Canada’s Wonderland today dropped the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest installation of a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster — Yukon Striker.
Featuring the requisite 90-degree drop, the ride tops out at 223 feet, then dives 245 feet into an underwater mining shaft, for a twist on what's become a dive coaster-standard element. The ride also features four inversions, including a 360-degree loop, and a top speed of 80 mph.
Yukon Striker anchors the park's rethemed Frontier Canada land. Where will it rank among Theme Park Insider readers' top roller coasters? We will find out as reader rate and review it over the upcoming season.
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It's a shame SheiKra's second drop is through the tower instead of the first. I think B&M wanted to shake the 1-trick pony critiques of Oblivion, but they have gotten away from what makes Dive Machines different from your average steel coaster.
I remember when Canada's Wonderland opened waaay back in the early 80's. It used to have its International Street, The Medieval Fair, Hanna-Barbera Land, The World's Festival...it came off as a bit of a discount Disney, but it had character and a visible effort at emersion.
Last time I was there, a few years back, it struck me how cluttered it had become with coaster tracks, support beams, and guard rails. The original theming poked out here and there, but it was mostly hidden, with only cursory efforts made to maintain the "Lands". Watching that video (very impressive coaster, in-all-fairness) just reminded me of how bestrewed it has become. A symptom of having to add newer, bigger, faster and wilder things each year.
Oh well. Nostalgia.
I wish I could give you a first-hand opinion of this coaster, to help you decide whether to make the trip to Toronto to visit Yukon Striker ASAP. But I also wish I knew what we did to piss off Cedar Fair, since apparently they're not inviting us to any roller coaster media days this year. So I leave it up to our fellow readers to give us the scoop once they ride it!
Yes, Robert, I wonder why Cedar Fair is pissed off at TPI. You may recall that I contacted you about this. I actually looked up the airfare from Philly to Toronto, which was reasonable, in the hope of covering this for TPI. I went as far as contacting CW's PR person, without mentioning TPI, to ask whether they were holding a media event. Had she responded to me - she ignored me completely - I would have mentioned my association with TPI - with your permission - and attempted to get an invite.
@Makorider: I rerode Oblivion less than 3 weeks ago and while I appreciate the fact that it was the 1st dive machine, I find the ride to be too short in comparison with later installations. Yes, it's very cool and well-themed but over in a flash.
Yukon Striker looks good, but I don't see anything with this ride that sets it apart from other B&M dive coasters. It's certainly something I look forward to trying the next time I visit Canada's Wonderland, but not something I'm planning to rush back for.
@Bobbie .... good to see you got back to my homeland. AT is one of my favourite parks of all time. I agree Oblivion is very short, but back in the day it was the dive that set the mark for what we see today.
I'd love to see a new dive coaster built along the lines of Oblivion (diving into a dark and scary abyss !?!?), but have the longer track as they do today.
It looks good.. but I dunno if its the camera, or if it doesn't have "production" grade lubrication yet, but it didn't seem like a particularly smooth ride to me.
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Looks good .... all being well I'll be trying it out next year.
I'll still give my vote for the #1 'dive' to Oblivion at Alton Towers though. The first of its kind still has that wow factor as you drop into the steamy pit.
"Don't look down" .... :)