Cobra

The park in Fiesta, Texas

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It may be the Six Flags park with the most exotic name, as Fiesta Texas basically invites you for a good time with the Mexican background of Texas in mind; but the truth sometimes can be rather simple: Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a theme park in Fiesta, Texas. You simply cannot miss the exit to the park.

History of Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Before Six Flags Fiesta Texas became a thing, it started as a theme park by the Gaylord Entertainment Company – which back at the time was big in business operating their Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee – and the USAA Real Estate Company. The site of the park, a depleted limestone quarry, was available for development in 1988. Despite the great competition by the Houston based theme park Six Flags Astro World and the Arlington based Six Flags Over Texas, both companies saw enough potential to develop a theme park in the San Antonio area – which was also due to the stable growth in the industry. The park opened to the public in 1992. Four years later, Time Warner took over the management of Fiesta Texas and changed the name to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. With Premier Parks purchasing Six Flags in 1998, they also bought the park of USAA.

Tour of the park Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Without any doubt, this park is impressive. Even the drive towards the parking offers a beautiful view. I used my platinum membership for preferred parking, as this was my last visit to a Six Flags park this year; even though I would not have needed it. With a great view onto the amazing looking water park White Water Bay, we now enter the park.

Due to its location, nearly all park guests directly head to the inverted roller coaster Goliath or the Boomerang roller coaster. I, on the other hand, was on a mission. As I did not have the time to collect my membership bottle the day before at Six Flags Over Texas, I directly went on the search for the membership services office. After some time and with a refillable bottle in my hands, it was time for the rides.

Bugs’ White Water Rapids, Whistle Stop Train and the Gully Washer

As a German, I always enjoyed the Spassburg section of the park with its funny ride names like the Rollschuhcoaster. Sadly, most of the names changed over the years. I was looking forward for a ride on Bugs’ White Water Rapids, Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ log flume. Unfortunately, this O.D. Hopkins ride was still under refurbishment for the season.

Instead, we get on the Whistle Stop Train at the Pilger Bahnhof and enjoy a round trip through the front sections of the park towards our next stop: The Gully Washer. This Intamin rapid ride features a nice journey along the quarry wall. It is a lovely themed rafting without any big highlights. The waterfall near the end of the ride was not used on my day of visit, so you can remain dry on your ride.

Road Runner Express

Next stop is the Road Runner Express where we experience the park’s preference for high elevated stations, which are only accessible via a network of ramps, for the first time. The ride itself is a mine train roller coaster by Arrow Dynamics. It is the latest one of its kind featuring a fast paced ride above and along Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ quarry wall.

After the lift hill climb, the ride immediately starts with a small drop into a turn to the left. After being tilted more and more to the side, the train shoots down its first major drop into a highly banked curve. After a forceful valley, we now race towards a camelback and then pass an upwards helix into the second lift. On top of the quarry wall, we take another turn to the left. After a short straight, we now perform a U-turn before reaching the edge of the cliff. In a wild cliffhanger manoeuvre, we perform a Figure-eight style combination of helices before reaching the brakes in full speed.

The Road Runner Express is a very fine mine train roller coaster. The coaster is very fast and forceful, but still family friendly. Its location is simply awesome and its appearance from the outside is nearly perfect, although is doesn’t feature any decorations whatsoever. It is a shame, that no one has bought another version of this kind of mine train roller coaster after this installation.

Iron Rattler

Right next door you can find one of the most legendary roller coasters out there: The Iron Rattler. Before this roller coaster became the second RMC masterpiece, it used to be the longest and highest wooden roller coaster out there. With a daredevil first drop and a lot of exciting elements along the 5080 ft long track, this coaster was not for chickens or structural engineers with concerns on the ride’s static. In other words: The coaster was famous for its highly visible vibrations of its support structure and its modest ride comfort. Nowadays, the coaster provides a fun and exciting ride loosely following the path of the original layout.

