.svg) | |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Arrow Development Arrow HUSS Arrow Dynamics S&S Sports Inc. S&S Power |
| Founded | 1994 (1994) |
| Founder | Stan Checketts |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Amusement rides,roller coasters |
| Parent | Sansei Technologies |
| Website | s-s |
S&S – Sansei Technologies (formerlyS&S Sports,S&S Power, andS&S Worldwide) is an American company known for itspneumatically poweredamusement rides androller coaster designing.
Stan Checketts with his wife Sandy (Stan & Sandy) founded S&S Sports, Inc in 1994 inLogan, Utah. S&S Sports manufacturedbungee jumping and trampoline equipment. Later that year, S&S began manufacturing air-powered amusement rides, which became the main stay of the company.[1] S&S Sports was sold in 1996.
In 2002, S&S began looking for opportunities to expand their business, citing acquisitions as the best method to do so.[2] Following the bankruptcy filing ofwooden roller coaster manufacturerCustom Coasters International (CCI), S&S hired founder Denise Dinn-Larrick and several other former CCI employees to start a new wooden coaster division for the company.[2] The division was shut down two years later after manufacturing only four wooden coasters.[3]
In October 2002, S&S founded S&S Arrow, alimited liability company which purchased the assets of the bankruptArrow Dynamics.[4]
In 2006, S&S Power opened Celebration Centre, aFamily Entertainment Center featuring a number of S&S rides and prototypes. The facility was later sold and is currently no longer operating.[5]
On August 25, 2006, S&S Power, Inc. announced that Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill, both original founding partners of S&S, had formed a group to purchase a controlling interest of S&S. The negotiations took several months. CEO Checketts was to direct the company based on the same principles upon which it was founded; "...to provide the amusement industry with thrilling, high-quality rides the entire family can enjoy." Checketts also announced that the business operations of S&S would remain under the direction of Rich Allen, who would continue in his role asChief Operating Officer.
In February 2009, Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity interest in S&S, including all shares previously owned by Checketts. The Koffman family and affiliated shareholders were to maintain their ownership interest. Checketts ended his consulting relationship with the company in order to pursue business interests with Soaring Eagle Zipline Inc., of Logan Utah.[6] More than a decade later, Stan Checketts, aged 80, died on January 2, 2022, at his home in Providence, Utah.[7]
In November 2012, S&S Worldwide Inc., entered into a binding agreement withSansei Technologies Co., Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, whereby Sansei acquired 77.3% interest in S&S.[8][9] Signage at the 2012 and 2013IAAPA Attractions Expos promoted the new company as S&S – Sansei Technologies, with Sansei becoming its sole owner by late 2014.[10] On March 30, 2018, it was announced thatSansei Technologies had also acquired amusement ride manufacturerVekoma.[11]
Pneumatically powered attractions quickly became the company's trademark offering. The Space Shot was introduced in 1995, usingcompressed air cylinders to accelerate riders up the tower at high speed. Two prototypes were quickly sold toReino Aventura and D&D Amusements before the model was refined and sold in mass supply.[12] Subsequent ride models — theTurbo Drop tower andScreamin' Swing – were respectively introduced in 1996 and 2004 and enjoyed massive success.[13] The company moved to utilize their pneumatic technology on roller coaster launches with theThrust Air 2000, which used refrigerated, compressed air to achieve a high-acceleration launch. A pair opened in 2001 in the form ofHypersonic XLC atKings Dominion andDo-Dodonpa atFuji-Q Highland, the latter of which achieved a world-best coaster acceleration of 172 km/h (107 mph) at the time. The generally unreliable Hypersonic XLC would be retired and put up for sale in 2007, while Do-Dodonpa was partially rebuilt in 2017 only to close down in 2021 after a string of ride injuries.[14] A more refined pneumatic launch coaster was rolled out at the end of the decade and would continue to be installed mostly in China.[15] The effort was spearheaded byRing Racer at theNürburgring race track, whose 2009 opening and intended 217 km/h (135 mph) top speed was scuttled by four years due to defects with the ride system. The coaster operated for four days in 2013 before being declared economically unviable.[16]
