Latest news with #AlpenFury
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘You can float a little bit': Inside (and upside down nine times) Canada's Wonderland's new ride
I was strapped into a seat, flung upside down and propelled across a kilometre of track zipping along on the new launch coaster at Canada's Wonderland — a heart-pounding, gravity defying blast of force. AlpenFury, the latest addition to the park, is the country's longest, tallest and fastest launch coaster and has the most inversions for this style of ride in the world, according to Canada's Wonderland. To check it out, the Star sent a team — photographer Michelle Mengsu Chang and me — and it was a wildly exhilarating experience. To prepare I did a deep dive online and people were posting about being astonished to find themselves upside down, without feeling upside down. As soon as we were buckled up, Michelle frantically announced to me she had not been on a roller-coaster since she was 18. Right about the same time I started to worry my shoulders wouldn't have enough room to feel comfortable, but that actually helped me feel steady and in place once we got moving. Once seated and rolling, riders are treated to a couple of seconds travelling at a leisurely pace with a great view of the park down below and the coaster track weaving through the air and then, you're squared up with the mountain. Just breathe and don't let go. In one instant I was admiring the view and the next, seemingly without warning I felt a rush of propulsion behind me, instinctively, my eyes shut and all I could hear was the wind rushing ... and Michelle screaming beside me. AlpenFury, the 18th coaster at the 300-acre theme park in Vaughan, uses two parts of the track to launch from, giving riders an extra boost, so instead of feeling like you are being pulled along the track, you are being pushed from behind and the intensity from the boost is thrilling. As we entered the base of the mountain, darkness took hold — it was hard to see and even harder to be sure of what way was up and what way was down. AlpenFury's second launch hooked us at the bottom of the mountain and shot us vertically, 50 metres high through the centre of it — we found ourselves hurtled across the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, in only two-and-a-half seconds, and shot up out through the top. Star journalists Michelle Mengsu Chang and Reagan McSwain test ride the new Canada's Wonderland rollercoaster AlpenFury. Unlike traditional roller-coasters that rely on lift-hills to accelerate and gain speed, launch coasters use machinery to propel riders at high speeds quickly, and on this ride you can't help but feel the force as you zigzag across the one-kilometre track that crosses over a large part of the park. During the ride we were dipping and twirling through the air at speeds of 115 kilometres an hour and were upside down a total of nine times — but the details on when and where are fuzzy. The ride offers unique turns throughout that lean at angles that seem to keep one soaring, constantly moving without one second of rest throughout the 80-second ride. Whenever I managed to keep my eyes open, even just for a peek, I was fascinated by the fact I didn't feel a rush of blood to my head, yet found us to be soaring through the sky inverted. AlpenFury leaves the west side of the mountain and goes all the way east to the main gate and then returns, said Peter Switzer, director of maintenance and construction who was instrumental in the design and construction of the launch coaster. The ride, made up of three trains each able to carry six people at a time, has passengers seated in black and orange high-back seats, relying on a lap bar snug over riders thighs and shins, with a large handle to hold onto. When rides opened to the public at the start of the day, a wave of visitors rushed to the gate of AlpenFury to line up. 'In the old days it used to be a horse collar restraint that went over your shoulders and that kept you in,' said Switzer. 'What we found with those style of restraints is that it was hard on people who didn't know how to ride, that were banging their heads side to side.' The design used in the AlpenFury launch coaster is called a 'class-five restraint' because of the inversions and the ejection force that is trying to lift you out of your seat, said Switzer. Having a lap bar on your body achieves the need to keep you in your seat, but it still 'gives you that sense of freedom so that you can float a little bit,' said Switzer. 'I always thought of myself as someone too scared of roller-coasters,' said Michelle, 'and even though I screamed my head off and my throat still hurts, it was actually more exhilarating than scary.'
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
POV: I braved a wild ride on the new AlpenFury at Canada's Wonderland — here's what it's like
I should've known what I was getting myself into when my nephew, eyes wide with adrenalin, shouted, 'Let's do AlpenFury!' Still, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer chaos — and unexpected joy — of Canada's Wonderland's most extreme ride yet. We joined the swelling crowd on AlpenFury's opening week, and the buzz was unmistakable. It's being called the country's tallest, fastest and longest launch coaster — and the world's most inverted launch coaster, with a record-breaking nine inversions. That's nine times your stomach decides to abandon ship. And yes, we felt every single one. There were some delays, sure, but Wonderland staff assured us it was all normal for a brand-new coaster. 'It's 100 per cent safe,' said Grace Peacock, the park's spokesperson. Hearing that helped. A bit. The launch is instant. One second, you're calmly strapped in; the next, you're being hurled forward with what feels like rocket force, racing through a twisting mountain-inspired track. The speed hits first — a blur of steel and sky — and then comes the inversions. One. Two. Three. I lost count after five because at that point I was upside down more than right-side up. It's disorienting, exhilarating and oddly freeing. Like flying, if flying included plummeting, corkscrews and the sound of your own voice yelling things you don't remember saying. When the ride finally slowed to a stop, my nephew turned to me, grinning like a madman. 'Again?' I needed a moment (and maybe a bottle of water), but deep down, I was already thinking the same thing. AlpenFury isn't just a ride — it's a rite of passage. If you're up for the thrill, grab a poncho on a rainy day (shorter lines!) and hang on tight. You won't forget it.