We start our journey with an excellent view onto the mine train roller coaster Road Runner Express. After a turn we reach the ride’s lift hill. Immediately after reaching the maximum height of 179 ft, we drop down 171 ft following a twisted path of pure madness featuring a maximum angle of 81°. Following the path along the quarry wall, we now enter an airtime filled camelback before reaching the second highest point of the ride. With great momentum we now go over hill and dale before we plunge down the cliff once more. Following a valley, we climb and twist ourselves upwards, which culminates in the first and only inversion of the ride. After being screwed up by the Iron Rattler, we race along a series of harmonically optimised hills, before dropping down the wall a last time. With no contact to our seats, we hit the next valley hard before a curve through a tunnel leads us into the brake run of the ride.

If the Iron Rattler would be slightly longer, it would be my favourite ride. It is not as forceful as other roller coasters by RMC, but it is a very repeatable ride experience featuring amazing elements and a beautiful Zero-G roll. The first drop is insane and everything else is great – it just could be slightly longer.

Goliath

The next roller coaster in our list on the other hand is a very solid ride and doesn’t need to be longer. We now move back to the entrance of the park for a ride on Goliath, Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ inverted coaster. Before coming to Texas, this B&M roller coaster was located for some years in the Japanese theme park Thrill Valley before being relocated to Six Flags New Orleans. Due to its elaborated design, the coaster survived Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. After a refurbishment, the ride was installed at its current location in 2008.

Goliath is the third installation of a B&M inverted roller coaster with the Batman layout in Texas. Surprisingly, there aren’t any other suspended roller coasters in Texas, which really shows the passion of the Texans to this specific layout. Especially, the people of San Antonio must be huge fans, since two of the three installations can be ridden over here. Goliath is still something special as it is the only one featuring the mirrored layout and one of the longest and strangest ramps you can find within the park. Apart of that, the Goliath features a highly forceful ride through both of loops and the corkscrews.

Boomerang Coast to Coaster

A similar forceful ride can be found at Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ Boomerang roller coaster simply called Boomerang or Boomerang Coast to Coaster if you really want to be precise. It is a very pleasant and smooth ride – although I would recommend to only ride it after the morning rush. Along with Walibi Belgium’s Cobra, this Boomerang is one of the best ones out there and should not be skipped.

Superman Krypton Coaster

Following the paths towards the other side of the park, we now enter the queue for Superman Krypton Coaster – Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ signature roller coaster. It once featured the highest inversion of all roller coasters; a record which was being hold for a very long time till it was broken by the same company in 2013. As one of the first floorless coasters by B&M, Superman Krypton Coaster features a wild and exciting ride experience.

After a short turn, the train quickly climbs up the lifthill. Once arrived at the top of the quarry wall, we enjoy the view onto the shopping centre The Shops at La Cantera before dropping down an increasingly steep curve. Pressed into our seats, we now race through the first valley before entering the ride’s large loop. After another valley along the quarry wall, we decide to have a closer look on top of it. In a helix, we now race along the surface before plunging down to the ground level once again. In a giant Zero-G roll we turn ourselves upside down the second time, followed by an equally giant Cobra Roll element. A curve to the left leads us upwards and a short curve to the right directs us directly into the block brake section of the ride. Without any noteworthy reduction of the speed we enter the next drop which leads us into the first of the two corkscrews. After a short curve we hit the second one. Another curve and a short hill then lead us into the final brake of the ride.

Superman Krypton Coaster is a great and forceful ride. It features an interesting and unique layout with a great selection of inverting elements. In my mind, I always have to compare it with Parque Warner’s Superman – la attración de Acero (ride of steel) in San Martin de la Vega nearby Madrid, Spain as they are very similar rides with Superman Krypton Coaster being slightly weaker due to its lack of airtime. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my ride on the Krypton Coaster.

