Iron Shark is a

steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...

roller coaster A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are o ...

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a pleasure pier in Galveston, Texas, Galveston, Texas, United States. Opened in the summer of 2012, it has 1 roller coaster, 15 rides, carnival games and souvenir shops. History The new Galveston Island ...

. The

Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter The Euro-Fighter is a type of steel roller coaster developed by Gerstlauer. First launched in 2003, the trademark feature of the roller coaster is its beyond-vertical drop, which reaches an angle greater than 90 degrees. Although the majority of E ...

roller coaster opened to the public on June 1, 2012. Iron Shark was the first Euro-Fighter coaster in

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. The ride was installed by

Ride Entertainment Group Ride Entertainment is a firm based in the United States specializing in the construction, sales, service, and operation of amusement rides and attractions. Divisions Sales Responsible for the sale of amusement rides, attractions and related pro ...

, who handles all of Gerstlauer's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Ride

Iron Shark is a

Euro-Fighter The Euro-Fighter is a type of steel roller coaster developed by Gerstlauer. First launched in 2003, the trademark feature of the roller coaster is its beyond-vertical drop, which reaches an angle greater than 90 degrees. Although the majority of ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

company

Gerstlauer Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides and roller coasters, located in Münsterhausen, Germany. History In 1982, Hubert Gerstlauer, a former employee of the Anton Schwarzkopf-o ...

. The roller coaster stands above the pier with some parts of the roller coaster standing over the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...

. The ride features 4 inversions. The ride begins with a slight left turn out of the station. It then proceeds up a vertical

lift hill A lift hill, or chain hill, is an upward-sloping section of track on a roller coaster on which the roller coaster train is mechanically lifted to an elevated point or peak in the track. Upon reaching the peak, the train is then propelled from th ...

. After peaking the hill, the ride enters into a beyond vertical drop at 95 degrees. The train then enters an

Immelmann loop Roller coaster elements are the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, or turn. Variations in normal track movement that add thrill or excitement to the ride are often called "thrill elements". Com ...

followed by a

dive loop Roller coaster elements are the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, or turn. Variations in normal track movement that add thrill or excitement to the ride are often called "thrill elements". Comm ...

. A short stretch of high speed "S" curves lead the train into a

cutback Cutback or Cutbacks may refer to: * Cutback technique, a destructive technique for determining certain optical fiber transmission characteristics * Cutback (surfing move) * Cutback (roller coaster), a roller coaster inversion similar to a corkscr ...

followed by an

inclined loop This list of roller coaster elements contains the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation. Introduction Roller coaster elements are the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, or turn. ...

. As the train completes the inclined loop, it reaches the brake run. The ride then features the last 180 degree turn into the station.

References

{{Reflist Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Euro-Fighter roller coasters Roller coasters in Texas 2012 establishments in Texas

Ride

See also

References