Taiga

Intamin  |  Linnanmäki
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

In early summer 2019, Linnanmäki amusement park excitedly opened “Taiga,” a custom-designed steel linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch coaster from Intamin Amusement Rides that the park says is its greatest ride project ever. The ride stretches to a length of 1,104 meters and hits a maximum speed of 106 kph. But, though it reaches a height of 52 meters, that’s actually not at the top of a lift hill because the ride doesn’t have one. Rather, it’s the elevation of its big top hat. 

“‘Taiga’ has been a unique project as it has been custom-designed for the special location at Linnanmäki amusement park. This means that there is no other roller coaster in the world with the same layout,” says Pia Adlivankin, managing director of Linnanmäki. “Taiga most definitely arouses interest among daredevils and coaster fans around the world. We wanted to bring a world‑class double launch coaster to Linnanmäki and offer a ride that will provide a smooth but pulsating coaster experience to all visitors.” 

When asked which of the coaster’s four inversions and seven elements excite her most, she responds, “I must mention at least three features that excite me: the top hat, where the trains ascend a 3-meter tower before plummeting down vertically; the inverted stall, which is a huge zero-G moment where the visitors will fly upside down over the park; and the world’s first ‘twisted dive loop,’ a twisted roll that will rotate the passengers upside down while experiencing uplifting forces.” 

Adlivankin points out that the word “taiga” refers to a boreal forest, and says in this forest, an eagle has found its nesting place at Linnanmäki, which is located on a hill. “‘Taiga’ makes its territorial flights from the nest, which is the ride itself,” she says. “The riders can jump on the wings of ‘Taiga’ and enjoy the eagle’s fierce flight.”