Batman – The Ride

Since we could not yet spend the visit with the DC villains, as the Giant Discovery Joker was not yet delivered and the Super-Villains Swing was not yet reassembled, we focused on the Dark Knight instead. Batman – The Ride was the first ever S&S Free Spin roller coaster and an initial success for Six Flags. With many of these rides being build basically everywhere, I was very interested to have a look at the prototype, especially since my ride on The Joker a day earlier at Six Flags Over Texas was absolutely nuts. After waiting a quite long time due to a breakdown of the ride I finally came to the conclusion, that this ride simply cannot be judged properly. The ride’s comfort is always good, but the experience varies by every ride. My ride on Batman – The ride was just okay. It could have been better, but it also could be much worse. Overall, this marble track roller coaster is quite interesting due to the used technology, which cannot be found on later installations.

The Poltergeist of Rockville

Batman – The ride is in the Rockville section of the park, which just looks awesome. The 50’s are back and brought some great rides with it – although none of them are from this time period. I really love the look of Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ teacup ride Hustler and the S&S combo tower Scream. Unluckily, the free fall tower was just operating one of the towers, which lead to a long waiting time. I also like the look of the spaghetti bowl roller coaster Poltergeist, which I could not test due to a breakdown around noon. The layout of this launch roller coaster simply looks nice and features some very exciting elements.

Fiesta Bay Boardwalk and Pirates of the Deep Sea

The last area of the park is the Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, home to a great selection of classic American flat rides. Next to the modern Tilt-a-Whirl Spinsanity, the Twister Waverunner, a Fireball and a Ferris Wheel you can find with Pirates of the Deep Sea a newly redesigned Sally dark time. The makeover of the old Scooby Doo Ghostblasters ride is just excellent. The ride fits into the theme of the area, although it doesn’t feel like a cheap tourist trap you properly find on a real seaside pier. Well done, Six Flags!

Pandemonium

At the end of the pier you can find the spinning roller coaster Pandemonium. I was quite confused by the queue of the ride, since it looks way longer than it is. People are always queuing from the start of the pier and therefore you can or would expect a very long waiting time. Especially since the ride by the German manufacturer Gerstlauer only features 4-seater cars. At the end, I did not wait as long as I thought it would be, which is quite positive. The ride itself gave me the spin of my lifetime, although I was the only one in the car.

Interestingly, when exiting the ride, you find yourself below the pier on the same level as the Gokart-track of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster

The last attraction on our list is the Golden Lasso Coaster featuring Wonder Woman. As the actual name (Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster) is quite long, I reduce it to either the Golden Lasso Coaster or Wonder Woman throughout my review.

The Golden Lasso Coaster was the first installation of an RMC raptor track roller coaster, which reintroduces a very old idea back into the roller coaster market: The monorail roller coaster. Due to its track design you are free to add very tight and compact elements to your layout. Of course, this doesn’t come without downsides, as the seating arrangement within the cars is not optimal for a great throughput. The focus on the heartline gives you an excellent and very thrilling ride, but the trains itself let you wait in line for quite some time.

After boarding the vehicle, the ride starts with a very fast climb to the top of the lift hill. Once we reached the top, the train descents a small drop and moves through a curve. We now hit a small hill after which the vertical drop of the ride awaits us. As the top of the hill is very tight, we are immediately thrown out of our seats and experience an amazing airtime filled drop shortly after. Faster than we could possibly imagine, we already hit the next valley and make our way towards the top of the Dive Loop. A second later we twist ourselves sideways in a large camelback. Another second later, we initiate a curvy incline leading into the second airtime filled drop. This is followed by a Cutback element and a classic Corkscrew. After another curve we already slam into the brakes and the 50s long journey of endless insanity comes to an end.

Wonder Woman features the best roller coaster of any DC superheroes up to date. This ride is absolutely awesome and the best RMC roller coaster I’ve ridden so far. You simply cannot describe the insanity of the Golden Lasso Coaster – you have to experience it. It is just awesome.

Pictures Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Conclusion Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a very nice theme park with a great selection of roller coasters, flat rides and shows. As the park’s offer was somewhat reduced, I can only conditionally recommend a visit at Easter. I really would like to come back to test all the rides I missed during my visit and have a look at the water park White Water Bay and the night-time spectacle Celebrate!. Till then I’m looking forward to my next visit in the San Antonio area.

