First, there was Linear Gale. Then came Superman: Ultimate Escape[now also named Steel Venom], followed by V2: Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great America and Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Marine World, the Screaming Condor, and finally Wicked Twister in 2002. And in May of 2003, the latest in a new breed of coasters will strike and blast off as the fifth inverted 'Impulse Coaster' to open up in the United States. Emerging in Shakopee, Minnesota at Valleyfair park, Steel Venom will become the second in the Impulse series to land in the Cedar Fair park chain, Wicked Twister at Cedar Point being the first. The most unique coaster ever to be installed at Valleyfair, the Steel Venom's U-shaped layout of bright yellow track will rise straight up into the sky, like most other Impulse coasters, with two 185-foot tall vertical lengths of track - one of which will twist in a near-360-degree Heartline Roll. The yellow, orange and blue-colored train will sit a maximum of 28 riders in below-track, leg-dangling position before shuttling them between the two vertical spikes via a straightaway of Linear Induction Motors, five times total throughout the duration of the ride. And at one point, a mid-air holding brake will give unsuspecting riders a surprise as it brings the train to a complete stop on the back tower, facing straight down, for a brief moment.

Future riders board the 14-row, 28-passenger train before the ride starts off on a first LIM launch ahead. After climbing a portion of the forward spike, the speed wears off and the train falls backwards through the station area. Hitting a second period of LIM acceleration, the twisting action begins as riders are thrust up a good percentage of the 185-foot 90-degree steep back spike. Falling forwards, passengers are swept along the horizontal straightaway again as another moment of Linear Induction gets the speed up to a maximum 68 miles per hour and carries the train up the vertical twist. Riders get to watch the sky rotate 360 degrees as they spiral upwards and then get to experience the same maneuver in reverse. The train rockets in reverse again and hits the straight vertical back tower once again to send passengers climbing backwards and plunging forwards, then the speed wears off as the ride comes to an end and slows back into the station.

Feel the strike, starting May 10th, 2003 at Valleyfair!