Life Is A Rollercoaster

Do you have what it takes to design rollercoasters?

17:14 22 July 2016

Merlin Entertainments, the company behind some of the UK’s most popular attractions, is currently looking for creative individuals to come up with new rides and attractions for various resorts including Gardaland in Italy and Britain’s Alton Towers and Thorpe Park.

 

Although designing a roller coaster sounds more like a career aspiration of a primary school child, in reality, it’s a big challenge that requires the ability to create the perfect balance of pleasure and fear while ensuring riders safety and comfort.

 

Dr John Roberts, the executive director of operations at Jacobs Engineering and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: The artistry is in compiling the pieces, swapping very rapidly between plus and minus, so people get the sense of being sort of thrown around but kept safe. It’s a very fine line between people feeling the ride is thrilling and that they’ve been bumped around.”

 

In search for a new generation of rides, thrill engineers must be able to piece together a narrative that works with current innovations. Their creation must offer as many twists as possible and the steepest drops while ensuring that they are able to provide riders with a seamless experience.

 

Jeff Hornick, the senior director of theme park development at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, said: “It’s not just about the coasters themselves now. The queue lines, shops and restaurants that surround each ride are themed and meticulously designed in a certain way to give an all-round, immersive experience for guests. Every part plays an element, from the sounds you hear to the lighting effects”.