enable us to make an impact and get something really exciting out there.”
Players/riders would sit and take aim in pairs.
Photos: Courtesy Extreme Engineering. View full-sized image.
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Various themes provided by Creative Works have been designed. Customers could choose from space, ocean, western or jungle adventure. Likewise, over time, themes and targets can be switched out to make the attraction fresh to its clientele.
According to Extreme Engineering, these turnkey projects can begin at $500,000. Furthermore, Sky Tag makes perfect use of buildings no longer in use. This could also be an answer for unused areas in malls. Also partnering with Extreme Engineering on the project is LaserBlast, which provides the phaser component.
“I’m not aware of any laser tag roller coasters out there, certainly not suspended roller coasters,” said Barto. “This can fit in almost any space.”
Barto told ACE News that the company has received heavy interest from customers since the new products were announced.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
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