23.03.2005

New Attraction: Water Coaster "Atlantica" SuperSplash

 

Off to new shores: Since March 19th 2005, the visitors of Europa-Park can look forward to a brand-new attraction. "Atlantica? SuperSplash is the name of the new water coaster which set sail for its maiden voyage at the beginning of Europa-Park's 30th anniversary season. A world novelty is one track section with turns and a backwards ride, which was never realised with boats of this size before.

The new water coaster was designed by Mack Rides in Waldkirch, it is the first component of the Portuguese themed area, which will be completed in 2006. According to its history as a traditional seafaring nation, the main theming of Portugal is the era of the great Portuguese seafarers and discoverers in the 15th and 16th century, when it was a challenge to conquer the oceans. Go aboard and experience an adventurous ride through the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean! A 16th century Portuguese fortress is the center of the area around the "Atlantica? SuperSplash. Its interior is dominated by "Henry the Seafarer?, who points at the endless Atlantic Ocean in order to challenge everybody to set sail and discover the unnknown. Because once the visitors leave the strong walls of the protective fortress, they are put to a severe test?

With a height of 32 meters, the "Atlantica? SuperSplash is Europa-Park's second-highest attraction (the "Silver Star? has a height of 73 meters). In five large boats, each one for up to 16 persons, the visitors are pulled up to the highest point of the water coaster. After a first rotation the boats run backwards, then they turn around again and race down into a gigantic wave at a speed of up to 80 km/h.

The total ammount invested in this first phase of construction is five million Euro. Roland Mack emphasised the entrepreneurial risk, which his family takes again and again, even in economically difficult times: "This is our contribution to the business location Germany.? However, there is no guarantee for success. As an entrepreneur, he is trying to take into consideration the words of Reinhold Messner: "Those who don´t risk anything, can´t even lose.?