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Six Flags Fiesta Texas / Texas Round-Up Day 3

On a dinosaur hunt in the Peppa Pig World

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History of Paultons Park

Known nationally as Peppa Pig World, Paultons Park is located on the land of the former Paulton’s Estate near Southampton. In 1979, the Mancey family bought the land, cleared it of scrub and debris and built the gardens we see today, including a small bird park and adventure playground. In 1983 the park opened its doors to visitors for the first time as Paultons Park and Bird Gardens.

Three years later the first rides moved into the park. In 1993 the first roller coaster was added. Since the millennium the park has been growing steadily. But its most important investment was made in 2011 with the opening of the first Peppa Pig Land, the Peppa Pig World. Within a year, Paultons Park doubled its visitor numbers. An unparalleled success that has attracted a host of other toddler theme areas at various theme parks both within and outside the UK. However, it remains to be seen whether such brand loyalty outside the UK works at all.

Tour of the park

Upon entering the park, one immediately finds oneself in the beautiful gardens of the park. From here you can either turn right to the Peppa Pig World or left to the Lost Kingdom theme area. Basically a decision against or with the stream of visitors. As a roller coaster fan the choice is even easier, but for narrative reasons I start with the visitor booster.

Peppa Pig World

Passing a 3D cinema, where the film Sammy’s Great Adventure was shown, as well as an adventure golf course included in the admission price, the park railway, an rubber dinghy slide, a beautifully laid out tractor ride and a carousel, we head towards the Peppa Pig World theme area. Here you will find a number of rides from Metallbau Emmeln and Zamperla, including an electric horse-riding track in a toy dino design, a duck carousel in a boat design and a Flying Wheel (a kind of teacup ferris wheel). All this is complemented by figures familiar from the series, matching playgrounds and the house of the Pig family. In 2018, the themed area will also be expanded with a round boat trip and a sightseeing tour.

There is not really anything more to tell there. While the rest of the park was partly deserted, there was a lot of activity in this area. All this speaks for the series produced since 2004. I myself consider such branding to be questionable, as it has a major impact on small children. Unfortunately, it must be said that the time of generally designed toddler areas (e.g. a farm area) seems to be over.

Cat-o-pillar

Interestingly, Paultons Park itself offers the exception to the rule. Instead of just relying on Peppa Pig, the park does its own thing in the Critter Creek theme area. Besides the roller coaster Cat-o-pillar, a Zierer Tivoli in the medium sized version, the themed area convinces with its wacky design and the integration of an insect and amphibian house.

Little Africa

There are also several animal enclosures along the river, which were expanded in 2018 with the Little Africa theme area. There is also a large penguin enclosure where show feeding takes place several times a day.  Directly adjacent to it there are several smaller rides, including a boat swing, a teacup lift, a Kontiki, and two family free-fall towers of different heights, which were placed directly next to each other.

Lost Kingdom

On the other side of the gardens is the Lost Kingdom themed area, which has created a very special flair by cleverly expanding the portfolio and incorporating rides that were once only loosely themed. Here you can see how you can create an all-round coherent themed area with well-considered actions.

Flight of the Pterosaur

In order to get a better overview of the area we immediately board the roller coaster Flight of the Pterosaur. After a short curve out of the station we climb the 20m high lift hill. At the top we immediately fall down in a wide left turn towards the ground. Far above the adjacent Demolition Derby we climb up again in the same way. A straight hilltop follows. With momentum, we now pass through a short dip, whereupon a labyrinth of narrow helices follows. Alternating right and left helices, we pass a cave and get faster and faster before we shoot into the station at top speed. There we are gently slowed down and then come to a stop.

Flight of the Pterosaur is a top class ride. The layout is fun and can satisfy especially the young park guests. As the first big roller coaster I can hardly imagine a better ride, although Paultons Park can offer two similar calibres. The pacing and the ride characteristics of this modern family roller coaster classic are very convincing.