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Outside of their pneumatic products, S&S continued to innovate with new designs. In 2008 the company introducedEl Loco, a coaster design capable of packing an extreme layout into a compact footprint. Beginning withSteel Hawg atIndiana Beach, a new El Loco was built almost annually until 2014, with each ride seemingly modified to include a steeper drop than the one before it.[17] At that time, S&S introduced the4-D Free Spin, a smaller and vertically stacked version of previous 4th Dimension coasters.[18] The first installation —Batman: The Ride atSix Flags Fiesta Texas — made its debut in 2015 and generated high demand for the model, with production capabilities fully booked several years in advance.[13][19]
Some roller coasters produced by S&S have faced issues leading to delays or later modifications.Merlin's Mayhem, a family suspended coaster, was built in 2017 atDutch Wonderland but ultimately wasn't ready until 2018 due to construction delays.[20] GaleForce, a compact launched coaster at Playland's Castaway Cove, was unable to open in 2016 as intended due to misaligned track pieces not allowing the car to line up with the launch stators.[21] Although GaleForce opened in 2017 following adjustments, all of the track was replaced the following winter at the expense of S&S.[22] In 2019, S&S builtSteel Curtain atKennywood, a 220-foot (67 m) tall looping coaster. Throughout its lifetime the coaster has operated sporadically due to structural problems. Steel Curtain was eventually closed for the 2023 season as the park sought to address these issues.[23] In addition to this,China's 2019 tariffs on ride parts and theeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a slowdown of sales for S&S.[24]
S&S introduced the Axis Coaster concept in 2019, where riders are seated on an elevated swivel that can swing riders above or below the track, regardless of its banking.[25] This hence allows for layouts and track elements not feasible on more conventional attractions. A prototype was set up at S&S' testing facility in Utah and three were eventually purchased by Saudi Entertainment Ventures, a subsidiary ofSaudi Arabia'sPublic Investment Fund. Opening in 2025/26, each will have a separate design and be located atTransformers entertainment centers inRiyadh,Dammam, andJeddah.[26]
| Model | First produced | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Dimension | 2006 | Variation of awing coaster in which seats are able to rotate along the pitch axis at 360 degrees. The track is laid out like a traditional sit-down roller coaster with additional rails to control seat rotation.[27] |
| 4-D Free Spin | 2015 | Variation of awing coaster in which seats are able to rotate along the pitch axis at 360 degrees. The track does not veer off or bank in any way, as opposed to S&S' other 4th Dimension model.[28] |
| Air Launch Coaster | 2010 | Name given to a variety of roller coasters utilizing compressed air launch systems. |
| Axis Coaster | 2019 (Prototype) | Steel roller coaster utilising unique trains which rotate freely (although regulated by magnets) through a layout with multiple inversions. This coaster model currently only exists at S&S' testing facility in Utah. |
| El Loco | 2008 | Slower-paced roller coaster containing a beyond-vertical drop and thin rails.[29] |
| Family Inverted Coaster | 2018 | An inverted roller coaster with seating below the rails. |
| Free Fly | 2009 | Inverted roller coaster with track inversions that are made obsolete due to a revolving carriage.[30] |
| RailRyder | 2023 | A new single rail roller coaster offering, first presented to prospective clients at theIAAPA Orlando Expo.[31] |
| Screaming Squirrel | 2005 (discontinued) | Variation of the wild mouse roller coaster where there is no defined primary drop, consisting of several "hairpins" and saxophone inversions.[32] |
| Steeplechase | 2017 | A family roller coaster with various vehicle theme options; revival of an Arrow coaster of the same name. |
| Thrust Air 2000 | 2001 (discontinued) | Extreme launched roller coaster using refrigerated, compressed air. |
| Wooden Coaster | 2003 (discontinued) | Standard wooden roller coaster with several variations in track layout.[33] |
As of 2023, S&S – Sansei Technologies has built 42roller coasters around the world.[42]
