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SeaWorld Orlando’s new thrill ride ‘Pipeline’ to debut this spring

ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando aims to debut a first-of-its-kind thrill ride this spring.

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The Pipeline: The Surf Coaster launches riders more than 100 feet in the air.

The brand-new ride is the first thing you see in the parking lot- including the finished track.

On a behind-the-scenes hardhat tour, SeaWorld said the idea behind it is that it’s supposed to feel like you are surfing with speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

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The pipeline is a stand-up coaster, but SeaWorld said this one allows riders to adjust and move as it runs along the track.

Jeff Hornick, the vice president of attraction design and development, said the seat design allows for a personalized height adjustment, with the minimum height set at 54 inches.

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With nearly 3,000 feet of track, the ride shoots up to 110 feet, curves like surfers going through the waves, and has an inversion at one point.

The ride is designed to make riders experience five “air-time wave jumping moments” as they float over the track in 110 seconds from start to finish.

Read: Surf’s up: SeaWorld unveils new stand-up roller coaster ‘Pipeline’

“You actually get into a surfer stance as you’re riding on the roller coaster, and every time is going to be completely unique,” Hornick said.

Another aspect of the rollercoaster that sets it apart from others is the feeling you get changes each time you ride it. SeaWorld said that parts of the ride might be different for everyone because of how you move your body.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

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