Lagoon’s new coaster achieves ‘Wicked’ success

Doug Radunich
FARMINGTON — “Wicked,” Lagoon’s newest and most expensive “tower-speed” rollercoaster ever, has been quite successful during its opening week with eager fans dying to experience the ride’s exhilarating speed and strength. “We opened it Friday afternoon of last week unannounced with a soft opening, but word traveled fast,” said Lagoon Executive Vice President of Marketing Director Dick Andrew. “So far it’s been a great roaring success, and we haven’t even started out advertising. This ride is a terrific, fabulous one-of-a-kind on the planet, and it has been very enthusiastically received.”

Andrew also said Wicked was partly built by Zierer, a German ride manufacturer, and that it contains elements not found in other rollercoasters.

“It’s the biggest, tallest and fastest coaster we’ve ever had, and it’s built with impressive hardware,” he said.

Wicked has a height of 110 feet, a width of 112 feet, a speed of 55 mph and a duration of 2.5 minutes. Wicked riders who are between 46-50 inches tall have to sit in special seats, and the ride can handle as many as 900 riders per hour. Five cars are in the ride system with eight riders per vehicle.

Wicked is also operated by a “linear synchronous motor” (LSM) and features five separate cars that can hold eight passengers in two rows of four riders. Riders are locked into the seats at their thighs, lower legs and waist.

“With the LSM, unlike the traditional coasters with the chain and the clicking, this one fires you out like a jet off a carrier deck,” Andrew said. “Riders roll into the system and then go straight up 90 degrees at 40 mph, and once they go over the top they drop straight down at 55 mph. Some have said that first drop is the most exhilirating experience they have had on a coaster, and it’s also a really smooth ride.”

There are two tunnels throughout the ride the riders are launched out of, as well as special features such as a half-pipe section, a “heart-roll” inversion and several banked turns.

“It’s the best possible ride ever,” said Joe Cline of West Jordan.

Tyler Birch, also of West Jordan, enjoyed the beginning ascending aspect of the ride.

“It’s so cool once the ride begins to shoot you up, it’s the best feeling ever,” he said.

For more information on Wicked or any other rides at Lagoon, call 451-8000 or visit www.lagoonpark.com.

Doug Radunich