SKYRUSH PHOTO SHOOT

Skyrush Photo Shoot October 1, 2012

When I got an email from ACE to the effect that Indigo Films was going to be filming Skyrush for Travel Channel and needed volunteers who were prepared to ride this coaster over and over, I jumped at the chance to get involved.   As many of you know, Travel Channel televises the programs Extreme Coaster Wars and Insane Coaster Wars.   The opportunity to possibly be on TV was too good to pass up, and even if I don’t make the final cut, I’m happy to have been selected and to have had the experience.   We all met near the employee entrance to Hersheypark on October 1, 2012 at 8:15am.   After some preliminaries, the project got underway.   One of the first things those who had ridden Skyrush previously were asked to do was vote on the coaster by computer.   Then the camera crew filmed short interviews with those who had ridden and those who had not, asking the newbies about their expectations of the ride.  Although it was chilly at that time of day, we were asked to remove our jackets so that this would look like summer.

Once everything had been set up for the film shoot, we all got to ride over and over.   Initially the crew mounted a camera behind the first row of Skyrush but later removed it.   In any case, I believe that the majority of rides were shot from the ground and while we did have the opportunity to try different seats, the crew wanted certain people to remain in the same seat for several consecutive rides.   There was also a helicopter overhead.   The whole thing was an absolute blast!   I can’t remember the last time I’ve had this much fun.  11 rides on Skyrush in a short time was coaster nirvana except for the restraint being painful on one of the rides.    This coaster is extremely intense – undoubtedly the most intense one I’ve ridden – and because of the extreme turns and insane airtime, the restraints are very tight.   I do think that Hersheypark has made some improvements, as the seat that gave me trouble last June – the front row right wing seat – did not cause me any trouble during this film shoot.  

 Indigo Films did an outstanding job – the crew was very professional and at the same time very personable – as did the staff at Hersheypark, who were welcoming, provided refreshments and operated the ride on a day when the park was closed to the public.  And I got to meet some fellow members of ACE.  It was quite an experience.  Thanks to all involved.   For more information about rides at Hersheypark, visit www. hersheypark.com