| Name | Model | Park | Country | Opened | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypersonic XLC | Thrust Air 2000 | Kings Dominion |  United States | 2001 | Removed | [43] |
| Do-Dodonpa Formerly Dodonpa | Thrust Air 2000 | Fuji-Q Highland |  Japan | 2001 | Removed | [44] |
| Timberhawk: Ride of Prey | Wooden Coaster | Wild Waves Theme & Water Park | United States | 2003 | Operating | [45] |
| Falken | Wooden Coaster | Fårup Sommerland |  Denmark | 2004 | Operating | [46] |
| Avalanche | Wooden Coaster | Timber Falls Adventure Park | United States | 2004 | Removed | [47] |
| Hell Cat Formerly J2 Formerly Tsunami | Wooden Coaster | Clementon Park | United States | 2004 | Closed | [48] |
| Powder Keg: A Blast into the Wilderness Formerly BuzzSaw Falls | Air Launch Coaster | Silver Dollar City | United States | 2005 | Operating | [49] |
| Sequoia Magic Loop Formerly Sequoia Adventure | Screaming Squirrel | Gardaland |  Italy | 2005 | Removed | [50] |
| Man-O-War Formerly Screamin Squirrel | Screaming Squirrel | Mysterious Island |  China | 2006 | Operating | [51] |
| Eejanaika | 4th Dimension | Fuji-Q Highland | Japan | 2006 | Operating | [52] |
| Afterburner | Screaming Squirrel | Wonder Island |  Russia | 2007 | Removed | [53] |
| Steel Hawg | El Loco | Indiana Beach | United States | 2008 | Operating | [54] |
| Tranan | Free Fly | Skara Sommarland |  Sweden | 2009 | Operating | [55] |
| Mumbo Jumbo | El Loco | Flamingo Land |  United Kingdom | 2009 | Operating | [56] |
| Extreme Rusher | Air Launch Coaster | Happy Valley Beijing | China | 2011 | Closed | [57] |
| Timber Drop | El Loco | Fraispertuis City |  France | 2011 | Operating | [58] |
| Green Lantern Coaster | El Loco | Warner Bros. Movie World |  Australia | 2011 | Operating | [59] |
| Dinoconda | 4th Dimension | China Dinosaurs Park | China | 2012 | Operating | [60] |
| Bullet Coaster | Air Launch Coaster | Happy Valley Shenzhen | China | 2012 | Closed | [61] |
| Eldorado | Family Coaster | Etnaland | Italy | 2013 | Operating | [62] |
| ring°racer | Air Launch Coaster | Nürburgring |  Germany | 2013 | Removed | [63] |
| Crazy Bird | El Loco | Happy Valley Tianjin | China | 2013 | Operating | [64] |
| El Loco | El Loco | Adventuredome | United States | 2014 | Operating | [65] |
| OCT Thrust SSC1000 | Air Launch Coaster | Happy Valley Wuhan | China | 2014 | Closed | [66] |
| Batman: The Ride | 4D Free Spin | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | 2015 | Operating | [67] |
| The Joker | 4D Free Spin | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | 2016 | Operating | [68] |
| Six Flags Great America | United States | 2017 | Operating | [69] | ||
| Six Flags New England | United States | 2017 | Operating | [70] | ||
| Six Flags Over Texas | United States | 2017 | Operating | [71] | ||
| Arashi | 4D Free Spin | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | 2017 | Operating | [72] |
| GaleForce | Launch Coaster | Playland's Castaway Cove | United States | 2017 | Operating | [73] |
| Merlin's Mayhem | Family Inverted Coaster | Dutch Wonderland | United States | 2018 | Operating | [74] |
| Wonder Woman Coaster | 4D Free Spin | Six Flags Mexico |  Mexico | 2018 | Operating | [75] |
| Steel Curtain | Looping Coaster | Kennywood | United States | 2019 | Operating | [76] |
| Maxx Force | Air Launch Coaster | Six Flags Great America | United States | 2019 | Operating | [77] |
| Batman: The Ride | 4D Free Spin | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | United States | 2019 | Operating | [78] |
| Shooting Roller Coaster | Air Launch Coaster | Sun Tzu Cultural Park | China | 2020 | Closed | [79] |
| Dragon Slayer | 4D Free Spin | Adventureland (Iowa) | United States | 2021 | Operating | [80] |
| John Wick: Open Contract | 4D Free Spin | Motiongate Dubai |  United Arab Emirates | 2022 | Operating | [81] |
| Tumbili | 4D Free Spin | Kings Dominion | United States | 2022 | Operating | [82] |
| Unknown | Air Launch Coaster | Colorful World | China | 2023 | Closed | [83] |
| Unknown | 4D Free Spin | Ocean Flower Island Fairyland | China | 2023 | Closed | [84] |
| Transformers | Axis Coaster | SEVEN Al Madha |  Saudi Arabia | TBD | Under construction | [26] |
| SEVEN Jeddah | Saudi Arabia | TBD | Under construction | |||
| SEVEN Damman | Saudi Arabia | TBD | Under construction |
| Name | Model | Park | Country | Opened | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Shot | Space Shot Prototype (8 seats) | Reino Aventura | México | 1995 | Removed | |
| Moon Shot | Space Shot | U.S. Space & Rocket Center | United States | 1996 | Operating | |
