This morning we were invited, along with other members of the media and some lucky fans, to attend Media Day for the new Tornado slide that is opening this Saturday at Hurricane Harbor.
Of course, as with anything at Six Flags, the weather looked like a tornado really was coming! But it held out through the course of the event.
It started off with a
live band playing some of the music generally heard around Hurricane Harbor, and Six Flags employees along with Mr. Six and Bugs greeting everyone.
A few minutes before the event officially started there were
two polynesian fire dancers performing, and I have to say they did pretty well!
Mark Kane came on stage first and thanked everyone for coming, as well as giving some candid remarks about the Tornado, such as ".. I think it looks like a giant toilet bowl, but uh, Angel didn't want me to say that, so I won't". Good stuff!
Angel came on next, thanking everyone for coming again. She also mentioned that Six Flags Friends: Cure Kids Cancer and the Children's Miracle Network were there as well, and Lily, who will be the ambassador for the Walk on June 13th was there and would be one of the first riders. Once Angel was finished she invited Bill Tawpash, Executive Director of Children's Miracle Network, onto the stage. He spoke about how the parntership with Six Flags has raised over $750,000 so far, and that characters and park employees coming to the hospitals really cheers the kids up.
After the speeches came the
vine ribbon cutting for the slide, with Angel, Mark Kane, Lilly and NBC10's Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz particpating.
Once the ribbon was cut, it was off to the ride!
The Tornado slide features a tube slide up top, which ends in a steep vertical incline into a giant funnel, where you will rock back and forth until you reach the end and come into the splash pool and exit the ride. It has a 48 inch height requirement, and requires 2-4 people per tube to ride. When you get in all they ask is that you lean forward a bit, not back out. It's a wild ride, and with anything gravity related the heavier your tube is, the farther up the sides of the funnel you will go!
Tornado view from the Observation walkwayTornado view from the Splash PoolWe had a great time, and the Tornado slide is a great addition to the park and should be entertaining people for years to come. You will enjoy it!
The only thing I can say bad about the ride is: Guys, can you paint the steps in the splash pool? In the three times I rode it, I only found the bottom step coming out by banging into it with my foot, and
my ankle shows it. Definitely would be good to have those marked!
Oh, on a random sidenote: There's a Ted's Cheesesteaks
going in at Hurricane Harbor!
Thanks again to Angel, Jen, Mark Kane and Six Flags Great Adventure for inviting us. And it was great to see other media and members of the online community there, like Online and History.
You can see all the photos
here!
Topic: Tornado Media Day! (Read 4385 times)