Toronto Star
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
‘You can float a little bit': Inside (and upside down nine times) Canada's Wonderland's new ride
I was strapped into a seat, flung upside down and propelled across a kilometre of track zipping along on the new launch coaster at Canada's Wonderland — a heart-pounding, gravity defying blast of force. AlpenFury, the latest addition to the park, is the country's longest, tallest and fastest launch coaster and has the most inversions for this style of ride in the world, according to Canada's Wonderland. To check it out, the Star sent a team — photographer Michelle Mengsu Chang and me — and it was a wildly exhilarating experience. To prepare I did a deep dive online and people were posting about being astonished to find themselves upside down, without feeling upside down.
Toronto Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
New Canada's Wonderland ride greeted by long lines, sweltering temperatures
'Intense' AlpenFury launch coaster opened to public Saturday, already proving to be hot ticket AlpenFury has finally opened at Canada's Wonderland and it is already proving to be a hot ticket. Photo by Toronto Sun files AlpenFury has finally opened at Canada's Wonderland and it is already proving to be a hot ticket. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Vaughan theme park's new launch coaster officially got the green light for takeoff Saturday, but not without some hiccups as massive lineups and sweltering temperatures made it a challenge for thrill-seekers to get their fix. 🎥 It's here. The #AlpenFury POV you've been waiting for. 🤯 And today, it's not just a is officially open!Launch straight through Wonder Mountain, hit 115 km/h, and tear through nine mind-bending inversions. 🤩 *Filmed with park-approved mounted devices. — Canada's Wonderland (@WonderlandNews) July 12, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Social media users said the line to access the ride stretched across the park Saturday with the wait time being about three hours for one anonymous Fast Lane Pass user, BlogTO reported, as temperatures soared to 33.7 C by late Saturday afternoon, which felt like 41 C with the humidex. The weather was not much more accommodating Sunday as the mercury hit 31 C with the humidex at 39 C north of the city. Read More The anonymous parkgoer told BlogTO that the line to ride AlpenFury was 'f—ed' by 11 a.m. on Saturday — an hour after the park had opened — as people had queued up all the way to the entrance gate by then. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Some social media users even tried to help prospective riders by sharing where the lineup began. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There were also some technical issues that forced the ride to close briefly Saturday, which a Canada's Wonderland spokesperson described as a 'minor delay' in a statement to BlogTO. 'Our operations and maintenance team conducted a thorough review and AlpenFury resumed its operation shortly thereafter,' Grace Peacock told the website. Nonetheless, the ride seemed to be receiving positive reviews with one user on X calling it the 'best ride in the park and maybe my new Number 1 or 2 coaster overall.' It's been a busy day here at @WonderlandNews, but yes, I did get on AlpenFury. Yes, the Fast Lane line was 1.5 hours. And yes, this is the best ride in the park and maybe my new Number 1 or 2 coaster overall 👀 — Adventures With Parker 🎠 (@AdvParker) July 13, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Another told BlogTO that they rated the ride a 9 1/2 out of 10, describing it as 'so intense' and the 'best (ride) in the park for sure.' A second user on X said the ride was 'pretty good,' but they were not 'blown out of the water' by it. AlpenFury (#208) is quite good. Wasn't blown out of the water in row 3. Need more rides to form an opinion. The layout absolutely delivers, restraint shin guards were an annoyance. — K Slide Studios (@KSlideStudios) July 12, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. AlpenFury is being tabbed by Canada's Wonderland as the country's 'longest, tallest and fastest launch coaster' with 'nine breathtaking inversions — the most in the world for a launch coaster.' The 1-km ride dives into the base of Wonder Mountain at the centre of the park and launches out of the summit, reaching speeds of 115 km/h before wrapping up in a brisk 80 seconds. It hits a peak of 50 m above ground and includes a 47-m drop. For those hoping to beat the lines, Canada's Wonderland is hosting a fundraiser for SickKids Hospital next Friday, when they will be offering a 'VIP AlpenFury Experience' for parkgoers who shell out $125 each. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The package includes admission to the park and an exclusive ride window for AlpenFury and other attractions from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as parking, a catered lunch and one free FunPix ride photo. Tickets are limited and only available until Wednesday at the latest. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Golf Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA World
CTV News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
AlpenFury set to break records at Canada's Wonderland
Video Canada's Wonderland unveils AlpenFury, the nation's longest, tallest, and fastest launch coaster, opening to thrill-seekers this weekend.
