Niles: Will a new record lead to a new focus at Six Flags? ...Middle East

For the first time in ages, one roller coaster holds the triple crown of coaster records. And that coaster does not reside in the United States.

Intamin’s Falcons Flight last week opened officially at the new Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia. At nearly 14,000 feet long with a drop of over 500 feet and a top speed of more than 155 mph, Falcons Flight is now the world’s longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster. Until last week, those records were held by three separate coasters, with the height record kept by an American coaster — Cedar Point’s Top Thrill 2.

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The United States, and Southern California specifically, long have felt like the home of the world’s roller coaster community. The modern era in roller coasters began with Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds, which was the first roller coaster built with tubular steel track. Six Flags Magic Mountain long has held the title for having the world’s most roller coasters.

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But Europe now is home to most of the world’s top roller coaster builders, with Intamin and Bolliger & Mabillard headquartered in Switzerland, Vekoma in The Netherlands and Mack Rides in Germany, leaving Rocky Mountain Construction to carry the flag for U.S. coaster builders. With the triple crown of coaster records now held in Saudi Arabia, it becomes even more clear that what began as a distinctly American pastime now belongs to the world.

I have no problem with that. The world needs more things that bring people together in joy and community. Roller coasters do that. People make friends with other fans at their local park, then one day they are road-tripping across the country or flying around the world to ride coasters that they learned about from other coaster fans online. They often meet and make new friends in the coaster community at each stop.

That said, I suspect that few American coaster fans will be making the trip to Saudi Arabia for Falcons Flight and its Six Flags Qiddiya City siblings. The cost of flights and accommodation is too much for many, and animosity towards Saudi Arabia runs deeply among many Americans. But Saudi Arabia did not license and develop a Six Flags parks for American tourists. They did it to give young Saudis a thrilling place to play in their home country. For them, there will be no need to travel abroad to ride the world’s biggest roller coaster.

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These records are not coming back to the United States anytime soon, if ever. Perhaps that might be a blessing for the U.S. coaster community. Designing great coasters demands artistry as well as engineering. That artistry is not well measured by the raw numbers of height, length and speed. Chasing records can be a trap that ensnares parks from commissioning more engaging and enduring coaster designs.

Herschend has shown that regional parks can find great success through telling stories with their rides rather than chasing records. With no chance to build anything that beats Falcons Flight, perhaps Six Flags can change focus here at home and find greater success with a fresh approach.

 

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