originally posted on 2/18/2022 1:02:36 AM
Photo: Brandon Anderson. View full-sized image.
SeaWorld Orlando is breaking more than just records with its newest roller coaster, Ice Breaker. Manufactured by Premier Rides, SeaWorld Orlando’s sixth coaster will contain Florida’s steepest beyond-vertical drop at 100 degrees and feature a unique launch system that propels riders backward and forward four times. While this is the first new coaster to open in 2022, its journey was not an easy one for SeaWorld.
It all started back in September of 2019 when SeaWorld Orlando announced the ride as a family-style launch coaster that has thrilling low-to-the-ground elements and is themed to fit in with the Wild Arctic area. The ride would not feature any animals but would still maintain SeaWorld’s overall vision of animal rehabilitation and conservation. Construction began in 2019, and the bright orange track was completed by late February 2020, with the park set to open the ride in Spring of 2020. But shortly after construction was completed, the unexpected happened. COVID-19 quickly infiltrated the theme park industry and SeaWorld Orlando made the decision to delay the opening of Ice Breaker indefinitely.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
During SeaWorld Orlando’s three-month hiatus in the spring and summer of 2020, the park continued testing and finished up the construction of the area. But when the park reopened to the public, the area sat dormant for an extended period. Throughout the rest of 2020, it seemed as if there was no activity, no testing, no construction and no announcements. In March of 2021, SeaWorld opened the adjacent restaurant Altitude Burgers with a limited menu and reduced operating schedule to comply with COVID guidelines, and Ice Breaker was given an “anticipated opening of 2021.” Coaster enthusiasts and other park supporters waited patiently for an official opening date. Finally, on January 3, 2022, SeaWorld Orlando announced that Ice Breaker would open February 18, 2022.
The span of time between the first announcement and the public opening surpassed almost two and a half years, but now riders can experience this unique Florida coaster. The wait was completely worth it!
Photo: John Moncrief. View full-sized image.
Photo: Brandon Anderson. View full-sized image.
“This is such a thrilling attraction with amazing airtime all around,” said Tayton Laing, an ACE member and Florida resident.
Riders leave the station and come to a stop on a transfer track. The train is then shifted to the right and attached to the main launch. The transfer track allows for multiple trains to operate, which increases the rider capacity. After locking in, the first launch sends riders backward to about 29 mph. After losing that speed up the reverse spike, the ride heads forward down the same launch track and hits 37 mph. The train doesn’t quite make it up the main top hat and rolls backward again through the launch track. Here is when the coaster hits about 45 mph and travels backward up the 100 degree, 93-foot-high spike. The final launch boosts riders to 52 mph and sends them over the 80-foot-high top hat. Each side of the launch track features a small airtime hill that gives every rider a pop of airtime backward and forward.
Photo: Brandon Anderson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jeremy Silver. View full-sized image.
“We wanted to have some double ups and double downs in both directions while having those launch experiences,” explained Johnathan Smith, the corporate vice president of rides and engineering for SeaWorld.
The rest of the ride contains swift hills and quick turns that are low to the ground. After the turnaround, the train flies through a 90-degree banked camelback and returns smoothly to the station. Ice Breaker throws in a lot of surprising moments with multiple ejector airtime spaced throughout the ride.
Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.
Photo: William Revis. View full-sized image.
Conner Carr, corporate ride engineer for SeaWorld, explained the ride after the top hat as “a lot of low-to-ground maneuvers, a lot of side-to-side that is really exciting and thrilling.” He continued his excitement, explaining that Ice Breaker is “also very re-rideable for our guests who want to come back and experience it over and over again.” Carr’s favorite part? “It has to be the back row going [backward] up the spike on the third launch; you are at the highest point of the ride looking straight down!”
Before the grand opening, Smith spoke about the planning and design of Ice Breaker. “Right from the beginning, we knew we wanted a launch coaster and a family-thrill launched coaster,” he explained. During the design process, SeaWorld really wanted to incorporate airtime moments into the quad-launch. “It’s really unique when you’re going backward and experiencing airtime. It’s so different than anything else that we have in the park,” said Smith. To keep with SeaWorld’s vision of animal care and rehabilitation, SeaWorld partnered with the Alaskan SeaLife Center, which is an organization that promotes rescue, rehabilitation, research and education for marine animals. In that partnership, “a portion of the Ice Breaker logo products is being donated to the Alaska SeaLife Center to support their mission,” Smith noted.
Photo: Brandon Anderson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy of SeaWorld. View full-sized image.
During the media preview on January 27, a few lucky ACE members were able to experience Ice Breaker with multiple television news outlets and bloggers. Ice Breaker opened to SeaWorld passholder previews on January 30 and then opened to the public on February 18. ACE members will have their chance to experience Ice Breaker during the 2022 Spring Conference held May 6 – 8, which will include SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
— Michael Christopher, ACE Florida Regional Representative
Photo: Courtesy of SeaWorld. View full-sized image.
Photo: Cassie Titko. View full-sized image.
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