Latest news with #NorthAmericanMidwayEntertainment
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Thrill of the carnival ride comes down to physics: Calgary professor
Chris Scheetz speaks during an interview while on board the ferris wheel at KDays in Edmonton in an image taken from video on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Sousa Gregg Korek knows a thing or two about roller-coasters. As vice-president of client services for North American Midway Entertainment, he has been part of bringing rides and attractions to one of Edmonton's signature summer events for nearly five decades. Korek said his company has brought back a lot of fan favourites for KDays, the decades-old exhibition that draws thousands yearly to Alberta's capital for rides, games, food and live music. There are familiar coasters, such as the Star Dancer and Crazy Mouse. For those who want something wet and wild, there's the Niagara Falls Flume. Others, such as the Polar Express, are geared towards fast-paced thrill-seekers. The best rides are the fast ones and the ones that go upside down and backwards, Korek said. 'When you're coming down the very first hill on that Crazy Mouse roller-coaster, you're alive,' he said Tuesday. 'The Wave Swinger, that's always been my favourite. It always reminds me of ... those dreams that you have where you're flying.' That feeling of hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds is all about physics and your brain fooling you, says a Calgary physics professor. Dr. Phil Langill, an associate professor in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary, is an avid thrill-seeker and has closely studied midway rides. Langill said it all comes down to gravitational force, or G-force, which measures the acceleration or deceleration relative to the Earth's gravitational pull. When you get on a ride, he said, it's designed in such a way that the seat you're in makes you feel heavy or light. That translates to a feeling of being smashed into your seat and feeling heavier, or of weightlessness, as if you're going to fall out, he said. 'The rides try to play with your psychological being,' Langill said. While many chase the thrill of the ride, carnival classics like the ferris wheel continue to be enjoyed by people like Chris Scheetz, who is on a quest to ride it for 54 hours straight to raise $54,000 for chronically ill children. A self-proclaimed lover of rides, Scheetz said he's done a bunch of 'wild and wacky' stunts dating back to his time as a radio host, such as when he drove a Zamboni from Calgary to Edmonton. When his family found out his plan to break the 53-hour record ferris wheel ride, 'they went, 'Oh, no. Not again,'' he said. Aside from five-minute bathroom breaks every hour, he hasn't stepped off the wheel, even sleeping on it at night. Scheetz said he's had no trouble passing the time, between rides with sponsors, celebrities and media interviews. He's also had children on as part of the Alberta Dreams charity. His ride is expected to end late Wednesday afternoon. KDays runs through Sunday. With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025. Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thrill of the carnival ride comes down to physics: Calgary professor
EDMONTON – Gregg Korek knows a thing or two about roller-coasters. As vice-president of client services for North American Midway Entertainment, he has been part of bringing rides and attractions to one of Edmonton's signature summer events for nearly five decades. Korek said his company has brought back a lot of fan favourites for KDays, the decades-old exhibition that draws thousands yearly to Alberta's capital for rides, games, food and live music. There are familiar coasters, such as the Star Dancer and Crazy Mouse. For those who want something wet and wild, there's the Niagara Falls Flume. Others, such as the Polar Express, are geared towards fast-paced thrill-seekers. The best rides are the fast ones and the ones that go upside down and backwards, Korek said. 'When you're coming down the very first hill on that Crazy Mouse roller-coaster, you're alive,' he said Tuesday. 'The Wave Swinger, that's always been my favourite. It always reminds me of … those dreams that you have where you're flying.' That feeling of hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds is all about physics and your brain fooling you, says a Calgary physics professor. Dr. Phil Langill, an associate professor in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary, is an avid thrill-seeker and has closely studied midway rides. Langill said it all comes down to gravitational force, or G-force, which measures the acceleration or deceleration relative to the Earth's gravitational pull. When you get on a ride, he said, it's designed in such a way that the seat you're in makes you feel heavy or light. That translates to a feeling of being smashed into your seat and feeling heavier, or of weightlessness, as if you're going to fall out, he said. 'The rides try to play with your psychological being,' Langill said. While many chase the thrill of the ride, carnival classics like the ferris wheel continue to be enjoyed by people like Chris Scheetz, who is on a quest to ride it for 54 hours straight to raise $54,000 for chronically ill children. A self-proclaimed lover of rides, Scheetz said he's done a bunch of 'wild and wacky' stunts dating back to his time as a radio host, such as when he drove a Zamboni from Calgary to Edmonton. When his family found out his plan to break the 53-hour record ferris wheel ride, 'they went, 'Oh, no. Not again,'' he said. Aside from five-minute bathroom breaks every hour, he hasn't stepped off the wheel, even sleeping on it at night. Scheetz said he's had no trouble passing the time, between rides with sponsors, celebrities and media interviews. He's also had children on as part of the Alberta Dreams charity. His ride is expected to end late Wednesday afternoon. KDays runs through Sunday. — With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Thrill of the carnival ride comes down to physics: Calgary professor
