On April 24th, 2019, Canada's Wonderland invited a group of thrill-seekers who raised money to support Sick Kids Hospital, along with their guests (myself included) and the media to be among the first to ride the all-new for 2019 Yukon Striker before the park opened for the general public!
For those who don't know, Yukon Striker was manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard and opened as the world's fastest, longest, and tallest Dive Coaster in the World with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), a track length 3,625 feet, and a maximum height of 245 feet, respectively. In addition to those breathtaking records, Yukon Striker is the first and currently only Dive Coaster to feature a vertical loop inversion among its collection of inversions found throughout its layout!
While being among the first to ride Yukon Striker was the main feature of the First Rider/Media Day Event, this event also allowed me to meet and chat with fellow amusement park enthusiasts as well as some who work within the amusement park industry! While the air was cool and the skies were cloudy, it did not deter anyone from enjoying Yukon Striker, a roller coaster packed with a ton of airtime and strong g-forces! Be sure to enjoy the photos below from such a great event!
I had arrived a bit early before the event began, but the wait sure would be worth it! My good amusement park friend Aldo who invited me to the event would arrive shortly after.
Canada's Wonderland's General Manager, Norm Pirtovshek gave a small speech before the opening of Yukon Striker. The park's Director of Communications, Grace Peacock and the Sick Kids Ambassador also addressed the audience.
Here is the first of three trains heading out! After the first riders got to ride Yukon Striker, their friends and the media were able to do so!
Here is the first train of the day about to drop!
Here's the first train of riders, diving into the tunnel below!
The train then entered the first of four inversions, the Immelmann!
After that, the train then enters into the zero-g winder inversion before making its way through a vertical loop and another Immelmann inversion. From there, the train enters the mid-course break run before plunging down a significantly smaller, but rather steep drop, leading the train through a downward helix and back to the station where the thrill of the ride all began!
After taking my first ride on Yukon Striker, I took a photo of the new bin system, which wasn't quite completed at the time. As passengers enter the line to board the trains, they will but their loose articles in a bin that then follows a track that goes over the station and eventually ends up at the exit. It's quite unique! During the day, I had the chance to ride Yukon Striker a total of 10 times, allowing me to ride in different rows and seats! It was quite the experience! Also during the course of the event, attendees were treated to a wonderful buffet lunch at the Backlot Cafe! Later in the day, I was invited by some newly made friends to ride Yukon Striker with them as they filmed a reverse on-ride POV. It can be viewed below!
The Yukon Striker water tower which holds the sign is a nice touch as you approach the coaster in the newly transformed Frontier Canada section at the park!
As a guest at the Yukon Striker First Rider/Media Day event, I had received this nice lanyard to commemorate the event.
Here is the backside of the lanyard which displays the statistics of Yukon Striker.
As 4pm neared, I managed to finish my day by taking in my 10th ride on the final train of the day before the First Rider event wrapped up. It was a great way to end such an amazing day! I would like to thank my friend Aldo for inviting me as a guest to the Yukon Striker First Rider Event as it would not have been possible without him doing so! I would also like to thank the staff at Canada's Wonderland for planning such an amazing event! It was a day I greatly enjoyed and one that I will never forget!
Thank you for taking the time to look at my post of photos from the Yukon Striker First Rider Event held on April 24th, 2019! Luckily there are only a few months remaining until you can visit Canada's Wonderland and ride Yukon Striker once again, along with the other amazing attractions at the park. Stay tuned until then! :-)
