Battlestar Galactica is BACK with a Vengeance!

After completing 1 year and 10 months of National Service (ahem ahem), Battlestar Galactica is finally back on May 27 2015. The new version features 2 abreast seats which offers a greater sense of freedom and operates 2 trains per side. In the meantime, we can only hope that the other roller coasters in USS  (as well as our MRT lines) are exempted from National Breakdown Service.

Background

• July 2013 - Battlestar Galactica roller coaster was closed down for an attraction review. According to some rumours (no official confirmation) it was because vehicle got stuck half-way through the ride.
• November 2013 - Local news agencies report that Battlestar Galactica may get scrapped for good.
• July 2014 - Some small scaffolding was spotted near on the Human track near to the ride entrance. The scaffolding was erected for a couple of months but no major changes to the track was observed

Remember in July last year where these barriers went up?

• November 2014 - Resorts World Sentosa announced in a Press Release that Battlestar Galactica will open "early next year"
• December 2014 - Battlestar Galactica commenced test runs. On 7 December, during the Standard Chartered Marathon, the roller coaster tested both rides together for the first time.
• May 2015 - Battlestar Galactica finally reopened with a relatively low key opening event where several media stars and reporters took the first ride.

Look! Even the brochures are Battlestar Galactica!

The Ride Experience: Human

Alright, before we begin with this, let's just take a moment to reflect about why I started this blog. Unlike almost every theme park blogger, who is almost certainly an adrenaline junkie. I am not. The only reason why I started Second Drop is because I want to share my experience as a late bloomer in riding roller coasters. I want to inspire you to find courage and take risks. This is more than just rides. You need to take risks to succeed at your workplace, in your relationships, in your future projects.

Back to the ride. For myself, I was still really nervous so I actually took 1 round on Revenge of the Mummy to warm up. On my way in, I asked 3 separate team members (RWS lingo for staff) on how the ride compares to Revenge of the Mummy, and no one gave me a definite answer. I do not blame them. The queue line is like a shorter version of Transformers: The Ride. Physically challenged riders will be ushered into the ride through the lift.

Firstly, the restraints. Oh man! This is the most comfortable restraint I experienced in years! In addition to the lap bar, there is also soft shoulder padding that will cushion you in the more violent parts of the ride. If you are shorter than 150cm, you feet will likely NOT reach the floor so it feels scarier. 

The first drop is definitely the highlight (read: most scary part) of this ride. Yet, I think I felt this exact same sensation before. I suspect it was during my return flight from Beijing in 2011, when there was a huge turbulence. I promise to you, survive this and the rest of the ride will be very manageable. In fact, unlike Revenge of the Mummy, this ride does not throw you out of your seat - just some floating airtime. Smoothness is alright, better than most other Vekoma coasters. G-Force on Battlestar Galactica: Human is particularly heavy at the final helix.

I took a total of 4 times on opening day, on rows 1,4,7 and 8. Don't listen to those people gloating that the first row is scariest. The first row is least scary because the ride only starts speeding up when you are halfway down the first drop. I really love the fact that RWS operates 2 trains at one time. The queue really moves!

Battlestar Galactica Human is a major feat for me as it is:

• My first roller coaster to exceed 100ft (10 stories) in height. Why can't this ride be just 10ft higher and I can say 150ft here!!!??
• The first time on a full sized roller coaster where I lifted my hands up throughout the entire first ride attempt.
• It proves to me that I am ready for Intamin Mega Lites and is probably close to being able to ride Hyper Coasters.

The Ride Experience: Cylon

[under construction. will update you all after I ride in the coming days/weeks]

Having to close a ride is something no one wants to see. In the case of Battlestar Galactica, the very fact that the RWS team brought the ride back after 2 huge closures is really a testament to their commitment and resolve. I salute the men and women from Vekoma and RWS who worked behind the scenes to bring this ride back in spite of the odds. Thank you