Montreal, Quebec, Canada – The crowds were lined up for the official opening of La Ronde’s (www.laronde.com) newest thrill ride, the Catapulte.1 The 53-meter (173-foot) structure is a Skycoaster® (www.skycoaster.com), the world’s best-selling “extreme ride”.
The park’s newest scream-maker stands next to the famous Grande Roue Ferris Wheel towards the back of the park. Its unique location allows the ride to swing between 100 and 130 km/h (62 to 80 mph) high above Lac aux Dauphins (Lake with the Dolphins) and provide a one-of-a-kind experience for thrill seekers. La Ronde president Marc Tremblay said, “We’re certain that the Catapulte will delight our most intrepid visitors. And for those who prefer to watch, we guarantee that the ‘show’ will be just as impressive!”2
Skycoaster’s® Managing Director Mike Gutknecht was also enthused about the ride’s unique placement. “This is our 18th Skycoaster® to open at a Six Flags property,” he noted. “Each location has its own assets, but I think swinging out over the water with the beautiful setting of downtown Montreal in the background is truly a great experience for flyers.”
Skycoaster® worked closely with Entertainment Management Group’s Bill Wright (www.entertainmentmanagementgroup.com) throughout the installation process. EMG has overseen the installation of four roller coasters at Six Flags parks within the past two years and worked previously with Skycoaster®. “Both Six Flags and Skycoaster® are great partners to have in the field,” said Wright. “We have a great relationship with them and it was a thrill to put a vertical ride at La Ronde. We brought in 120-ton and 80-ton cranes to set the ride up. Once the grade was leveled and the footings along the water’s edge were finished the erection process went smoothly.”
Flyers on the Skycoaster® took their first rides on June 21, 2008. With plenty of great coverage from local media Catapulte has been an instant success. Radio station Energie 94.3 had guest DJ’s at the park throughout the day and encouraged guests to ride via web video (www.radioenergie.com/rubriques/rubriques_text.php?ID=68).
The Skycoaster® remains the world’s most popular “upcharge” attraction at amusement parks worldwide. With our 75 installations the ride, with its unique franchise-style setup, offers the thrills of hang-gliding to amusement park patrons around the globe.