Ok, so I did a day trip on the 29th just to ride this. Accessing is easy, I flew into Skavska and it was a pleasant 40 minute drive to the park. Easy as pie, lots of signage, parking is easy too.
As a note of advice to anyone visiting, this is a Zoo, not a theme park. Zoos are big, and this one has some severe elevation changes, be warned that the first path is a very steep hill, and reaching the area where wildfire is located takes a good 15 minutes of brisk walking.
This was the first view I had of the ride;
A few random pics;
The theming is concentrated around the station area plus the shed on the cred, it is excellent;
Unfortunately the sawmill pulley system above the train is not/was not working, the lights come on and go off and the saw should start with all the belts moving but they are having issues with it. They should have it working by the time of the CF Live though.
They were only running one train as they hadn't finished installing the new cylinders onto train 2.
The ride itself is a wooden Helix. Helix at Liseberg does everything fantastically well and is extremely varied, with one or two minor changes it could be the best coaster in the world. Funnily enough, Wildfire is extremely similar. It's easier to list the things which aren't perfect, which are;
* The roll over (2nd inversion) doesn't really need to be there, it is an inversion for the sake of having an inversion.
* The last airtime hill/drop off the cliff before the S curves is taken too slowly that only the final 2 rows get any airtime at all, and it's weak
Literally every other foot of track on this is brilliant. It's as smooth as steel right now too. Personal highlights;
* Zero-G stall is perfection, but the left seat isn't as smooth.
* Wave Turn/Burning Shack/Twisted Airtime Hill combo is brilliantly spaced and connects seamlessly
* Sideways airtime hill just before the roll over is such a lovely sensation
* Twisted Airtime Hill after the roll over has some serious ejector
* The final inversion is so fast and forceful, even in the front, but in the back it pummels you with G's, love it!
The drop is killer. Front has a bit of hang followed by floater, the back has some great ejector. There's some great G's during the pullout and there's headchoppers galore.
The only issue with Wildfire is going to be getting a night ride, as the coaster closes 30 minutes before the Zoo and, like most Zoos, they close before dark...except in November, there's 30 minutes from Sundown to Queue closing on the 6th of November
Can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of it in August, I expect that anyone who loves Helix will have this in their top 5, pushing for the top spot.