SIX FLAGS REVEALS NEW THRILLER; GOLIATH DWARFS THEME PARK'S ROLLER COASTERS.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

The Bible tells of a young boy named David who bested the giant Goliath with a sling.

Had David faced off against Six Flags California's newest megacoaster - aptly named Goliath - he might have considered a cease-fire with this giant to experience the white-knuckle turns and screaming vertical drops the ride is promised to deliver when completed by early spring.

Goliath will plunge riders over an initial 61-degree, 255-feet drop - 125 feet taller than the park's current highest coaster ascent - propel cars up to 85 mph through high-speed turns and a smoke-filled underground tunnel, more than 700 feet of zero-gravity hills and 4,500 feet of track, according to Six Flags officials.

The cloud of secrecy that had veiled Goliath's construction was lifted Thursday at the project site, while a 230-ton crane hoisted the 18th in a series of orange steel track sections onto its green steel support structure, marking the coaster's tallest point.

The Valencia theme park's 13th roller coaster, now three months into construction, is being erected atop 70-foot deep concrete pedestals at Magic Mountain's northeast corner beside the wood-frame Colossus, the park's oldest coaster.

Magic Mountain officials Thursday declined comment on Goliath's cost, but industry sources who spoke to Amusement Business Magazine are estimating a figure around $17 million, according to the Nashville-based magazine's managing editor, Linda Deckard.

``That range will go up or down, depending on how much they're theming it up . . . beyond the steel tracks,'' Deckard said.

Goliath's entrance and underground tunnels will be dressed to project a tropical, lost civilization theme, with tropical foliage and ancient-looking, stone carvings, according to plans.

Unlike most megacoasters that theme parks roll out these days, Goliath's three-minute ride on nearly one mile of tracks will not include upside-down loops, said Six Flags spokesman Andy Gallardo.

Giovanola of Monthey, Switzerland - one of about five roller coaster builders worldwide - designed Goliath to draw a wider range of thrill-ride customers than other roller coasters at Six Flags, Gallardo said, because loops sometimes scare park visitors away.

``Goliath is what's considered as the next generation of roller coasters. It won't have loops, but it will have high speeds, lots of giant drops and tight turns,'' Gallardo said. ``This ride will have so many features, people aren't going to notice there's no loops.''

With three five-car trains carrying 30 passengers at a time, park officials estimate the attraction will carry 1,600 riders at peak hours. Passengers will be secured by lap bars, and coaster cars will accommodate children taller than 48 inches through full-size adults, park officials said.

With one of the world's tallest roller coaster ascents, Goliath will add another superlative to Magic Mountain's collection of roller coasters.

The park boasts the world's tallest and fastest stand-up coaster, Riddler's Revenge; the only coaster in the world to exceed speeds of 100 mph, Superman the Escape; and the world's tallest looping coaster, Viper.

Magic Mountain's director of maintenance and construction, Jim Blackie, watched from the ground Thursday as power tools 255 feet above him whirred to life and workers in yellow hard-hats pounced to secure rivets at the Goliath's highest point.

Blackie has directed every one of Magic Mountain's 13 roller coaster construction projects and says constructing the 255-foot incline has been the greatest challenge because of the equipment involved.

``This is going to be a constant white-knuckler,'' said Blackie, whose favorite Six Flags ride remains Colossus, the first coaster he built in 1978.

``Believe it or not, I think the most thrilling part of any ride here is that first climb on Colossus, right before that 145-foot drop,'' Blackie said, laying a hand across his heart.

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PHOTO (1 -- 2 -- color in SAC edition -- 2 ran in SAC edition only) Construction workers attach a section of Magic Mountain's newest roller coaster, Goliath. Goliath will plunge riders over an initial 61-degree, 255-feet drop - 125 feet taller than the park's current highest coaster ascent - propel cars up to 85 mph through high-speed turns and a smoke-filled underground tunnel, more than 700 feet of zero-gravity hills and 4,500 feet of track.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer