Birmingham Royal Ballet’s soloist Karla Doorbar has completed approximately half a million pirouettes in a glittering career, but even she’s dizzy after a visit to Alton Towers’ brand-new ride. The Staffordshire theme park has reopened for 2025 (Saturday, March 15), alongside its latest addition, the Toxicator.
Karla, who is a lifelong fan of Alton Towers Resort having grown up in nearby Stoke-on-Trent, was a frequent visitor as a child. She was approached for her dedication to mastering spin in a profession that demands the ultimate strength and precision and has put the record-breaking ride through its paces.
She said, “Throughout my training and career I’ve devoted countless hours to perfecting the pirouette – whether performing on world-renowned stages or in the studio. It has taken immense levels of focus over many years to develop the strength and power that this entails.
“So when Alton Towers invited me to be the first to take on the unrivalled spinning power of Toxicator I jumped at the chance. Riding it is an incredible experience and will give riders an unrivalled sense of the intense power of spin.”
Toxicator is the only topspin ride of its kind in the UK – with extreme spin patterns exerting heart-pounding centrifugal forces on those brave enough to ride it. Standing at a record-breaking 78ft high thanks to its setting on a 16ft elevated platform within the park’s Forbidden Valley, guests can walk underneath (a world-first, apparently).
This double-sided topspin ride is one of only two in Europe and will allow more than 500 riders per hour. It is flanked by the ominous Nemesis Reborn, which was revamped last year after an incredible 18-month transformation. To book your tickets to Alton Towers and be among the very first to experience the Toxicator head here.