| Big Shot | Space Shot | Stratosphere Las Vegas | United States | 1996 | Operating | [85] |
| Detonator | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot) | Worlds of Fun | United States | 1996 | Operating | [86] |
| Uppskjutet | Space Shot | Liseberg | Sweden | 1996 | Removed | |
| Columbia & Discovery | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Mirabilandia | Italy | 1997 | Operating | |
| Launch Pad | Space Shot | Blackpool Pleasure Beach | United Kingdom | 1997 | SBNO | [87] |
| Space Shot | Space Shot | Rusutsu Resort | Japan | 1997 | Operating | |
| Space Shot | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot) | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | 1997 | Operating | |
| Double Shot | Double Shot | Indiana Beach | United States | 1999 | Operating | |
| Power Tower | Multi-Tower (4 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Cedar Point | United States | 1998 | Operating | |
| Scream! | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Six Flags New England | United States | 1998 | Operating | [88] |
| Sky Jet | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Janfusun Fancyworld |  Taiwan | 1998 | Operating | |
| Space Shot | Space Shot | Happy Valley Shenzhen | China | 1998 | Operating | |
| Space Shot | Space Shot | Walibi Holland |  Netherlands | 1998 | Operating | |
| Supreme Scream | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Turbo Drop) | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | 1998 | Operating | [89] |
| The Volcano | Space Shot | Fantasy Island | United Kingdom | 1998 | Operating | |
| Totem Formerly Totem Infernal and SkunX Tower | Space Shot | Walibi Rhône-Alpes | France | 1998 | Operating | |
| Det Gyldne Tårn | Turbo Drop | Tivoli Gardens | Denmark | 1999 | Operating | |
| Doctor Doom's Fearfall | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot) | Islands of Adventure | United States | 1999 | Operating | [90] |
| Dominator | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Dorney Park | United States | 1999 | Operating | |
| Orbite Formerly Space Shot | Space Shot | La Ronde Action Park |  Canada | 1999 1996 to 1998 | Operating | |
| Raketti | Space Shot | Linnanmäki |  Finland | 1999 | Operating | |
| Scream! | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Combo) | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | 1999 | Operating | |
| Space Shot | Space Shot | Adventureland | United States | 1999 | Operating | |
| The Rocket | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Lagoon | United States | 1999 | Operating | |
| Hellevator | Combo Tower Ride | Playland | Canada | 2000 | Operating | |
| Höjdskräcken | Turbo Drop | Liseberg | Sweden | 2000 | Removed | |
| Kilauea | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Combo) | Six Flags México | México | 2000 | Operating | |
| Power Tower | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Valleyfair | United States | 2000 | Operating | |
| Maliboomer | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot) | Disney California Adventure Park | United States | 2001 | Removed | [91] |
| Space Shot | Space Shot | Genting Theme Park |  Malaysia | 2001 | Removed | |
| The Abyss | Turbo Drop | Ocean Park Hong Kong |  Hong Kong | 2001 | Removed | |
| VertiGo | Sky Sling | Cedar Point | United States | 2001 | Removed | |
| VertiGo | Sky Sling | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | 2001 | Removed | |
| Cliff Hanger | Combo Tower Ride | Flamingo Land Resort | United Kingdom | 2002 | Operating | |
| La Venganza del Enigma | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Space Shot, Turbo Drop, and Combo) | Parque Warner Madrid |  Spain | 2002 | Operating | |
| Space Blast | Space Shot Prototype (8 seats) | Magical Midway D&D Amusements | United States | 2002 1995 | SBNO | |
| Starblaster | Double Shot | Canobie Lake Park | United States | 2002 | Operating | |
| Superman: Tower of Power | Multi Tower (3 towers, Combo) | Six Flags Over Texas | United States | 2003 | Operating | |
| Liberty Launch Cobra | Double Shot | Holiday World Park inPanama City, Florida | United States | 2003 2000 to 2002 | Operating | |
| Down Time Formerly StratosFear Screamer - Re-Entry | Turbo Drop | Lake Compounce Alabama Adventure | United States | 2004 2001 to 2003 | Operating | |
| Sky Screamer | Multi-Tower (3 towers, Combo) | Marineland | Canada | 2004 | Operating | |
| Screamin' Swing | Screamin' Swing | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | 2004 | Removed | |
