It
is said that SheiKra evokes the power
and speed of an African hawk. I'm not
sure about that, but in that brief,
quiet moment when you are 200 feet in
the air, ready to dive straight down,
you'll certainly feel like a hawk.
The
buzz about Busch Gardens' latest thrill
ride has spread quickly, far beyond
Tampa and Florida. Since its debut,
thousands have flocked to ride North
America's only dive coaster. Those who
have taken the plunge have learned there's
a bit more to SheiKra than just the
massive dive. To start off, there are
actually two massive dives.
Riders
will experience g-forces capping off
at four through SheiKra's dives and
turns, including an Immelmann loop (another
distinct feature), an aerial term that
hails back to dog fighting. A large
splash of water near the end is a great
touch as well. It is clear, however,
that even with all its remarkable "bells
and whistles", riders will come
away talking mainly about one thing:
that first dive, the element that probably
brought them to the coaster to begin
with.
I
took my first ride on a partly cloudy
and humid day, but in the calm four
seconds before the initial drop I could
see Temple Terrace, Raymond James Stadium,
Tampa International Airport, Downtown,
and... then down we went, straight towards
the Earth like a massive meteor! When
you see the ground rushing up at you,
your stomach will end up somewhere it
shouldn't and you'll have an adrenaline
buzz before SheiKra rebounds. That first
moment alone is worth the trip, ticket,
and time. I'm saying this as one who
liked to jump from planes on a weekly
basis.
Normally,
if you want the most intense ride on
a coaster, you'd hop in the front row.
But SheiKra's eight-by-three (wide)
seating accommodates something even
more frightening: seats hanging far
over the sides. And if your plan is
to sit yourself in a front corner, have
a light breakfast.
SheiKra
definitely lives up to its hype. I recommend
this ride to anyone who is a coaster
fan, or anyone who is just a little
bit crazy.
