Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau?bsaxton@standard.net?

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ARMINGTON — BomBora, Lagoon’s newest roller coaster, fills a park niche by offering a family ride with a lot of excitement.?

“The configuration of it reminds me of Jet Star 2,” Lagoon Vice President of Marketing Dick Andrew said, describing the $5 million-plus roller coaster.?The ride, included in the cost of the all-day ride passport, is expected to open on Saturday, April 2, the day the park opens for the start of its warm-weather season.?BomBora is a term that means a confluence of waves, Andrew said.?The name has a lot to do with where the ride is being built and its beach-surfer theme.?The roller coaster, being built immediately north of the Lagoon-A-Beach water park, has a footprint of 100 feet by 165 feet, with more than 1,000 feet of track, Andrew said.?”It is kind of an impressive ride to look at,” he said.?The roller coaster, with two 16-passenger trains and a track configuration designed exclusively for the park, is made of components manufactured in the United States and Europe, Andrew said.?The ride will reach a maximum height of 50 feet and a speed of 31 mph.?Andrew said any coaster is a ticket draw, and this particular coaster, although it does have some ride restrictions, has been designed for the most part to allow the family to ride together.?”We’re calling this a family coaster,” he said.?Those under 36 inches tall may not ride, while those between 36 inches and 48 inches tall must be accompanied by a responsible person.?”This has got some thrills in it,” Andrew said. “This is going to be an exciting ride.”?The ride, with two trains operating, will be able to serve about 950 riders per hour.?”We try to add a new attraction every year. We know that is important,” Andrew said of Lagoon’s philosophy. “We try to have something new every year.”?