May 23, 2008
A roller coaster version of the ultimate skateboarder experience!
Guests will take their first "spin" on Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's newest roller coaster when Tony Hawk's Big Spin opens on Friday, May 23 with an extreme skateboard-themed event to kick-off Memorial Day weekend.
As the 135-acre wildlife, oceanarium and theme park opens its newest attraction in its Land, Sea and Sky areas, this unique "Sky" experience is an ultimate, one-of-a-kind spinning thrill coaster the entire family can enjoy.
Themed to resemble an authentic skate park, Tony Hawk's Big Spin promises to put a new twist on the traditional coaster experience. With the opportunity to defy gravity just like professional skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, up to four riders will sit facing each other in a car that simulates tricks and maneuvers, traveling through banked fan turns, quick hairpin curves and steep, low-to-the-ground drops, all while freely spinning in circles. The spinning coaster cars, designed to resemble one of Tony Hawk's authentic skateboards, spin wildly independently throughout the ride course so that no two ride experiences are alike.
"There has been a lot of anticipation for this coaster -- the first Tony Hawk ride to open on the West Coast," said Kirk Smith, director of marketing. "This ride has very broad appeal; not only will teens and 'tweens love it, but moms and dads as well. It's a great addition to our ever-growing portfolio of diverse, family-friendly thrills."
Designed exclusively for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom by Gerstlauer GmbH of Germany, Tony Hawk's Big Spin stands over five stories tall, travels at speeds exceeding 30 mph and features 1,292 feet of twisted steel track. At a cost of $6.5 million, the ride is the first major all-ages attraction to be introduced at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom since 2003 and is the park's eighth roller coaster.
The minimum height requirement is 42" for kids riding with an adult, or 47" for children riding without an adult. The bold red and black ride colors can be seen throughout the ride site, with the loading station, queue line area and retail areas embellished with the trademark bright red shade that is visible throughout. Guests enter through a large portal and can stand upon a gigantic star-shape that denotes the entrance. With a giant Jumbotron screen playing Six Flags Television music videos and park segments, guests can line up through a skateboard park-like queue area that offers historical graphic panels of Tony Hawk's rise to stardom.
"There is no doubt that you'll enter into a skateboard cosmos," said Smith. "It's an immersion-experience that offers thrills at the same time."
In addition to the coaster, the site includes a retail shop and a CD photo booth where riders can purchase video CDs of their ride experience.
The park will kick off the opening of the ride with a weekend of activities from May 23 - 25, with a Skate Camp experience featuring amateur and professional skateboarder demonstrations, live and DJ music, graffiti art displays and graffiti chalk activities, break dance performances plus the opening of the new Fuzion Zone skate park experience.
Tony Hawk's Big Spin is the park's eighth roller coaster and joins a line-up of thrills that include Medusa, Kong and Roar along with over 35 rides and attractions, plus wildlife shows, animal exhibits and non-stop entertainment.
General admission tickets can be purchased at the main gate for $49.99 plus city fee; $29.99 plus city fee for kids 48" and under. One-day tickets can also be purchased online at a discounted cost of $34.99 plus city fee. For the best value, 2008 Season Passes are available for just $69.99 plus city fee until May 25, when the price will increase. 2008 Season Pass holders will be able to enjoy the entire 2008 season that includes events such as Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park which occurs through the month of December.
For admission tickets, Season Pass purchases or for more information, visit sixflags.com/discoverykingdom or call 707-643-ORCA. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is located on 1001 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo, Calif., off Interstate 80, just 30 miles northeast of San Francisco and 50 miles southwest of Sacramento.
About Six Flags, Inc.:
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company with 21 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Founded in 1961, Six Flags has provided world class entertainment for millions of families with cutting edge, record-shattering roller coasters and appointment programming with events like the popular Thursday and Sunday Night Concert Series. Now 47 years strong, Six Flags is recognized as the preeminent thrill innovator while reaching to all demographics -- families, teens, tweens and thrill seekers alike -- with themed attractions based on the Looney Tunes characters, the Justice League of America, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New York City.
