After the thrills and raging good times, it's farewell to three rides

Wallis Wang

Four Westerners sank a Raging River boat at Ocean Park after squeezing into it despite their bulky build, recalls a staff member who has been operating the attraction for years - ahead of its shutdown at the end of the month.

The Raging River water ride as well as the Mine Train roller coaster and The Abyss drop tower will be retired on September 1 after thrilling riders for more than 20 years.

The rides - especially Raging River, launched in 1984 - carry the memory of a few generations and have finished their historical mission, ride operators said yesterday.

Passengers of the Raging River sit in a log-shaped boat, which meanders along narrow channels and then plunges in a vertical drop at a speed of 58 kilometers per hour.

Area manager Chu Wing-hei, who has worked at the park for 13 years, said the Raging River has brought joy to many families, with children as young as three allowed to ride.

"I feel bad to see those rides retire. It's a shame that they can no longer go on," Chu said.

Staff also recalled other fun moments, including the time when four burly foreign men made a Raging River boat sink after insisting on riding together and overloading it.

"I don't know why they were so 'united,' " the park's ride maintenance manager, Felix Shi Kwok-ki said, smiling.

"The boat sank at the platform immediately after they sat in it. We had to require them to sit separately."

In another anecdote, a visitor jumped out of the boat as it went uphill and staff had to stop the ride immediately, said area manager Winston Li Ho-Yan, who first worked in the park in 2011.

"Sometimes there would be some strange visitors doing some strange things," he said. Li also said the rides have trademarks representative of Hong Kong.

"All three retiring rides are located close to the sea - the Mine Train was once rated as the roller coaster with the most beautiful views in the world," Li said.

He added that many rides at the park were built near mountains, which is rare to see in places outside Hong Kong.

One visitor who went on the rides as a child said she would miss the three rides, which have brought precious memories to her family.

Kristy Lai, 22, said she first went on the Raging River at age six and it remains one of her favorite rides.

"The most enjoyable bit is the anticipation of the drop and the water splashing all over you. It's one of those moments where you get a good laugh after being drenched from head to toe," Lai said.

Admitting she had not been to the park for almost seven years and might not have the time to visit again before the rides are shut down, Lai said she is going to miss the Raging River.

"It's sort of like the end of an era and a bit bittersweet, but the memories will be kept in my heart," she said.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com