EDMONTON - Gregg Korek knows a thing or two about roller-coasters. As vice-president of client services for North American Midway Entertainment, he has been part of bringing rides and attractions to one of Edmonton's signature summer events for nearly five decades. Korek said his company has brought back a lot of fan favourites for KDays, the decades-old exhibition that draws thousands yearly to Alberta's capital for rides, games, food and live music. There are familiar coasters, such as the Star Dancer and Crazy Mouse. For those who want something wet and wild, there's the Niagara Falls Flume. Others, such as the Polar Express, are geared towards fast-paced thrill-seekers. The best rides are the fast ones and the ones that go upside down and backwards, Korek said. 'When you're coming down the very first hill on that Crazy Mouse roller-coaster, you're alive,' he said Tuesday. 'The Wave Swinger, that's always been my favourite. It always reminds me of ... those dreams that you have where you're flying.' That feeling of hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds is all about physics and your brain fooling you, says a Calgary physics professor. Dr. Phil Langill, an associate professor in the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Calgary, is an avid thrill-seeker and has closely studied midway rides. Langill said it all comes down to gravitational force, or G-force, which measures the acceleration or deceleration relative to the Earth's gravitational pull. When you get on a ride, he said, it's designed in such a way that the seat you're in makes you feel heavy or light. That translates to a feeling of being smashed into your seat and feeling heavier, or of weightlessness, as if you're going to fall out, he said. 'The rides try to play with your psychological being,' Langill said. While many chase the thrill of the ride, carnival classics like the ferris wheel continue to be enjoyed by people like Chris Scheetz, who is on a quest to ride it for 54 hours straight to raise $54,000 for chronically ill children. A self-proclaimed lover of rides, Scheetz said he's done a bunch of 'wild and wacky' stunts dating back to his time as a radio host, such as when he drove a Zamboni from Calgary to Edmonton. When his family found out his plan to break the 53-hour record ferris wheel ride, 'they went, 'Oh, no. Not again,'' he said. Aside from five-minute bathroom breaks every hour, he hasn't stepped off the wheel, even sleeping on it at night. Scheetz said he's had no trouble passing the time, between rides with sponsors, celebrities and media interviews. He's also had children on as part of the Alberta Dreams charity. His ride is expected to end late Wednesday afternoon. KDays runs through Sunday. — With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Organized chaos,' builders say of moving exhibition from Stampede to KDays
The last pieces of the KDays Midway are being put in place Thursday. The exhibition grounds were a bustling place in the morning, with workers in cranes, forklifts, semis, and even on top of a stationary ferris wheel. 'A lot of it is organized chaos,' acknowledged Bennett Kavals, the person in charge of personnel for North American Midway Entertainment. 'But a lot of planning goes into the logistics.' After the Calgary Stampede closed on Sunday, about 500 crew members tore the amusement park down and packed for the road trip north on Monday and Tuesday. About 300 semis are needed to transport the rides from city to city. 'We bring the equipment in the strategic order. The placement is very important.… It's kind of like a symphony, an orchestra,' Kavals said. KDays midway exhibition set up 2025 A crane operator helps build a roller coaster for the KDays exhibition on July 17, 2025. (Connor Hogg / CTV News Edmonton) Many staff work for the company year round and travel for the exhibition season year after year. Each is assigned to a specific ride. 'We move 19 locations in a year, so we're pretty good at this. And we've been doing it for 21 years,' noted Scooter Korek, vice-president of client services. 'We start in Miami in March of every year and they become very proficient at their ride and how to set it up, how to do the inspections, how to make sure that it's safe, how to be able to ride people. So by the time we get here to KDays, we're very proficient in our tasks.' According to him, two of the most difficult rides to set up are the 'Crazy Mouse' and 'Outlaw' roller coasters. But construction and inspections will be finished by Friday's 11 a.m. opening, the organizers promised. Korek said, 'It hits home when the gates are open. All that work pays off and all of our guys look forward to (it). Let's get this party started.' With files from CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Videos capture brawls on and off Stampede grounds, four arrested after midway fight
Four people were arrested early Tuesday morning after a fight broke out at the Calgary Stampede midway. The altercation spilled into a midway game booth and involved several employees attempting to break up the fight. Calgary police say officers responded to reports of a disturbance where a fight had broken out between four people at Stampede Park at around 12:13 a.m. Tuesday. 'The fight spilled into the booth of a midway game and the midway employees attempted to remove them,' CPS said in a statement. Officers arrived on scene and placed four individuals under arrest, police said. Charges are pending. A video of the incident, shared on Instagram, appears to show multiple midway employees trying to bring an end to the altercation. North American Midway Entertainment did not respond to request for comment. A spokesperson for the Calgary Stampede confirmed they were aware of the incident. 'We can confirm that both Calgary Police Service and Calgary Stampede Security responded to that incident,' said Kerrie Blizard, director of public safety and environment at the Calgary Stampede. 'All four offenders were escorted off park by Calgary Police Service that evening.' Another video shared to social media on Tuesday appears to show a separate brawl in downtown Calgary, near the Wildhorse Saloon in the 500 block of 6th Avenue S.W. The video, posted to Instagram by YEGWAVE, shows at least six individuals involved in a violent altercation outside the Wildhorse tent. At one point, an individual is shown face down on the ground as another person kicks them in the head. It's unclear when exactly the altercation took place. CPS said it is not aware of any reports about the incident. Police are working to protect pubic safety at Stampede events, CPS said in a statement. 'The Calgary Police Service is working with our partners and community groups to provide a safe environment for all and we encourage everyone to enjoy Stampede events and celebrations in a lawful and safe manner,' CPS said.
