Ride Check (EN) - Untamed @ Walibi Holland - A Hybrid Masterpiece

This blog is a transcript from my review video of this new rollercoaster. If you don't want to read, but want to see a motion picture, you can scroll to the end of this article. But you'll miss some nice pics :-).

Park Introduction:

On the 6th February 2018, Walibi Holland send a post on its Facebook account that led to some speculation in the comments. The comments confirmed that its wooden coaster "Robin Hood", which has been in operation since 2000, would be reopened in 2019 as a hybrid conversion by "Rocky Mountain Construction".

(Wildfire @ Kolmarden Djurpark, Sweden)

The only ride built by RMC in Europe so far was "Wildfire" at Kolmarden, Sweden. However, this is not only a new construction, but with the Topper Track it also uses a different track system than the one used for the conversion in the Netherlands. The Walibi Holland Themepark now offers the first RMC Hybrid Coaster and the first conversion of an existing track in Europe.

Robin Hood goes Untamed – A European First:

(Lifthill Robin Hood)

(Lifthill Untamed)

It should be self-evident that such a rebuild should not take place without a ride check from me. So I have gone out again this year to visit the Thrillpark of the Netherlands. Last year I said goodbye to Robin Hood which was one of three Vekoma wooden roller coasters.

(Robin Hood 2018)

The other two are still operating in their original form in Walibi Belgium and Norwegian Tusenfryd. More Woodys where never built by Vekoma itself and in view of the fact that all three already have a certain age, it will probably remain so.

(Werwolf/Loup Garou @ Walibi Belgium)

But before we get into detail about the new experience and the question if Untamed has what it takes to become a Top Coaster in Europe, we take a quick look at the datasheet.

(Robin Hood < ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Untamed)

Even though much of the old wooden structure of the roller coaster was still used, a lot was also changed. This of course makes the data sheet very different. The rough shape of the track was kept, but the new RMC layout offers almost no possibility for comparison and we are talking about a completely new roller coaster.
The lift hill was increased from 32 meters to 36 meters. The First Drop leads with 35.4 meters almost to ground level. Also the total length of the track increased slightly from 1035 meters to 1085 meters. Due to the new overall height, the maximum speed the ride reaches is also increased from approx. 80 km/h to 92 kilometres per hour. Untamed achieves a significantly higher average speed. For this reason the ride time is reduced from 2:25 minutes to only 1:46 minutes. Typically for RMC the layout has been given some inversions. While the original ride used to be without them, Untamed now turns the passenger upside down for 5 times. The two trains with 6 cars each for 4 people reach a total capacity of up to 900 passengers per hour with 24 riders per train. Robin Hood was able to handle up to 815 passengers in the same time.

The total cost of the conversion was 12.5 million euros, assuming this includes the conversion of the "Sherwood Forest" theme area into the new "Wilderness".
Thus the rough key data are set and we go over to the experience Untamed has to offer.

The Theme:

Walibi Holland is not necessarily known for its extensive and highly detailed theme areas, also because of its Six Flags past. Nevertheless, Untamed has been able to establish itself in a suitable environment. The beast embeds itself in a really wildly designed area. The term "Wilderness" doesn't necessarily stand for natural wilderness, but more for a little bit of chaos. But this fits quite well here. The shops around the ride are rather huts and around the hybrid coaster not only wild plants accumulate, but also at first sight random signs and lettering.

Walibi also pays homage to the old woody by laying the waiting zone around old track parts and a whole section of Robin Hood, including the old car. The planting must still grow a little, but the grids for the tendrils over the paths of the waiting zone are already there and should also soften a still existing point of criticism, namely the unbroken sun radiation on the waiting guests. Because shade in the summer time is nevertheless quite important particularly in longer q-lines.

All in all, the design seems chaotic but fits well, because the ride itself is just as chaotic. If one follows the course of the signs and lettering, one can get the impression that these describe the course of a drug trip. This is supposed to be the journey on the train itself. And with that you are frighteningly close to the truth, because the ride on this coaster is an absolute trip...

The Layout:

After the station exit the first, still quite reserved Element follows from the crazy minds of the Rocky Mountain boys and girls. Before the train is released into the lift, it has to pass the 180 degrees "outside banked curve". This tilts the inclined passenger directly towards the inclined spectator...

OK, well, that was bad, so back to the layout...

The lift grabs the train gently, almost imperceptibly and acts quite slowly, at least in the first two-thirds of the lift section. In the last third, the chain speed is slightly increased before it goes into the first drop.

The unknown insect, which the train is supposed to represent, now plunges with 80 degrees inclination into the depth to hunt over a ground near airtime bump. This distributes some Floating Airtime.

With full power the beast climbs up to an element, which is a world premiere: The "270 Degree Double Inverting Stall".

