Ice Breaker, SeaWorld Orlando’s new launch coaster by Premier Rides was recognized as the Best New Theme Park Attraction of 2022 in the USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll.

A panel of experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, and relevant expert contributors pick the initial nominees, and then the top 10 winners are determined by popular vote.

Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides, said: “The Premier Rides Team is very honoured that the well-travelled and experienced USA Today judges selected SeaWorld Orlando’s Ice Breaker as a finalist in the Readers’ Choice Poll.” “The collaboration of the SeaWorld creative team and Premier’s team of ride engineers to come up with a one-of-a-kind coaster attraction that fit one of the most challenging sites was impressive. And it means so much to us that the public, the guests for whom we work so hard to entertain, voted and pushed Ice Breaker to the number one position. Thank you to the thousands who voted for Ice Breaker. We are very grateful.”

Seay added: “I also have to congratulate SeaWorld who captured four of the top five USA Today10Best positions which is a very impressive accomplishment and a testament to their commitment and strategy to provide outstanding attractions throughout their park system.” Already named by USA Today as one of the Most Anticipated Attractions in 2022, Ice Breaker has been a huge hit with guests of all ages with rave reviews on social media. In addition, the ride was highlighted in SeaWorld’s recent quarterly call where record earnings were announced.

Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker features four airtime filled launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida – a 93 feet tall spike with 100-degree angle. The thrills continue as riders fly over a near vertical Top Hat maneuver into a series of twists, turns, and airtime hills.

Kyle Miller, park president of SeaWorld, said: “Ice Breaker is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride which complements our existing exhilarating ride portfolio perfectly.”

The ride queue offers an interactive educational experience, a reflection of SeaWorld’s partnership with Alaska SeaLife Centre—which specializes in rescue, rehabilitation, education and research—a perfect alignment with SeaWorld’s own conservation activities and educational mission. This partnership will help educate riders about the Arctic and its inhabitants and a percentage of proceeds of Ice Breaker merchandise goes to the conservation fund.

Tara L. Riemer, president and CEO of Alaska SeaLife Centre, added: “The Alaska SeaLife Center is excited to grow our partnership with SeaWorld. For many years, SeaWorld has been a stalwart supporter of the Center, and particularly our Wildlife Response program.” “We are grateful for SeaWorld’s contributions of funding and staff over the years to further our mission. This new collaboration will continue efforts to highlight Arctic rescue and conservation stories.”

By: Joe Kleiman

“Ice Breaker is on track to launch this Spring… literally.”

With those words, the final track section and the first train were installed early this week at SeaWorld Orlando.  Not only is Ice Breaker SeaWorld Orlando’s first ever launch coaster but it also features Florida’s steepest beyond-vertical drop.  This new Premier Rides coaster will feature four airtime filled launches that accelerate riders both forwards and backwards.  Thrill seekers will be propelled — in reverse — up the nearly 10-story spike where they experience Florida’s steepest beyond-vertical drop — at an angle of 100 degrees.

The final track piece completes the coaster course along which riders will travel more than 2,700 feet at speeds of more than 50mph.

Brian Andrelczyk, Vice President of Design and Engineering described Ice Breaker, stating “it can run not one, but two trains through the use of a unique, high-speed horizontal track switch” Brian continued “The fun is just getting started … The launch track itself is special because we have an airtime hill on either side, so you’re going to get airtime on every hit of that launch – that totals to 16 hits of airtime throughout the entire layout! It’s going to be a really exciting ride keeping you out of your seat almost as much as you’re in it.”

Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides commented, “We are extremely proud to reach this important milestone.  The ride looks spectacular and the installation has been a great team effort. We are honored to be a part of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s formula for success by supplying this one-of-a-kind, record-breaking coaster that is sure to be a must-see attraction this spring!”

Ice Breaker is named after the icy Arctic summits and the ride queue offers an interactive educational experience, a reflection of SeaWorld’s partnership with Alaska SeaLife Center—which specializes in rescue, rehabilitation, education and research—a perfect alignment with SeaWorld’s own conservation activities and educational mission.   This partnership will help educate riders about the Arctic and its inhabitants.

“The Alaska SeaLife Center is excited to grow our partnership with SeaWorld. For many years, SeaWorld has been a stalwart supporter of the Center, and particularly our Wildlife Response program,” said Tara L. Riemer, President and CEO of Alaska SeaLife Center. “We are grateful for SeaWorld’s contributions of funding and staff over the years to further our mission. This new collaboration will continue efforts to highlight Arctic rescue and conservation stories.”

The opening of Ice Breaker will be the newest addition to SeaWorld’s ever-growing ride portfolio and a marque experience in Orlando.