| Shock Wave | |
| One of Shockwave's vertical loops | |
| Location | Six Flags Over Texas |
|---|---|
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1978 |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | custom looping |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 116 ft (35 m) |
| Drop | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Length | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
| Max speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Max vertical angle | 46° |
| Capacity | 1100 riders per hour |
| Max G force | 5.9 |
| Height restriction | 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) |
| Shock Wave at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Shock Wave at RCDB | |
| Amusement Parks Portal | |
Shock Wave is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. Contrary to popular belief, it was not the first roller coaster to feature back to back vertical loops. That distinction goes to the Double Loop roller coaster at Geauga Lake, near Cleveland, Ohio, which opened in 1977, a year before the Shockwave. Shockwave was however the first back to back loops in the state of Texas, and the second in the world. Built right at the edge of the park, the Shock Wave is easily seen by passers-by on Interstate Highway 30. It is similar to the Mind Bender roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
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When it opened in 1978, Shock Wave was the tallest roller coaster in the world. It lost this title within weeks upon the opening of The Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens: The Old Country. While not the fastest, scariest, or most technically advanced ride today, it still is ideal for younger riders looking to go on their first "upside down" roller coaster as well as nostalgics and coaster enthusiasts.
The ride is built on Johnson Creek real estate, and had to temporarily close in the 2004 season because of a flood. Shock Wave temporarily closed again in early 2008 for an extensive remodeling.[1]
The ride starts with the lift-hill going up 116 feet (35 m). A U-turn with a slight dip immediately follows, then the coaster goes down its first drop and into the back-to-back loops, with peak forces of 5.9 G.[2] 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.
Throughout the years, Shock Wave 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.
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