| Double Shot | Double Shot | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | United States | 2005 | Operating | |
| Screamin' Swing | Screamin' Swing | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | United States | 2005 | Removed | |
| Screamin' Swing | Screamin' Swing | Family Fun Center | United States | 2005 | Operating | |
| Screamin' Swing | Screamin' Swing | Morey's Piers | United States | 2005 | Operating | |
| Rush | Screamin' Swing | Thorpe Park | United Kingdom | 2005 | Operating | [92] |
| Slammer | Sky Swatter | Thorpe Park | United Kingdom | 2005 | Removed | [37] |
| Catapult Formerly SWAT | Sky Swatter | Six Flags New England Six Flags AstroWorld | United States | 2006 2003 to 2005 | Removed | [93] |
| Batwing Spaceshot | Space Shot | Warner Bros. Movie World | Australia | 2006 | Operating | [94] |
| Skyhawk | Screamin' Swing | Cedar Point | United States | 2006 | Operating | |
| Thunder and Lightning | Screamin' Swing | Lake Compounce | United States | 2006 | Operating | |
| Xtreme Swing | Screamin' Swing | Valleyfair | United States | 2006 | Operating | |
| Apollo's Swing | Screamin' Swing | Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park | United States | 2007 | Operating | |
| Giant Barn Swing | Screamin' Swing | Silver Dollar City | United States | 2007 | Operating | |
| Screamin' Swing | Screamin' Swing | Fun Spot Atlanta | United States | 2007 | Operating | [95] |
| Uppswinget | Screamin' Swing | Liseberg | Sweden | 2007 | Operating | [96] |
| Sasquatch Formerly Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam | Multi-Tower (2 towers, Space Shot and Turbo Drop) | Great Escape Six Flags New Orleans | United States | 2009 2000 to 2005 | Operating | |
| Black Mamba | Space Shot | Luna Park, Tel Aviv |  Israel | 2009 | Operating | |
| Giant Canyon Swing | Screamin' Swing | Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park | United States | 2010 | Operating | |
| Barnstormer | Screamin' Swing | Dollywood | United States | 2011 | Operating | |
| Hot Seat Formerly Gauntlet | Screamin' Swing | Fun Spot Kissimmee Wild Adventures | United States | ≤ 2011 2005 to 2007 | Operating | |
| Swedish Swing | Screamin' Swing | Scandia Amusement Park | United States | 2012 | Removed | [97] |
| Blast Off Formerly StratosFear Screamer - Launch | Space Shot | Six Flags Darien Lake Alabama Adventure | United States | 2013 2001 to 2011 | Operating | |
| Oozora Tengoku | Screamin' Swing | Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest | Japan | 2014 | Operating | [98] |
| Hot Seat Formerly Gauntlet | Screamin' Swing | Fun Spot Orlando Wild Adventures | United States | 2015 2005 to 2007 | Operating | |
| Hershey Triple Tower | Choose Your Thrill Tower (Double Shot and Combo) | Hersheypark | United States | 2017 | Operating | [99] |
| Finnegan's Flyer | Screamin' Swing | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | United States | 2019 | Operating | |
| Drop Tower Formerly Hyper Blaster | Double Shot | Navy Pier Pleasure Island | United States | 2021 2000 to 2016 | Operating | [100] |
| Space Mission Orbit Formerly Hot Shot Formerly O2 Tower | Combo Tower Ride | Movieland Park Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin' Miracle Strip Amusement Park | Italy | 2021 2006 to 2019 2002 to 2004 | Operating | [101] |
| Harpoon | Combo Tower Ride | Hainan Ocean Paradise | China | 2021 | Operating | [102] |
| Terraform Tower Challenge | Combo Tower Ride | Genting SkyWorlds | Malaysia | 2022 | Operating | |
| Tidal Surge | Screamin' Swing | SeaWorld San Antonio | United States | 2022 | Operating | [103] |
| Skyborne Formerly Turbo Drop | Turbo Drop | Lost Island Theme Park Buffalo Bill's | United States | 2022 1997 to 2017 | Operating | [104] [105] |
| Serengeti Flyer | Screamin' Swing | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | United States | 2023 | Operating | [106] |
| Twizzlers Twisted Gravity | Screamin' Swing | Hersheypark | United States | 2025 | Operating | [107] |
| Sirocco Tower | Strata Tower | Six Flags Qiddiya | Saudi Arabia | 2025 | Under construction | |
| Unknown | Screamin' Swing | COTAland | United States | 2025 | Under construction | [108] |
| Unknown | Combo Tower Ride | Sunac Cultural Tourism City | China | TBD | Under construction | [109] |
| Unknown | Combo Tower Ride | World Fairytale Land | China | TBD | Under construction | [102] |
| Unknown | Space Shot | Chongqing Wanda Theme Park | China | TBD | Under construction | [102] |
Media related toS&S Worldwide at Wikimedia Commons