Velociraptor

Right next door is the small shuttle roller coaster Velociraptor. As the first rebound version of the Family Boomerang by Vekoma, the ride impresses with its curves close to the ground and the small hill above the station. The layout itself resembles an eight, with both ends running over the loops.

After you have been driven backwards up the lift hill, you immediately descend rapidly and then pass through the station at full speed. This is followed by a left-hand bend close to the ground, as well as the already mentioned hill above the station, where light airtime sets in. After a right-hand bend under the lift hill, a hill follows over the first bend, which has a small hump in the middle. Here one comes to a standstill, whereupon the backwards journey begins. A little more leisurely than before, you now make your way back to the station.

Compared to the standard model, this system is particularly impressive due to its distinctive speed profile. The curves close to the ground are convincing all along the line and even the hill in the middle of the track knows to please on the forward drive. Thanks to the generally lower visitor demands, it is possible to remain seated on the ride and thus dare one ride after the other. For the coaster fan this is an optimal roller coaster which really is a lot of fun, but probably keeps many children away from the ride because of its backward ride.

Temple Heigths, The Dinosaur Tour Co. and Dino Chase

The situation is different for the remaining rides in this area. The small flying carpet Temple Heights and the Jeep Safari The Dinosaur Tour Co. know how to please just as well as the children’s roller coaster Dino Chase, a Zierer Tivoli in the smallest version with an extremely cute train design and an all around successful appearance.

Magma

Passing a dragon carousel of the manufacturer Zierer, which offered both a forward and a backward ride, and a go-kart track, we now head towards the last roller coaster of the park. But first we queue up at the interesting free fall tower Magma and enjoy the elaborately designed queue, before we ride up and down the SBF Visa tower over and over again. If the park would offer a different hardware, the tower would probably be a good one.

Cobra

Arrived at the Cobra, the first thing to do is to leave the depressing and extremely sterile waiting area behind you. Once this is done, you have to get into the well-known Gerstlauer sleds, whereupon the journey is about to start. After the lift hill has brought you up to the initial height of 16.5 m, the sledge immediately plunges down in a very steep right turn, whereupon an upward helix is performed in the same direction. After a short block area, four hairpin bends follow in best wild mouse manner. In a racy combination of two helices, the descent becomes extremely fast before ascending again a few metres. Over several camelbacks you make your way to the other side of the course, but unfortunately there is no generous lift-off at all. After a further downward helix the brake run of the layout is reached.

Cobra is a good roller coaster, but it lags a little behind its sister coasters. The ride seems to be a little bit more powerless, at least in general, which is especially apparent in the very lax camelbacks. The layout itself differs only a little from the G’stengte Sau from the amusement park Tripsdrill or the great roller coaster Thor’s Hammer from the Danish amusement park Djurs Sommerland, but the fun doesn’t really come across during the ride. Maybe the ride is just missing an appealing design, I couldn’t really explain it to myself.

The Edge

Right behind the roller coaster Cobra is the disk’o coaster The Edge, which offered a rock solid ride. Due to the successful theming of the nearby Lost Kingdom theme area, however, the ride, just like the Cobra roller coaster, seems to have been put in place without any love. The area around the park’s Reverchon log flume has a similar effect. There is a need for action in this area, but it is only a matter of time until the park creates another great theme area. At least it is not unlikely.

Pictures Paultons Park

Conclusion Paultons Park

Paultons Park is an exceptionally pleasant amusement park, which rightly calls itself the UK’s number one family park. The park offers a wide range of family rides, including five family roller coasters, as well as numerous playgrounds. It also offers a truly beautiful garden landscape, as well as numerous animal enclosures and a miniature golf course included in the admission price. If there would be a water park available you could think you were in a Scandinavian sommerland theme park. This is quite appealing, if the common visitor would not only come because of Peppa Pig. The park offers more and might even be able to add even more to it. In this respect, one should look forward to the future.

