Sidewinder | |
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Sidewinder's Loop
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Previously known as Roaring Tornado at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls | |
Elitch Gardens | |
Coordinates | 39°44′55″N 105°00′45″W / 39.748614°N 105.012612°WCoordinates: 39°44′55″N 105°00′45″W / 39.748614°N 105.012612°W |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | May 27, 1995 |
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls | |
Status | Relocated to Elitch Gardens |
Opening date | 1980 |
Closing date | 1989 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Launched |
Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
Designer | Arrow Dynamics |
Model | Launched Loop |
Track layout | Shuttle Loop |
Lift/launch system | Launch |
Height | 56 ft (17 m) |
Drop | 47 ft (14 m) |
Length | 635 ft (194 m) |
Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
Inversions | 1 |
Duration | 1:06 |
Max vertical angle | 47° |
Capacity | 400 riders per hour |
Acceleration | 45 miles per hour |
G-force | 4.0 |
Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
Trains | Single train with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
Sidewinder at RCDB Pictures of Sidewinder at RCDB |
Sidewinder is a steel roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.
This is a fairly simple coaster that takes rides through one loop. Instead of starting from the ground, riders have to ascend stairs fifty feet up to the loading station. The train is launched down a hill, goes into the loop, then ascends a slope opposite of the station with a braking section. The train repeats the layout backwards, and returns to the station.
Before being operated at Elitch Gardens this roller coaster was at the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park as the Roaring Tornado.
It is one of only three Arrow Dynamics launched loop coasters to be operating around the world. While mild compared to today's roller coasters, airtime is produced when the Sidewinder shuttles backwards or forwards over the drops. It is a good start for younger children who have never been on a looping roller coaster.
The ride has received new paint for the 2010 season, and is now more of a lime green than the darker shade it has been since being repainted from its original white.
The ride is also identical to Revolution (Pleasure Beach Blackpool) at Blackpool Pleasure Beach except that the cars in the train have 4, instead of 6.