What does Alan Schilke actually eat for breakfast so that he constantly comes across such element names? Anyway, I want it too, but now back to the layout.

Because after the double inversion it goes back into the depth without losing even a hint of energy. What follows is the first Double Up which causes a lot of Ejector Airtime. The second part of this Double Ups tilts apruptly to the left and goes in another Airtime moment into a left turn over which again leads close to the ground.

Then follows the probably only "normal" element of this monstrosity, an ordinary airtime hill.

It lives up to its name and lifts the passenger out of the seat and into the restraints. But then it's over again with normality and it goes into one of RMC's famous Airtime Hills tilted to the side.

This releases the train into a Zero-G-Roll which initiates the U-turn to the way back. Ascending from this long left turn, the train lies at the highest point almost 90 degrees to the right. So another crazy turnaround.

The following Double-Up and Double-Down leads in combination slightly to the left while the passenger experiences short, powerful Ejector- Airtime moments 3 times in a row. Before the train throws itself to the right again, it goes into a Step-Up-Under-Flip. Here again greetings to Alan. You can make a drinking game out of this, man...

Now on: what follows are two almost normal bunny hops that distribute airtime to such an extent that you think the chassis is about to tear off from the wheels. But don't worry, they are guaranteed to last. The third of these bunny hops has banking to the left again just to dive into the support structure.

Below the beams you have not only a lot of headchopper moments, but also another strong airtime moment. A right turn is followed by Untamed's grand finale in the form of a ground-level uphill barrel roll, followed by an airtime-heavy small drop and the ascent to the final brake.

Not without lifting the passenger out of the seat one last time. The beast is back again and has completed an unparalleled flight.

The density and sequence of the elements and ride figures as well as the intensity and number of airtime moments are probably even more unique in Europe. From the first drop to the final brake, the layout leaves no free moment and unwinds an overall composition that is rarely found anywhere else. The layout can be summarized perfectly with the name of the roller coaster: Untamed.

Das Fahrgefühl:

A good overall experience always begins with boarding. Here Rocky Mountain Construction has left some room for whining at the highest level. Because not only the procedure with the belts slows down a little, but also the shin supports belonging to the restraints could be a disturbing factor for larger and bigger passengers. I myself didn't have any problems here, but I am only one meter and 77 centimeters tall and don't have too long legs either. But let's not forget that the seats themselves are quite comfortable. Nothing outstandingly special but also nothing what one could criticize. State of the technology I would say.

But what the ride is undeniably perfect for is the rolling behaviour of the trains. You hardly feel the rail at all. The layout will go through so smoothly that you feel as if you were floating through the elements. Here RMC undoubtedly does a perfect job on the track and the trains, making Untamed one of the best rides when it comes to smoothness I've experienced so far. Excellent work.

If you look at the trains from the outside, you might think that the passengers would have to tear all their back bones apart during the manoeuvres. But the experience as a passenger on the ride is the complete opposite. Here a very high thrill factor is combined with one of the most comfortable ride behaviours I have ever experienced. Which leads to an experience, which one can have at least Europe-wide at present only and exclusively on Untamed. If I had a rating scale, then the ride would get 12 out of 10 possible points for the Ride Experience despite the simple theming. Simply grandiosely composed. A masterpiece!

Conclusion:

Untamed had set the expectations very high in advance and mine were even surpassed. A lot of brute force ejector airtime, completely crazy ride manoeuvres, an uninterrupted layout and all that buttery smooth in behaviour makes the heart of the coaster enthusiast beat higher.

But also the general public is increasingly enthusiastic about Untamed and Walibi Holland can be proud to have brought this pearl of a roller coaster into the park. In addition, the ride has received a soundtrack that I think is pleasant to listen to even after a long wait and the design of the Wilderness Area around Untamed is certainly not a top level, but fits very well to the park and the ride itself.

Even the trains, which I looked at critically in the first pictures, don't look as "over the top" as in the first pictures.

With this RMC Showcase Ride, we now have a hybrid coaster to show off in Europe, because one thing is certain: Untamed is the best that could have been made out of Robin Hood without completely rebuilding it and whether such a new building would have been better is also not certain. Because many elements of this hybrid seem to have become exactly the same as they are now, precisely because of the old route. Sometimes you get the best results if you work with your existing shapes than if you just rebuild everything. My respect to Walibi Holland, Alan Schilke and the design and construction teams at RMC for a roller coaster like I've never experienced before.

My only conclusion is: Go there, ride Untamed and experience a ride you will never forget again. It's going to be wild, it's going to be varied, intense and still comfortable. An almost perfect roller coaster experience.

All this is my personal opinion and experience with Untamed. You see it differently, want to add something or have questions? Then add it to the comment section or message me via my social media channels. You will find all links below the post.

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