 

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Paultons Park

Ultimate waterslides and pure Swiss madness

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Preface

After our more or less racy toboggan ride on the Pradaschier, we headed back downhill to Chur, where we took a lunch and discount-finding break in a pyramid-shaped Mc-Donald’s-Ibis hotel combination on the way to our next destination, the Alpamare Pfäffikon. Interestingly, the discount on the voucher on the back of the receipt was less than the discount on the website of the water park itself. Strengthened and equipped with e-tickets, we went directly to the bath, where we immediately received the chip wristbands for the lockers at the cash desk.

Alpamare

Erlebnisbad:Alpamare (seit 1979)
Adresse:Gwattstrasse 12
8808 Pfäffikon
https://www.alpamare.ch
Betrieb:Aspro Parks

In 1970, the wave pool and later Alpamare water park in Bad Tölz, Bavaria, celebrated its premiere and quickly developed into a nationwide crowd puller. This was followed in 1977 by the sister park in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, as an additional leisure facility to the Seedamm-Center next door, which was built in 1974. As in Bad Tölz, the bath initially consisted of a wave pool, wellness area and two thermal pools, before it was continuously expanded from 1985 onwards and the first larger slides were added to the swimming pool.

AlpamareFunnily enough, the Alpamare has practically developed downhill over the years: Three of the eleven water slides are located in the upper area near the Rio Mare river pool – Alpabob, Wildwasser and Mini Canyon. Most of these slides are located in a hall – sometimes they lead out of the building, but then they are completely covered, so that on these three slides you never actually get outside. They end on a level about ten metres below. From there, the starting point of seven further slides that overcome a height difference of approximately 17 m is located, the Alpa Canyons. These slides run over a hill and are partly open. Thus, one gets some fresh air even in the winter time. The longest slide, Balla Balla, overcomes the biggest difference in height: it starts on the top level and ends where the drop-offs of the Alpa Canyons are. These differences in height, which are quite remarkable in relation to the length of the slides, allow for exceptionally fast and wild runs with one drop after the other. What makes the slides generally very violent but also demands top physical performance from the swimmers: the many stairs.

Alpabob

It all started with the Alpabob in 1986, a Crazy River slide by the manufacturer Klarer, which runs over several levels with intermediate pools and offers some nice slide sections. The blue main slide was (at that time) joined by three more slide starts, the Mini Canyon and whitewater.

Mini Canyon

The Bodyslide Mini Canyon has always been known only as a depot slide, as it leads directly to the final pool of the Alpabob, where the slide tubes are stored. The 72m long slide is not very spectacular, but the numerous S-curves and jumps make the whole thing a surprisingly swinging experience with the right sliding technique.

Wildwasser

The neighbouring Wildwasser slide offers an interesting and historically significant alternative possibility to slide into the Alpabob: in the past it consisted of two separate and parallel tracks, which merged in a rather idiosyncratic plop run-up manoeuvre directly onto a narrowing Crazy River slide. According to Daniel’s tales, this unhealthy combination of hops and subsequent pinball check only survived the fewest without bruises. What at that time incited to numerous repetitive rides has nowadays lost a lot of its attraction, because the initial white half-shell slide profile has meanwhile been extended by a few meters, so that one now slides relatively unspectacularly into the arcane intermediate pool or rather into the secret love grotto. This hidden corner in the Alpamare is actually the biggest attraction of the otherwise very boring slide due to the tubes in bodyslide width – because very few swimmers ever find it. After a short shot, the track leads over a very slow stream section finally into the second last intermediate pool of the Alpamare.

Balla Balla

Via the former access of the right whitewater lane you enter the wonderfully wacky Proslide Balla Balla since 1999. The slide can be used either head first or in a conservative supine position. For the time being the slide leads you down the slope parallel to the whitewater slide. On a somewhat steeper straight, you now increase your speed quickly before you swing up in several consecutive S-curves. After 111m you leave the closed tube section and are immediately confronted with the cold ambient air. While constantly shouting out the outside temperature, “Cold, cold, cold!”, you pass a downward helix, where in former times balls were said to have flown around your ears. Through a car wash portal, one makes a short change of direction, which is also followed by a curve through an oversized water tap. A short right bend follows with a subsequent jump, which leads into a wrongly signposted left helix. After a rather abrupt swerve, you end up in the run-out pool of this 261m long themed water slide. The biggest disadvantage of this grandiose slide are the steps and the rather unpredictable waiting times due to the slow traffic light switching time and the remote start, if you want to use a slide mat.

