Although I haven't actually been on maelstrom yet I will try and describe it as best I can. This ride is similar to the Huss Frisbee, so if you have seen or ridden vortex at Thorpe then you should have a pretty clear vision of what Maelstrom is like. If you still don't know what I am talking about then try and visualise a swinging pirate ship or pendulum and then a wheel on the bottom that slowly revolves. The ride was finally launched on the 17th April, over shadowed by bigger rides such as AIR and Colossus, but this is not necessarily a bad thing as the park probably couldn't have coped with any bigger crowds. There have been the usual debates as to whether the crowds came for the pop group or for the ride. Although the crowds had to wait a while for Hear Say who postponed their visit because of the Queen Mothers death, everyone who went to the ride launch agreed that it was worth the wait. The huge axle is so huge that it had to be delivered in sections to this country and assembled here. The location was an unsuspected farm near Bishops Frome in Herefordshire. Apart from those who live at 'New House Farm', enthusiasts were kept waiting, but what a surprise they got!
 | Some brief Facts |
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riders= 32 Riders position= world second out wards facing (the other can be found in the U.S.A, but I don't know where). height=17.4 metres swing height=22.5 metres (yes, you will be up-side down) Ride weight=40,000kg Gear Box weight=32,500kg (most of the rides weight is due to the massive gear box). |
'The ride has now swung into action'. Reports say that it doesn't quite equal Apocalypse or Storm Force but all the same, it's a great spin n' spew which is better than other similar rides such as Vortex. It's apparently very comfy and if your facing down when you fall you get 'a great pop of air time' and I imagine that the other way you get the sensation of falling backwards.
A Photo of Maelstrom taken from U.D.M.P.S
| Official / Coaster Kingdom / CF / MM / DMP Plus / |
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