Speed is the record-breaking water roller coaster at Energylandia.
This monstrous coaster is the world’s tallest and fastest water coaster.
And it also may be the world’s wettest roller coaster.
If you hate getting wet, stay far away from this attraction.
Between the towering drop and roller coaster elements, this ride sounds like a winner.
But is it actually better than most log flumes?
Find out in this review of Speed.
Log flumes are crowd-pleasing attractions.
These rides usually feature scenic layouts, an exciting final plunge, and a refreshing
splashdown.
Over time, manufacturers started adding uphill segments to log flumes.
But Mack took it to the next level in the late 1990s and early 2000s when they popularized
the water coaster.
These rides had all the aforementioned elements of log flumes while also being able to incorporate
curved drops and helixes.
During this same time period, Intamin was building supersized water rides with much
less success.
Perilous Plunge opened in 2000 as the world’s tallest and steepest water ride, standing
121 feet or 37 meters tall with a 78 degree drop.
Riders praised the massive near-vertical drop, but this extreme ride needed multiple restraint
modifications after a rider was unfortunately thrown in September 2001.
This ride was removed in 2012 due to inconsistent operation.
Later Intamin, built an even taller but less extreme water ride for Holiday World known
as Pilgrim’s Plunge in 2009.
This ride featured an exciting elevator lift hill to bring guests to the ride’s highest
point of 131 feet or 40 meters, but the drop was only at a 45 degree angle.
This ride suffered extensive downtime and was removed after just 5 seasons.
Intamin used their learnings from Pilgrim’s Plunge to create the water coaster.
Debuting with Divertical at Mirabilandia in 2012, this attraction would feature the same
elevator lift system as Pilgrim’s Plunge and an equally steep 45 degree angle drop.
But this ride would stand 164 feet or 50 meters tall and feature some additional twists, turns,
and drops before the final splashdown.
Intamin has built 4 of these water coasters to date and the latest is Speed at Energylandia.
Opening in 2018, this ride- according to Intamin- has the same height and drop statistics as
Divertical.
However, Energylandia claims the ride is 197 feet or 60 meters tall so they can advertise
it as the world’s tallest water ride.
It is believed that figure is the height of the top of the tower, not the drop height.
Speed is the premier water ride at Energylandia and it will usually have one of the park’s
longest lines on summer days.
It had usually had a posted 45-60 minute wait during my 3 days at the park.
If you don’t ride this attraction early, your best bet- like with most water rides-
is to ride it once the sun goes down.
Just know you will be leaving the park dripping wet.
Row 2 is probably the driest seat, but you will still get pretty wet.
Speed has two operational notes shared by many of Energylandia’s roller coasters.
First, loose articles cannot be stored on the ride platform.
5-10 minutes before you reach the end of the line, there are a series of lockers.
Two, the ride features a turnstile at the station that will admit the exact number of
people needed to fill the next boat.
Each boat seats 10 riders.
There are a good amount of them so the line- while it moves slowly- does move at a steady
pace.
These boats feature lap bar restraints and are comprised of two halves.
The front two rows articulate separately from the back three rows.
This helps the cars navigate the turns more smoothly.
Once dispatched, you slowly float towards the ride’s iconic tower.
You will have a nice looking rock wall on your left side and a plain wooden fence on
your right side.
There isn’t much else to see and this section just doesn’t have the same quaintness as
a classic log flume set in the woods.
Eventually you reach the elevator lift, which may be the best part of the ride.
The views of the park are great and it’s pretty freaky being in an elevator that large
and exposed.
Now this elevator is designed such that one boat lowers while the other is raised, so
the lift system has the boats tilt to the side halfway up the lift for clearance which
is extra unnerving.
Once at the top, you move forward and traverse the ride’s signature drop.
And it’s…meh.
The drop has the height, but it’s just too shallow to offer any thrills.
This drop seems to last forever, but you do build up a good head of speed by the bottom.
You then skim across the water on a section of straight track.
The boats lose a little speed on this runoff, but you don’t notice too much on-ride.
But the splash is noticeable.
Those in the front half of the boat will stay dry since the water doesn’t come over the
front of the boat.
However, those in the back half of the boat are in for a shock.
Remember how the boats are articulated?
Water shoots upwards in between the two halves of the boat and all that water hits those
in the back 3 rows.
It caught me off-guard.
Speed then glides over a giant camelback with…sorry for the pun…a lack of speed.
So there’s no airtime.
You then coast around this rather dull elevated turn before navigating a 360 degree downwards
helix.
You won’t get any positive Gs on this element, but you will get some mild laterals towards
the end of the element.
You then hop over a bunny hill- that unfortunately offers no airtime- before hitting the final
splashdown.
Everyone will get their sides rather wet.
Those up front will get splashed repeatedly as well.
And if you’re in a heavy boat, those up front are in for a deluge.
The wall of water can cascade over the front of the boat and flood it, which means your
feet will be stuck in ankle deep water until you unload.
But that unload station is near, as you slowly float straight ahead into the station, ending
the 2254 foot or 687 meter long ride.
So what would I rate Speed?
I would give this Intamin water coaster a 4 out of 10.
Speed is a ride with a lot of wasted potential.
The ride has a really cool elevator lift and plenty of height, but it doesn’t use it
well.
The drop is too shallow and the coaster section just feels like filler.
On the bright side, Speed is smooth and I do think these Intamin water coasters track
better than the Mack water coasters.
And if you want to cool off on a hot day, Speed has you covered.
This may be the wettest coaster in the world!
I think the Mack water coasters have superior drops and coaster sections.
And I think I prefer quite a few flumes to Speed since they’re more scenic, but Speed
does offer a unique albeit flawed ride experience.
So those are my thoughts on Speed, the gigantic Intamin water coaster at Energylandia.
What are your thoughts on this water ride?
Do you think it’s a missed opportunity as well or do you like the attraction?
I would love to hear your thoughts down in the comments.
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videos here at Canobie Coaster.
Thanks for watching!