Cobra

The legendary tube slide Cobra is probably without exaggeration one of the most thrilling thrill slides in Switzerland, and is definitely one of the most extreme water slides in the classic non-turboslide profile, so to speak the Bakken Tornado among slides. It starts quite harmlessly and quickly develops into absolute madness, as you almost lie down in a racy S-curve before descending a borderline violent steep helix, which presses you into the sliding surface with tremendous pressure and accelerates you to an almost inhuman speed. With this speed you fly over the following jump, which is about five meters high and also quite steep, whereby the speed rush increases even more into insane spheres. With this now truly beyond good and bad speed, you now shoot through an extremely dangerous S-curve combination, in which you swing out so violently that you almost end up lying on your face. Absolutely nothing for weak nerves or douchbags! The last little jump before the run-out pool is guaranteed to be done in RMC style – with airtime in a full 90 degree lateral angle. Accordingly painful you rush into the run where you can hardly believe what this beast has just done to you.

The Alpamare is well aware of the cult status of its Cobra, as the new construction, also by Klarer in 2013, not only retained the very heavy layout 1:1, but even returned to the original plans from 1990: Over the years, the old, blue Cobra has been given some defusing tube segments in a slightly darker blue, which softened excessive rocking movements in the last part and also flattened the last jump. What is considered aggravation by Tuberides is in fact only a return to the original state from the opening year. Whether this is a good or a bad move, it remains to be seen – Daniel even prefers the variant with the changed blue segments due to a rounder speed retention and less risk of injury – but you definitely have to admit that a different water park might have presented a completely different layout. In this respect, the Alpamare can in any case be credited with fidelity to its history and courage to be fierce.

Cresta Canyon

Daniel likes to refer to the tube slide Cresta Canyon, built in 1990, as the airtime slide of the Alpamares; no wonder considering that the slide provides certain moments of weightlessness right at the beginning of the slide. After the start of the slide, the track leads directly into the first jump, which after a minimalist left bend immediately leads into a surprisingly high drop. This is followed by a terribly tight helix, which is driven through with a lot of pressure and gives you fear and anxiety during the drop. An abrupt change of direction lets you swing up in the following helix before you go down the third jump. After another bend you reach the run-out pool.

Thriller

The Black Hole called Thriller, built by Proslide in 1998, may be ridden using double or triple tubes and replaced the red Bodyslide Grand Canyon, which had been here until then and was almost even more violent than the Cobra. It caused many an accident, especially with a 7-meter fall directly into a super narrow right helix with a separately edged splash water rim. Today’s thriller slide is a lot safer, but in its own way quite untamed in terms of layout. Right at the beginning there are some very tight changes of direction in more or less complete darkness – you don’t see them coming at all and are thrown wildly from one to the other sloping position accordingly. After a somewhat calmer middle part with water curtains and a little bit wider curves, the final is a huge drop, which lets you surf over the water surface of the drop-off pool. This pool should not be shorter in any case, as you get so fast that you can regularly watch how the sliders roll almost over the edge behind it.

Ice Express

The Ice Express, opened in 2008, is a 158m long bodyslide on which you can also slide head first with a mat. It essentially retains the course of its predecessor Niagara Canyon, which was here at the time, with the main difference that, unlike its alternating open and closed predecessor, it now runs almost continuously as a closed tube. But not quite: After the first helix, the slide has always been buried underground in the slope – the Ice Express adapted this very well to its theme, so that one rushes through a veritable ice cave with penguin figures and purple strobe flashes. More jumps and tight helices complete the layout – especially on the mat in prone position an intense pleasure. The unbelievably tight final curve before the last jump sends the sliders up to the edge once more by force – this shows an advantage of having designed the slide as a classic tubular slide for the new construction, as the old version, which had the tunnel roof mounted just beyond the edge of the half shell, offered a not to be despised accident potential. Daniel would actually have liked it best if the slide had been provided with the now existing classic continuous splash water rim at such places during the new construction, but still kept the open sections. But even here you can be happy, as the original and great layout has not been changed. My personal favourite in the Alpamare.

