Shock Wave (Six Flags Over Texas)

Shockwave
Vertical loop on the Shock Wave coaster at Six Flags over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas
Location	Six Flags Over Texas
Status	Operating
Opening date	1978
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	custom looping
Track layout	custom
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Inversions	2
Duration	2:00
Max vertical angle	46°
G-force	6
Shockwave at RCDB

Shock Wave is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. This was the first roller coaster featuring double vertical loops. Built right at the edge of the park, the Shock Wave is easily seen by passers-by on Interstate Highway 30. The ride is built on Johnson Creek real estate, and had to temporarily close in the 2004 season because of a flood. It is similar to the Laser roller coaster at Dorney Park in Pennsylvania.

History

When it opened in 1978, Shockwave was the tallest roller coaster in the world. It lost this title within weeks upon the opening of the The Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens: The Old Country.

Ride Experience

The ride starts with the lifthill going up 116 feet. A U-turn with a slight dip immediately follows, then the coaster goes down its first drop and into the back-to-back loops. The train then travels back up a hill into a mid-course brake run. At this point the ride turns right and dives down then back up, turns left and dives down. The last element is a final hill with a left turn that goes into a 270° helix to the right, then the train returns to the station.

Colors

Throughout the years, Shockwave has undergone several re-paintings and different color schemes. When it first opened, the attraction's track and supports were all-white. Since then, the ride has been repainted dark blue, light blue, silver, white track with yellow supports, and dark blue with red supports. The ride's current color scheme (pictured) is green track with blue supports.