Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens
Backwards ejectorsit near the front, riders say The loop, then backwardsfairly forceful and intense

Elitch Gardens, Denver, Colorado

Sidewinder

POV
Ride it: back row POV
Back row
Back row
Back row
What riders love
  • Had great airtime in both directions and the launch wasn't crazy or anything, but was plenty of fun.
  • It provides mild ejector airtime depending on where you sit on the train, which I would prefer sitting in the front for the backwards airtime and loop.
  • The ejector airtime you get after the launch on the drop is insane!
  • I was expecting a bit more from the launches, but the ejector you get depending on where you sit (sit in the back for ejector going forwards on the first drop, sit in the front for BACKWARDS ejector on the second drop), as well as the novelty of the model make it a lot of fun.
  • This is typically broken and not running, but when it does, this is the best ride in the park in terms of thrills.
  • One of the very few remaining Arrow Dynamics Launched Loops, Sidewinder is definitely a lot of fun.
Sidewinder Watch Performance Should I ride it? Specifications Reviews Planning History

Watch POVs and more

Sidewinder front seat on-ride HD POV Elitch Gardens

youtube.com › CoasterForce

Sidewinder POV 8K Back Row RARE Arrow Dynamics Shuttle Loop Elitch Gardens, CO

youtube.com › East Coasters

Sidewinder POV (4K 60FPS), Elitch Gardens Arrow Shuttle Loop | Non-Copyright

youtube.com › Canobie Coaster

Sidewinder (Off-ride HD) Elitch Gardens

youtube.com › coastercrutchfield

Sidewinder REVIEW Elitch Gardens - Is this RARE COASTER Worth the Trouble?

youtube.com › 808CoasterLife

Sidewinder at Elitch Garden

youtube.com › RD B

Sidewinder Accident News Coverage Elitch Gardens (1997)

youtube.com › Elevator Alarm Coaster and Animation Productions

Elitch Gardens Sidewinder Commercial (1990)

youtube.com › Society of Amusement Park History

Performance

Vs. other coasters at Elitch Gardens

It’s surprising good for an elitch gardens ride, the best one there, the air time going backwards is so good.

Thesticklord

I mean, that backwards pop of airtime is actually pretty cool.

Incredible Coasters

I was expecting a bit more from the launches, but the ejector you get depending on where you sit (sit in the back for ejector going forwards on the first drop, sit in the front for BACKWARDS ejector...

Evangelion Martini

The ejector airtime you get after the launch on the drop is insane!

Lightning Productions

Super smooth with a smidge of airtime in there.

Nathan F

As far as an enthusiast goes, definitely the best (and notably most comfortable/smoothest) ride at Elitches.

Coaster Carl

Sidewinder is extremely smooth for an arrow coaster.

Joshua Henry

...gave was pretty cool,the loop was fairly forceful and intense,espcially backwards,this ride was pretty comfortable and the ride had some good pops of air on thos drops and ups.well yes,its anything...

אדר פופקו

It is the smoothest, and it has an AMAZING airtime moment as you fly down those drops.

@Alex-wn5rc

Best ride at the park for the ride itself, but it still is a tiny bit rough as it is your average arrow coaster.

Gibson Williams

But the backwards loop was just painful and instantly gave me a headache.

Gavin

...didnt even felt like a launch.but overall,the exprience it gave was pretty cool,the loop was fairly forceful and intense,espcially backwards,this ride was pretty comfortable and the ride had some good...

אדר פופקו

But hey, it’s fairly forceful.

Incredible Coasters

I rode in the front with my dad and and the most intense part of it was when you are launched backwards and thrown in the air when the second drop starts.

@Roaring_Echo

It felt just as forceful going forward but going backwards adds a special effect to it.

808CoasterLife

We get a nice little pop of airtime, and a lot of speed.

Incredible Coasters

Dang man at first this ride seemed like crack but man that thing is so frickin fast I pissed my pants

@AlaskaMan782

Capacity is very low however, and you’re going to be spending a lot of your time cramped onto and climbing a flight of featureless steel stairs while you queue for your ride.

Evangelion Martini

It takes so long to reset the second launch though it kills the pacing.

Nathan F

Should I ride it?

Organize by

Specifications

56 ftHeight
116 Boomerang 109 MindEraser 100 TwisterIII: StormChaser 98 Half Pipe 56 Sidewinder
47 ftFirst drop
91 TwisterIII: StormChaser 47 Sidewinder
45 mphTop speed
Twister III:Storm Chaser55 Mind Eraser50 Boomerang47 Sidewinder45 Half Pipe44 055 mph
47°Drop angle
56°TwisterIII: StormChaser47°Sidewinderdashed line: straight down, 90°
1Inversions

What riders say

Praised for

Ejector airtime

Criticised for

Often closedWeak launch

Best ride at the park for the ride itself, but it still is a tiny bit rough as it is your average arrow coaster.

Gibson Williams, Captain Coaster review

This is typically broken and not running, but when it does, this is the best ride in the park in terms of thrills.

Mike Sarges, Captain Coaster review

I have only been on this once because of its terrible reliability.

Lightning Productions, Captain Coaster review

It’s surprising good for an elitch gardens ride, the best one there, the air time going backwards is so good.

Thesticklord, Captain Coaster review

It’s pretty weak and honestly, my least favorite launch ever.

Incredible Coasters, published review

Had great airtime in both directions and the launch wasn’t crazy or anything, but was plenty of fun.

Brian Frederiksen, Captain Coaster review

Photos

Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens
Martin Lewison, CC BY 4.0

1 photographs. Swipe or drag sideways.

Planning your ride

History

May 27, 1995Opened

A launched loop, built by Arrow, designed by Arrow Dynamics.

4 gStrongest force on riders

Sources

Restraint types: Captain Coaster. History, incidents and awards: Wikipedia. Specifications and status: Coasterpedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. From the park and maker: Elitch Gardens guide. Also read: Captain Coaster (converted to feet and mph). Rider sentiment and performance scores: rider reviews on Captain Coaster, incrediblecoasters.com, youtube.com, read and scored by AirtimeFever.

Photographs via Wikimedia Commons: Bgtbbum at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0), Martin Lewison (CC BY 4.0). Video thumbnails remain the property of their channels and link back to them.

What riders love, by theme (themes in the order riders pick them most on Captain Coaster): Coaster Carl, rider review on Captain Coaster: “It’s an excellent, rare ride with great airtime.”; Brian Frederiksen, rider review on Captain Coaster: “Had great airtime in both directions and the launch…”; Joshua Henry, rider review on Captain Coaster: “It provides mild ejector airtime depending on where you…”; Thesticklord, rider review on Captain Coaster: “Sit near the front, and when you go backwards,…”; Lightning Productions, rider review on Captain Coaster: “The ejector airtime you get after the launch on…”; Evangelion Martini, rider review on Captain Coaster: “I was expecting a bit more from the launches,…”; Gibson Williams, rider review on Captain Coaster: “Really unique and fun as it doesnt have a…”; Mike Sarges, rider review on Captain Coaster: “This is typically broken and not running, but when…”; Evangelion Martini, rider review on Captain Coaster: “One of the very few remaining Arrow Dynamics Launched…”.

The photo slider at the top and the fading stills: East Coasters's back row POV, Sidewinder POV 8K Back Row RARE Arrow Dynamics Shuttle Loop Elitch Gardens, CO (YouTube), and the page's Wikimedia Commons photographs.