Double Bob Splash Pipe

The Alpamare manages like no other water park to make existing slides look like an absolute insider tip by clever positioning. The Crazy River slide Double Bob Splash Pipe, built in 1991, which you can rush down in double tyres is such a slide. In general one hopes for a good steering skill of the pilot to have a smooth ride; but this is anything but easy. After the start, the boat leads you down approximately a straight line in alternating contact between the two bands. After a fast turn, the first jump follows, whereupon a helix combination in form of a figure of eight is added, in which the contact with the side-bands is also not missing. After a short curve over a triple-down at full speed, an ultimate laughing flash hits you. This is followed by a turn and a short right/left turn, just before you find your way back into the bath via a final helix. If Lightwater Valley’s roller coaster The Ultimate was a water slide, it would be the Double Bob Splash Pipe – or in other words, the mad hatter’s wet dream. The 175m slide length guarantees in every respect an extra-long and extremely rugged sliding experience.

King Cone

The latest full-value slide in the Alpamare is the 2012 retrofitted King Cone, a Cone Slide by Klarer. The 153m long track is designed in the Magic Tube profile and offers a total of three sloping mini cones, in which you swing around quite considerably and turn backwards, before you are released into the next slide sections by quite idiosyncratically constructed steering measures. The special feature: Apart from the use with single or double tubes, which is usually allowed on similar installations, you can also slide head first on a speed mat, which gives the rocking experience in the cones a unique and peculiar gain. It gets really weird when you exit the last cone backwards and the mat rolls away underneath you after the last fall into the run-out.

Tornado

On the same side of the slope is the super-crater slide called Tornado, built in 2004 by the manufacturer Van Edgom. You build up a considerable speed on a very long straight line before you are led over a rather narrow curve into the large funnel, where you now make your rounds before you reach the tunnel entrance in the middle of the oversized bowl. As all slides in the Alpamare are also operated in winter, the outdoor fun can be a real test of courage; at least we were lucky, the temperature was only slightly negative. A short shot through two waterfalls leads you into the run-out pool of the slide.

Beckenwelt and Rio Mare

When the endless climbing of stairs and the sliding marathon in the Alpamare, which is generally quite exhausting when there is absolutely no crowd, push you to the limits, it is best to go to the Beckenwelt on the entrance level. In the wave pool you can let off steam in pleasantly oldschoolish and thus powerful waves. The Alpa-Therme next door invites you to enjoy all kinds of bubbling pleasures or a Kneipp-style contrast bath in the cold water pool. The iodine-brine thermal spring, which is unique in Switzerland, with its strange greenish-yellowish-brownish-reddish shimmering foaming bath water in the evening hours, offers a similarly relaxing bathing pleasure, although at 36 degrees, the temperature is much warmer; extremely beneficial for skin and nose. In addition, the Rio Mare flow pool is open every half hour to play driftwood through the 100-metre-long stream channel. The intensity of the water jets on the level “strong”, which are run at :45, is known nationwide – in this respect sensitive body parts such as ears or shoulders should be kept as far away from the pool edge as possible.

Conclusion Alpamare

As the first bath of its kind, the Alpamare is synonymous with every water park in Switzerland. It is a bath steeped in history, and a number of changes have been made to it over the years, whether through the addition of new slides or structural changes to the existing structure. In general, like hardly any other swimming pool, the people here have always shown courage for new things and tried out a lot. You can see this in the slides, which is why Pfäffikon is home to one of the most interesting public baths in Europe, which also stands out internationally. One could criticize the horrendous entrance fee, but we are here in Switzerland – it is normal – and if you are honest, it is worth paying for.

 

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Alpamare