Ride Guide >> Action Park >> Maelstrom

Get launched into a spinning, swinging frenzy as you swing out over the people below you at heights nearing 75ft. Maelstrom was launched by Hear'say in 2002 who described it as "awsome." It is a gyro swing where 32 riders sit around a disc on the end of a long arm, the arm then swings as the disc turns producing an excellent experience.

The theme of the ride is that a maelstrom hit the area resulting in damaged buildings scattered around the place. The ride itself is the maelstrom (suprise suprise) which is devastating the area, the riders are innocent citezens trapped in its watery wrath (despite the lack of water).

The Experience

As you approach the ride entrance, the gondola will swing out over the path in which you are stood, looming over you and casting down a shadow upon you. You make your way passed some wreckages before enterring the queue to the left of the ride and to your place at the back of the line.

The queue line itself is quite boring, as it is only a flat ride, so not much can really be done. Once you have got used to the stunning effect the gondola gives you as it swings over your head forcing a gail of wind into your face, there is nothing to entertain you but some bent over signs and a long cattle grid queue.

The theming is however quite excellent with plenty of debry at the base of the ride to feast your eyes on. Eventually, you will queue round to the side of the ride providing a new view of the gondola swinging... and more weaving. The ride does at least hold a fairly large amount of riders, so the wait isn't too long as you pass by another destroyed shack with surf board sticking out, back and forth once more, and it's your turn.

Climb up the steps onto the platform where you can search around the gondola finding an available space for yourself (try and find a different seat to start on re-rides as every ride is a different experience. You will eventually discover an area you like best). Leaving your baggage and shoes if you wish to one side, you can climb aboard your destinated seat and secure the

restraint ready for take off. The ride operators will come around to check everyone is in properly before giving the all clear, and the foot rest below is lowered ready to begin. Straight away the gondola starts spinning as you start with small swings, gradually increasing in height. You think your at the peak yet it still continues to get higher. Once obtaining maximum swing the thrill really kicks in, as you float 75ft above the onlookers below. The force that you felt on the wat up competely changes as you linger around at the rides highest point, going from one extreme to the other, you fall again. The immense strength of the Gs you experience as you pass through the bottom of the ride pulls down your arms and jaw. Next thing you know you are once again loating above the crowds below, yet this time you are on your side as the disc continues to hardly noticably spin. You next fall sidewards back downwards making what seems a near miss to the fence marking the edge of the platform. You are next once

again hovering around in your restraint, gazing upwards into the clouds, before falling backwards, being forced into the front of the restraint.

The pendulum motion continues before eventually the swings start to gradually get smaller, slowly coming to a halt where the foot rest once again rises for your departure. And the gondola will be positiooned in the exact same place it began, so your baggage is still near you.

Although the ride looks quite intense, it is actually fairly tame. Whilst there are the moments where you are put to the extremes of shooting back down earthwards at very high speeds, there are also the moments where you soar skywards and hang in the air feeling near weighlessness - a very calm experience. It is this mixture of elements that makes it an "awadome" ride.

 

Ride Pictures