Kirnu at Linnanmaki is the prototype Intamin ZacSpin.
This was the first fourth-dimension coaster to have free spinning cars, which results
in a wild and unpredictable ride experience.
Most people who have ridden a ZacSpin experienced the former Green Lantern: First Flight at
Six Flags Magic Mountain and that was widely considered one of the worst roller coasters
in the world.
Thankfully, the others are far more enjoyable ride experiences.
So in this review, I will explain why Kirnu is a fun roller coaster.
Arrow Dynamics debuted the fourth dimension coaster late in 2001 with X at Six Flags Magic
Mountain.
This coaster was downright insane as the individual seats were able to flip.
However, that flipping was controlled by a rack and pinion mechanism.
Intamin took the 4D coaster concept to the next level with their ZacSpin coaster.
Like X, the seats could flip.
But unlike X, the flipping was completely uncontrolled.
It all came down to the weight distribution of the vehicles and the laws of physics.
This set-up ensured no two rides would be identical and would create a chaotic ride
experience.
Intamin would only build 4 of these ZacSpins.
Kirnu was the first opening in 2007.
And Green Lantern: First Flight was the last opening in 2011.
In 2015, S&S debuted their free spin model.
This coaster had a lot of similarities to the ZacSpin.
The free spins would have uncontrolled flipping and only traverse a 2D layout.
But the biggest difference was the center of rotation.
S&S free spins rotate around the center of mass of each guest.
Meanwhile, the ZacSpins rotated around a common point on the train.
This caused the flipping to be more violent and forceful, but it was less comfortable.
Intamin has since realized the flaw with the rotation on the original ZacSpins.
On their second generation ZacSpins that they announced in 2016, the rotation would occur
around the center of mass of each guest like the S&S free spins.
Intamin has yet to sell any of these newer ZacSpins.
But back to Kirnu.
Linnanmaki is a park that has always been pressed for space, so the super compact and
highly innovative ZacSpin model seemed like a perfect fit.
And when it opened, it became the park’s most intense attraction.
So why is Kirnu so much better than Green Lantern?
Is it the layout?
No.
Kirnu actually has an inferior layout.
Kirnu is the 25 meter or 82 foot tall model, which is smaller and shorter than the 32 meter
or 108 foot tall model that Green Lantern was.
And Insane at Grona Lund has the same layout as Green Lantern, yet that one is also a fun
ride.
Is it the trackwork?
No.
Both Kirnu and Green Latern are free of any shuffle, rattle, or vibration.
Is it the trains?
Oh yes.
Whereas the motion on Kirnu is completely uncontrolled, the motion on Green Lantern
was severely dampened.
This essentially neutered the main selling point of the ZacSpin.
And worse, it created a painful ride experience.
Rather than the vehicles rotating with the track, the vehicles had unnatural and jerky
movements.
I rode Green Latern a few times and it would rough you up.
On my worst ride on Green Lantern, my car actually rotated upside-down and got stuck
in that position for the entire second half.
Experiencing a forceful valley on a coaster while suspended upside-down is not pleasant
in the least bit.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a park filled with thrill rides.
So why was this modification done?
America.
When Green Lantern had free spinning cars, it was fairly common for a vehicle to return
to a station inverted.
Since the operators were not allowed to touch the ride vehicles, they would have to call
maintenance every time this happened.
This crippled Green Lantern’s uptime and throughput.
Minimizing the rotation did keep the ride open, but it ruined the ride experience.
Fortunately, the other three ZacSpins including Kirnu do not have this issue.
The operators at the European parks are allowed to move the ride vehicles themselves once
they return to the station.
This allows the ZacSpin to operate as intended.
So if you have only experienced Green Lantern, definitely do not hesitate to try the others.
They are a lot better!
Kirnu looks really cool.
The ride looks funky with its curved lift hill and super compact layout, but it helps
emphasize the craziness of the ride.
Kirnu had a decent line when I visited Linnanmaki.
The ride was only running two vehicles, but steady dispatches meant a full queue only
took about a half hour.
Each vehicle seats 8 riders.
4 riders are positioned on each side of the track, seating back-to-back.
For the wildest ride experience, you want a severely off-balanced car.
However, Linnanmaki will do their best to prevent this.
They will move guests around to ensure an even weight distribution and in some instances,
a ride operator will need to ride with the guests.
You have the option to depart the station going forwards or backwards.
I prefer to depart facing forwards since you spend more time on the main layout traveling
backwards.
This makes the raven turns more surprising.
Kirnu has Intamin’s over-the-shoulder restraints comprised of a bulky lap bar component and
soft straps.
This is similar to what you find on rides like Storm Runner at Hersheypark or Maverick
at Cedar Point.
I do wish this ride had vest restraints like the S&S free spins, as the hard lap bar component
can become a little uncomfortable as Kirnu throws you around.
Kirnu begins by climbing the lift hill at a decent clip.
If you departed the station riding backwards, you get a birds-eye view of the nutty layout
you’re about to experience.
The coaster begins with a small little dip off the lift, which more or less functions
as a pre-drop.
And then it leads into the first raven turn, which is shockingly intense.
This curved drop can’t be more than 25-30 feet in size, but it packs more of a punch
than drops 8 times its size.
The train is abruptly yanked downwards.
This compact element is significantly more intense than the fluid raven turns on the
S&S free spins.
Kirnu’s first raven turn doesn’t really offer airtime.
Rather, it feels similar to the freefall sensation you get on a drop tower.
I never saw a vehicle invert during this element, but you will start to rock on the pullout.
This leads into a far larger raven turn, but this one doesn’t pack the same punch.
Not only does this one have a larger turning radius, but there is also a trim brake that
slows you down.
So unfortunately, this element feels rather sterile.
It would be exciting if the vehicles at least flipped, but a well-balanced vehicle will
only meekly rock back and forth on the second raven turn.
But Kirnu saves the best for last.
You then rise up into a ridiculously tight element that looks like the lovechild of a
Pax airtime hill and a raven turn.
The apex of this element delivers a quick burst of airtime and at the same time, the
vehicle will wildly perform a somersault.
Getting both airtime and a flip simultaneously is incredible.
It’s a sensation few rides can match.
Just know you’re likely going to be thrown into the lap bar on this.
The descent from this element is lined with brakes, so you will suddenly decelerate and
you may get stuck inverted for a few seconds as you lower back into the station.
At that point, the operators will flip your vehicle upright, ending the 466 foot or 142
meter long coaster.
So what would I rate Kirnu?
I would give this coaster a 6 out of 10.
Kirnu is an intense coaster.
It’s far more intense than the S&S free spins.
Kirnu may not flip as often as the S&S free spins, but the different center of rotation
results in wilder and more forceful motions.
The first and third raven turns are two elements that had me clenching onto my restraint for
dear life and I loved their ferocity.
The two downsides with this ride are the restraints causing some discomfort and the ride’s laughably
short length.
Kirnu has just over 10 seconds of prime ride time, which makes it one of the shortest coasters
in the world.
But Kirnu makes the most of those 10 seconds.
I think I slightly prefer the free spins over Kirnu for the superior comfort and longer
ride duration, but I do appreciate the different ride that Kirnu offers.
So those are my thoughts on Kirnu, the prototype Intamin ZacSpin at Linnanmaki.
Have you been on this coaster?
Or have you been on any of the other ZacSpins?
I would love to hear your thoughts about the coaster down in the comments.
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