La Ronde amusement park

The Monstre vs. Goliath

La Ronde has announced the construction Canada’s tallest and fastest roller coaster. Christened Goliath in tribute to its enormous size and awesome height, the exciting new steel roller coaster will be ready to welcome its first high-thrill seekers as of spring 2006. Goliath is without a doubt La Ronde’s biggest project since the Monstre—a venerable rollercoaster and signature image of the amusement park—was built in 1985.

Steel giant

La Ronde’s phenomenal new steel giant will measure over 53 metres (175 feet) in height, making it 13 metres (43 feet) higher than the Monstre, and 21 metres (69 feet) higher than the Vampire! After an initial downward plunge of over 52 metres (171 feet), passengers will fly along a 1.2-km (4,039-foot) run at speeds reaching a dizzying 110 km/h (68 mph), for over three minutes! Goliath will be La Ronde’s 11th thrill ride.

Goliath will have two 36-passenger trains: each train will have nine cars able to seat four people side-by-side. The cars will be open on the sides and the safety device will attach from bottom to top, giving passengers the impression that they are flying over Île Sainte-Hélène. To intensify the experience, after the initial drop passengers will be whisked outside the park to the eastern point of Île Sainte-Hélène, before being rushed back into the park over a series of quick hills and drops. The ride glides to a smooth stop in the station house, located near the Tour de Ville flying carousel and the Jardin des Étoiles.

“I’m proud to confirm that in 2006, La Ronde will further bolster its position as a world-class theme park with the construction of Canada’s tallest and fastest roller coaster! Indeed, as of spring 2006, La Ronde will fulfil thrill-seekers’ expectations by offering them the astonishing Goliath, custom designed to provide them with unforgettable extreme thrills,” said Len Turtora, La Ronde’s Vice President and General Manager. “I hereby invite all Québecers, Canadians and tourists visiting our beautiful city to come and see for themselves how La Ronde continues not only to move with the times, but also to offer the most complete family entertainment on the market.”

La Ronde continues to reinvent itself

Since 2002, 17 exciting new rides including the Goliath, the Vampire, the Splash and six new additions to the Pays de Ribambelle family section have been added to Montréal’s favourite playground. Throughout this period, La Ronde has also built two new magnificent entrances, a beautiful 150 person banquet hall, added exciting new skill games, and upgraded its food and beverage facilities. In addition, several improvements to the park’s infrastructure have been made including landscaping, rest areas, fencing, design, decor, and sanitary facilities. Over the years, changes such as these have definitely added to the pleasure and comfort of visitors to La Ronde. The Goliath was custom-designed for La Ronde by famous manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, a company renowned for the quality of its rides. Bolliger & Mabillard also designed La Ronde’s popular Vampire ride, erected in 2002.

A mega-ride!

The Goliath will cost $18.7M, the largest investment for a single ride since the park opened in 1967. Construction has already begun on the giant roller coaster and will continue throughout the winter in order to be ready for thrill-seekers when La Ronde opens. Building the ride, the only one of its kind in Canada, will take close to 100 specialized workers, 300 pilings, 150 cement foundations, 106 columns, 1,750 m3 (61,800 cubic feet) of cement and 850 anchor bolts.

André Quenneville
2009-05-28