Flucht von Novgorod is a 2009 Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter at Hansa Park, Germany. While Kärnan gobbles up most of the attention at the park, a strong argument can be made that Novgorod is perhaps the most important coaster in Hansa Park's history. It was their first major modern thrill coaster, and it effectively started the trend of highly intense, heavily themed attractions that the park is known for today. At its heart, however, Novgorod is a classic Gerstlauer experience: forceful and intense, but not exactly the most comfortable ride out there. Let's dive in.

The Ghost of Volkov

As with Kärnan, the story and lore behind Novgorod play a major role in the overall ride experience. The narrative revolves around Peer Oldendorp, who travels to the Russian city of Veliky Novgorod to look for his missing father, only to end up being chased by the very same entity that killed him: the ghost of Volkov, a dark warlock who was hanged.
The queue for Novgorod is incredibly detailed and atmospheric, with sinister music playing as you slowly venture into the dark, dungeon-like castle building. The fact that the coaster is mostly hidden from view only adds to the mystery of what you are about to experience.
The station is dark and cramped, providing a very different feel from most well-themed indoor stations that usually strive for an impressive sense of scale and grandeur - but that is not what Novgorod is about. It's all about setting the mood for the upcoming ride experience.

Run for Your Lives!

As the ride begins, you slowly navigate a dark room representing the forest where Peer's father went missing. You soon encounter the spirit of the father himself, who warns you that the ghost of Volkov is coming for you. The train then dips down into pitch blackness - this is where Volkov attacks, and you have to run!
For the rider, this translates to being launched to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 1.4 seconds. It is an incredible launch that packs a massive punch, made even better by the anticipation built during the preceding dark ride sequence, which features great visuals and a hype musical score.

Contains ride spoilers

And now for Something Different

You are thrown out into the daylight (though a night ride on Novgorod does sound kind of cool) and barrel over a comically profiled airtime hill that delivers very strong ejector airtime. You then enter what is definitely the weakest section of the ride: an overbanked hill that doesn't really offer any force, followed by a downwards-to-upwards helix maneuver. This element rides a bit like a non-inverting batwing but is unfortunately a complete dud, offering little more than mild headbanging. You do, however, finish off with a nice heartline roll before hitting the midcourse brakes.
This outdoor segment starts amazingly and finishes strong, but the middle portion is very weak and uncomfortable. A stronger layout here could have made Novgorod a truly elite coaster.

The Final Showdown

You enter a dark tower and slowly start to climb the vertical lift hill, thinking you have finally escaped. But just as you reach the top, Volkov - armed with a ghostly scythe - strikes again, sending you plunging down the 131-foot drop in complete darkness.
You then tear through one last section completely blind before popping up over a final airtime hill. Here, you are met with a massive jump scare: in a flash of red light, a possessed scarecrow drops right in front of you just as you hit the final brakes.
This is an incredibly immersive and thrilling way to end the ride, further cementing Novgorod as one of the most unique coasters in Europe.

Contains ride spoilers

Epilogue

Just as you think the ride is over and exit the vehicle onto a separate unload platform, you enter a maze of dungeon paths that looks nothing like the way you came in. Volkov is somehow still after you!
While it is definitely possible to get turned around a couple of times in this maze, chances are you will be walking out with some locals or excited children who know exactly the right path to take. Even so, it remains a very unique and immersive way to end a ride.
Another interesting detail is that you actually emerge quite some distance from where you entered. After navigating the maze, you step out into the sunshine of the Fiesta del Mar area, left wondering what just happened and where you are.
This does make the coaster slightly harder to marathon, as it is quite a hike to get back around to the entrance, but it absolutely makes for a more complete and immersive experience.

Contains ride spoilers

Conclusion

Flucht von Novgorod is such a cool thrill coaster. It is dark, mysterious, and very atmospheric. Some would argue that too much focus is paid to lore and theatrics, and too little to comfort, flow and pace - areas where Novgorod is admittedly a little awkward.
However, we strongly believe that the overall package of Novgorod far surpasses the experience provided by your average thrill coaster. The detailed and immersive atmosphere is crafted in conjunction with high thrills and intense moments, giving us the best of both worlds, albeit in a slightly rough-around-the-edges package.
Rock on, Novgorod!

All photos

Sharing the love of Storm…

Back