Freestyle (roller coaster)

Freestyle is a stand-up roller coaster operating at Cavallino Matto in Tuscany, Italy. It opened as the park's fifth roller coaster on July 18, 2015. Freestyle originally opened at Canada's Wonderland in 1985 as SkyRider and closed in 2014.[1] Built by TOGO, it was the second stand-up roller coaster from the company following the now-defunct King Cobra, which opened the previous year at Kings Island.

Freestyle
Previously known as SkyRider (1985–2014)
Freestyle when it was known as SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland
Cavallino Matto
Coordinates43.1821°N 10.5447°E / 43.1821; 10.5447
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 18, 2015
Freestyle at Cavallino Matto at RCDB
Pictures of Freestyle at Cavallino Matto at RCDB
Canada's Wonderland
Coordinates43.840209°N 79.542890°W / 43.840209; -79.542890
StatusRelocated to Cavallino Matto
Opening dateMay 1985 (1985-05)
Closing dateSeptember 1, 2014 (2014-09-01)
Replaced byYukon Striker
Freestyle at Canada's Wonderland at RCDB
Pictures of Freestyle at Canada's Wonderland at RCDB
General statistics
TypeSteel – Stand-up
ManufacturerTOGO
ModelStand-up
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height26.8 m (88 ft)
Drop25.6 m (84 ft)
Length390.99 m (1,282.8 ft)
Speed82 km/h (51 mph)
Inversions1
Duration1:32
Height restriction140 cm (4 ft 7 in)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.

On August 6, 2014, Canada's Wonderland announced that the ride would close permanently on September 1, 2014.[2] The coaster accommodated nearly 23 million guests during its lifespan. In the Fall of 2014, SkyRider was sold, dismantled and relocated overseas to Cavallino Matto. It was reassembled and opened in 2015 as Freestyle.[3][4] Yukon Striker, a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster, is currently located in the space vacated by SkyRider.

SkyRider Memories Contest

In August 2014, Canada's Wonderland announced it would be holding a special contest for thrill seekers before the ride's official retirement. The contest was held on Canada's Wonderland official Twitter page under the banner "SkyRiderMemories", where 24 lucky winners were invited to have the final ride on SkyRider before its official closing on September 1, 2014 at 8pm. The winners were also given one of SkyRider's roller coaster wheels to keep as a souvenir.[5]

Similar rides

While SkyRider was relocated in 2014, King Cobra was put in storage at sister park Kings Island before the start of the 2002 season and eventually scrapped in 2008. Freestyle is the second oldest stand-up roller coaster in operation.[6] Shockwave at Kings Dominion had a similar track layout until the second camelback hill, where instead of a trick track and a turn to the right, the ride immediately turned to the left and went over one bunny hill before entering the brake run. As the last TOGO stand up and the oldest Stand Up in North America, Shockwave closed on the 9th of August, making room for Delirium, a HUSS Giant Frisbee.

In Japan, the Pink Typhoon Standing Coaster at Washuzan Highland also has a similar layout to Freestyle until after the second camelback hill, where the trip back to the brake run is shorter and does not feature a banked section of straight track.[7] Unlike Freestyle, only one of the two trains used on Star Jet has riders standing up. The second train is a standard TOGO sit-down train that has rider's facing backwards throughout the ride.

See also

References
  1. "Paramount Canada's Wonderland SkyRider". Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  2. "Canada's Wonderland Retires Iconic Stand-Up Roller Coaster SkyRider After 29 Years". CNW Group. PR Newswire. August 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  3. "After 29 years, SkyRider's ride comes to an end".
  4. "Freestyle". rcdb.
  5. "Share your #SkyRiderMemories Contest" (PDF).
  6. , RCDB
  7. "Star Jet". Retrieved 16 May 2013.
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