Cowabunga! SeaWorld Orlando opens newest attraction, Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld Orlando is ready for you to hang ten and surf the waves with its brand new roller coaster.

On Saturday morning, the theme park held a grand opening beachfront ceremony for Pipeline: The Surf Coaster.

The new attraction celebrates the iconic surfing cultures found around the world, with a unique surfboard ride vehicle that gives riders an immersive experience when their seats rise and fall to mimic the sensation of riding on a wave. The theme park said the new ride is perfect for all levels of excitement.

The opening ceremony included special dance entertainment, special guest speakers including Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Visit Orlando CEO Cassandra Matej, a “Pipeline Day” proclamation and the moment the first opening day riders surfed the waves.

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”It’s sleek, it’s strong. It’s powerful. But why is it so cool? It mimics the motion of the ocean. You feel the power of the waves,“ said Rob McNicholas, SeaWorld Orlando’s VP of Operations. “The wave time, air time motion is ridiculous and this is the coolest experience I’ve ever had on a roller coaster, truthfully, but you’ll see it for yourself.”

The coaster takes guests on an incredible journey with five different airtime moments as it races up to speeds of 60 mph and heights of 110 feet along its 2,950 feet of track. Over the past few weeks, SeaWorld has allowed its pass members to ride the attraction before the general public.

“Our annual pass members had an exclusive opportunity to preview the ride prior to opening and the feedback is fantastic,” said park president Jon Peterson. “Pipeline is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride that caters to all levels of excitement and complements our existing exhilarating ride portfolio perfectly. With its unique design and evocative sensations, Pipeline stands apart from other coasters. SeaWorld now boasts the most coasters in a single theme park in Orlando, and we can’t wait to introduce the rest of our guests to this highly anticipated coaster.”

The new coaster is located at the front of the park between Flamecraft Bar and Bayside Stadium.

[RELATED: Take a virtual ride on Pipeline: The Surf Coaster]

As an ongoing reflection of the company’s commitment to conservation, SeaWorld announced the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida as the official ride partners of Pipeline. The organization’s mission matches closely to SeaWorld’s, making it a perfect conservation partner to help educate riders about Florida’s natural bodies of land and water and its inhabitants.

“We are proud to partner with SeaWorld in our shared conservation mission to help raise awareness of the importance of protecting the Florida coral reef system which is the only coral reef system in the continental United States,” said Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida President & CEO Andrew Walker. “SeaWorld has been a trusted partner in conservation for many years and we are thrilled to continue this collaboration with Pipeline.”

The opening of Pipeline: The Surf Coaster comes on the same day that the theme park began its Summer Spectacular, which includes new entertainment and nighttime shows.

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