The popular Mediterranean park will install Ridercam cameras and equipment into two of its major rides – the wooden coaster Stampida and the as yet unnamed new wing launch coaster.

The first to be operational will be on Stampida, a twin track duelling coaster originally supplied by Custom Coasters International but fitted out this season with new trains (pictured), a new ride control system and magnetic brakes by KumbaK Coasters. KumbaK, which recommended the Ridercam system to Port Aventura, will fit 48 cameras into each of the four new trains – one camera per rider.

The Ridercam experience will begin as guests wait in line and are shown promotional trailers and clips from previous rides. Then, after boarding, every moment of their ride will be caught on camera. Data will be transmitted wirelessly during the ride to the sales point. The system can even be used after dark, using infrared footage.

Just as with ride photos, guests will be shown their images, albeit moving images, as they disembark. After ordering, it will take only a couple of minutes to deliver each finished DVD, and these can be intercut with stock clips or promos if the park chooses.

Trials of the system were first carried out last summer, winning over the support of park management. “We were astonished with the picture quality,” confirms Port Aventura’s technical services director, Javier Almándoz Ríos.

Ridercam, which is based in Oberhausen, Germany, started out in the medical business, where its tiny cameras were used to examine patients internally. Now the company has teamed up with the Dutch AV and show control specialist Lagotronics to market Ridercam to a wider audience. Lagotronics will also be responsible for the operation of the system, which at Port Aventura will be on a revenue-share basis.

The new look Stampida trains are expected to be up and running by Easter, followed by the new launch coaster in May/June. By Intamin, it features a unique seating configuration with riders overhanging the track on either side. This particular Ridercam installation will include a total of 36 cameras in each of the three trains.

A retail price has yet to be set for the DVDs, but it is expected to be around the €15 mark.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend