SeaWorld San Diego is launching ‘Arctic Rescue’, the fastest and longest straddle coaster on the West Coast, in 2023.
“It’s time to hop on your snowmobile and ride to the rescue,” said SeaWorld San Diego. “The ice is melting, the poachers are lurking, and the Arctic animals are in peril.”
Manufactured by Intamin, the new family-friendly thrill ride will offer three launches and speeds of up to 40 mph along 2,800 feet of track. It will feature snowmobile-style seats.
“The ride is an educational opportunity for guests to learn more about climate change, how it impacts animals in the Arctic and what they can do to help the issue,” said Jim Lake, the park’s president (via Times of San Diego).
New straddle coaster for SeaWorld
“I truly feel that seeing these animals up close at SeaWorld allows guests to build a stronger connection and encouragement to take action to help protect them.”
Arctic Rescue will be the theme park’s sixth coaster. California’s tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster, Emperor, made its debut at SeaWorld San Diego earlier this year.
“With most coasters, you sit down in a seat but with this one you’ll ride a snowmobile, almost like you’d sit on a bicycle and you straddle the seat and hold onto handlebars,” said Jim Potter, SeaWorld’s vice president of plant engineering (via Pacific).
“You’re held into the seat, but with a lot of coasters your shoulders are also restrained by the seat. Here, you feel like you’re riding an actual snowmobile.”
Next year, SeaWorld San Antonio is opening Catapult Falls, the world’s first launched flume coaster. Featuring the only vertical lift in North America, Catapult Falls is also the world’s steepest flume coaster.
Catapult Falls at SeaWorld San Antonio
“Catapult Falls will be the perfect addition to our already fantastic line up of family rides,” said Byron Surrett, president of SeaWorld San Antonio.
“Not only will it provide thrills for those wanting the exhilaration of a coaster-type ride, but being a water ride, it will give guests one more way to cool down in the hot Texas temperatures. It will be the perfect family adventure ride.”
Elsewhere, Miral has announced that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will open in 2023. The new marine life park on Yas Island is 90 percent complete.
SeaWorld Orlando recently confirmed that it has started work on its seventh roller coaster, which will also launch in 2023. Ice Breaker, a multi-launch coaster featuring Florida’s steepest beyond-vertical drop, opened earlier this year.
Images: SeaWorld
