originally posted on 3/18/2022 1:03:00 AM
The Storm Coaster.
All photos courtesy of Intamin Amusement Rides. View full-sized image.
On February 17, Intamin released a new-for-2022 coaster. The Storm Coaster premiered inside Dubai Hills Mall (United Arab Emirates). Considering the multiple December openings abroad and Pantheon (Busch Gardens Williamsburg) debuting stateside, the last three to four months have been incredibly busy for Intamin Amusement Rides.
The Storm Coaster is a stand-alone attraction within the mall. It serves as a spectator piece to both tourists and shoppers. Constructed inside a 50-meter (approximately 164 feet) dome, the coaster is physically built into the structure of the building itself. But that isn’t the only rarity to the ride.
Coaster aficionados have seen numerous launched coasters from the Lichtenstein company, and Intamin has even produced vertical-lift installations (Fahrenheit, Hersheypark). The Storm Coaster combines the two. Even the most experienced enthusiast has to be intrigued by a linear synchronous motor launch straight up. Following the vertical launch, confirmed to be 30 mph, the tangle of track encircles the dome’s space and has directional changes, steep drops and airtime hills.
View full-sized image.
The Storm Coaster operates with trains that feature only lap bar restraints.
View full-sized image.
The trains are short 12-seaters (think Maverick at Cedar Point) and are of the type that has garnered high praise in the past few years (most recently on Jurassic World VelociCoaster, Universal’s Islands of Adventure). Over-the-shoulder lap bars secure passengers just at the waist with no cumbersome restraint system around the upper body, offering comfort and freedom.
The queuing helps set the stage of an oncoming storm, and riders prepare to take it on. Video screens add some theming. During the course of the ride, LED lighting in triangular shapes within the dome adds some flash, most likely even more effective once night falls.
The speed is just shy of 50 mph, and the length is approximately 2,200 feet — all action.
The Dubai Hills Mall is situated between downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.
Based on information from the website, all-day passes are not available. Visitors can purchase a single ticket or a double or triple ride ticket.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
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