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Six Flags Great Adventure Flash Coaster Nominated for Best New Attraction

The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure earned a nomination in USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

the flash vertical velocity
Image Courtesy Six Flags

The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure earned a nomination in USA Today's Reader's Choice Awards. This isn't just any nod — it's competing for Best New Attraction against heavyweights from across the nation.

The coaster burst onto the scene in March at the Jackson Township site. Now it faces off with other premier attractions that launched after April 2024.

USA Today's program works like this: experts handpick the finest candidates in each category, then voters decide the winner. You can cast your vote until Dec. 22.

What makes this coaster special? It's North America's first super boomerang shuttle coaster. Riders blast forward and backward at 60 mph in just three seconds, then rocket 172 feet up through a twisting vertical tower that'll make your stomach drop.

Six Flags Great Adventure already wears the crown as New Jersey's top amusement park. Thrill seekers flock to this Jackson Township spot year after year.

Since March, The Flash has pulled in crowds hungry for that adrenaline spike. The shuttle design flips the script on traditional coasters — passengers hurtle in both directions during one wild ride.

This nomination adds another trophy case entry for the New Jersey park, which keeps rolling out attractions that compete with the best in America.

Want to back this coaster? Head to USA Today's website before Dec. 22 runs out. Your vote counts.

The poll only includes attractions that opened during the eligibility window. Theme parks from coast to coast submitted their newest rides and experiences.

That super boomerang design? It separates this coaster from the pack. Traditional coasters follow one path, but this shuttle format gives riders two completely different perspectives of the same track.

Zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat — that's the launch power here. The 172-foot vertical tower dominates the skyline, packed with twisting elements that keep riders guessing throughout each cycle.

J. MayhewWriter