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February 7, 2001

Straight Up With A Twist At Six Flags Marine World

Vallejo, CA -- It's high tech, high speed and just plain high. The new high-thrill supercoaster being built at Six Flags Marine World for the 2001 summer season will rocket riders at speeds up to 70 mph - forward and backward - straight up and straight back down two 150-foot vertical skytowers.

Called "V2: Vertical Velocity," the new Six Flags Marine World ride will be the first of its kind West of the Mississippi River and one of only three suspended spiraling impulse coasters in America. When it opens Memorial Day Weekend, V2: Vertical Velocity will become the new tallest, fastest, most extreme roller coaster in Northern California.

The new-generation impulse coaster's extreme acceleration will "launch you into sensory overdrive," Park officials declared, and deliver unparalleled "air time" - that free-fall feeling of weightlessness that roller coaster thrill seekers treasure.

The signature feature of V2: Vertical Velocity is a spiraling corkscrew atop the first vertical skytower, giving riders a wicked whirl just as they reach its already-dizzying heights. On the back swing, the straight-shot second tower dangles the daring and dauntless passengers face down from 15 stories high before releasing them on a pulse-pounding plummet back into the station.

V2: Vertical Velocity is manufactured by Intamin Worldwide of Switzerland. Its 28 passengers are secured, legs dangling, in ski-lift-style seats suspended beneath the steel track. An advanced-design propulsion system applies sequentially pulsing electro-magnetic power to propel the train at high speeds along the 630-foot-long, U-shaped track. The V2's innovative Linear Induction Motor represents the bold future of extreme rides and is the only high-tech coaster launching system of its kind in Northern California.

Six Flags Marine World's V2: Vertical Velocity is modeled after America's first suspended, spiraling impulse coaster, called Superman: Ultimate Escape, which opened to rave reviews at Six Flags Ohio in 2000 and is rated one of the world's top 25 steel roller coasters by Amusement Today magazine.

"This one-of-a-kind Intamin impulse coaster 'with a twist' sends screaming passengers on an intense journey unlike any other on the planet," said David Escalante, a San Francisco resident and a director for the American Coaster Enthusiasts national board. "Last year, Superman: Ultimate Escape quickly earned 'must ride' status among coaster enthusiasts worldwide."

"V2: Vertical Velocity is easily the most anticipated new single attraction in Northern California for the 2001 season," Escalante added. "Even the most jaded enthusiasts are anxiously awaiting the debut of the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Bay Area history!"

The new V2 impulse coaster advances Six Flags' undisputed leadership in bringing the latest and greatest in thrill technology to thrill lovers in the Bay Area and around the world. Last year, Six Flags Marine World introduced Medusa, the first floorless, flying supercoaster in the West. With seven complete inversions at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, Medusa is the loopiest and now the second fastest roller coaster in Northern California, second only to the new V2: Vertical Velocity in the speed department.

V2: Vertical Velocity will be Six Flags Marine World's seventh roller coaster, and bring the Park's unique "wildlife and wild rides" entertainment and educational offering to 32 rides, 32 animal attractions and 10 shows - more rides, shows and attractions than any other Northern California park. Six Flags Marine World is America's only combination wildlife park, oceanarium and theme park.

Six Flags Marine World opens its 2001 season on Saturday, March 17. The new V2: Vertical Velocity is scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend. The new suspended, spiraling impulse coaster will be located between the classic wooden roller coaster ROAR! and the Park's Sea Lion Stadium.

New Show, New Animal Programs

Also new for the 2001 season at Six Flags Marine World are a new comedy high dive show and two new education programs. The show, "The Perils of Captain Cannonball and his Belly-Flopping Buccaneers", will feature champion divers in acrobatic, graceful and light-hearted plunges into "the drink" in a pirate-themed spoof in the Park's Pacific Stadium.

The new "Sunset Safari" takes guests on an exclusive guided tour of the Park's Animal Adventure area for up-close encounters with elephants, penguins, tigers, giraffes and other animals of land and air. The daily Sunset Safari tours will cost $9.99 (in addition to Park admission), and sign-ups will be taken each day at the Park entrance.

The new "Dolphin Discovery" offers a limited number of guests a behind-the-scenes visit with the Six Flags Marine World dolphin trainers and a personal, hands-on interactive encounter with the Park's bottlenose dolphins. Dolphin Discovery participants will get an introductory learning session before donning wet suits for a shallow water meeting with the dolphins. A free photo is included, and locker and shower facilities are provided. Park admission is included in the Dolphin Discovery price of $99.99. The program is for participants age nine and older. Dolphin Discovery is offered each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March 17 to October 28, 2001. Space is limited and advance reservations are required. Gift certificates are available. Call 707-556-5274 for information or Dolphin Discovery reservations.

Celebrating 40 Thrilling Years

The addition of V2: Vertical Velocity to Six Flags Marine World comes in an historic year when Six Flags celebrates the company's 40th Anniversary. Six Flags revolutionized the theme park industry with a number of world industry firsts, including the steel coaster, double-looped coaster and log flume, over the past four decades. Six Flags Marine World advances to the forefront of the new frontier of thrill with V2: Vertical Velocity.

V2: Vertical Velocity Fact Sheet

Description: Skyrocketing supercoaster launches dangling riders at face-flattening speeds straight up and straight back down two vertical towers, the first one topped with a wicked, twisting spiral.

Height: 150 feet
Speed: 70 mph
Length of Track: 630 feet
Ride Length: 2700 feet

Train: Seats suspended below track, ski-lift style.
Seven cars with four seats each, two abreast.

Guests per Train: 28
Capacity: 900 guests per hour
Manufacturer: Intamin Worldwide of Switzerland
Location: Next to classic wooden coaster ROAR

Claim to Fame: Fastest, tallest, most extreme coaster in Northern California. First suspended spiraling impulse coaster in the West. One of only three in America. Prototype rated "One of World's Top 25 Steel Coasters" by Amusement Today magazine.