Planning on trying the newest and scariest ride at the Royal Adelaide Show? Here’s what we thought of the Joker

Planning on trying the newest and scariest ride at the Royal Adelaide Show? Here’s what we thought.

The Joker

HOLD ON: Clint 14 and Leo 20 ride The Joker with Reporters Natalie and Jess. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Thrill seekers are in for a treat at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show with the debut of the new Joker ride.

Dubbed the scariest ride at the show, it swings passengers 24 metres above ground and spins them around. It doesn’t take long before you’re hanging upside down and the adrenaline kicks in. But the heart really starts pumping when the Joker starts shaking you in the air. My colleague Jess was, in her own words, “clutching on to the rails for dear life”. Definitely a ride for brave showgoers. And if you’re planning on consuming a few Dagwood dogs, I would recommend to hold off until after the ride.

Royal Adelaide Show opens for 2024. Clint 14 and Leo 20 ride The Joker with Reporters Natalie and Jess. 30th August 2024. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Adelaide Hills resident Leo Rothe, 20, tested out Joker with The Advertiser ahead of the show, giving the ride a scare rating of 9 out of 10. Here’s what he had to say:

“It was amazing, probably the best ride here. It was scary, it was great fun. When it was spinning around as you were going upside down, that was definitely a bit scary.”

The Pirate Ship

Journalist Nat riding the Pirate Ship at the Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The Pirate Ship is an oldie but a goodie. Unlike the Joker, this is one for the whole family. The ride started off gently swinging back and forth before taking us higher and higher. While the Pirate Ship looks a fairly innocuous, the swinging motion of the ride made my stomach drop at times.

Riverland teen Emily Carter, who rode the Pirate Ship with The Advertiser, said it was “definitely not as scary as the Joker but it was still very cool”.

“I’d give it (a scare rating of) maybe a six or a five,” the 16-year-old said.

“ It doesn’t get that scary but when you get really high, if you’re scared of heights then maybe (it would be scary).

“(My favourite part) was going as high as possible.”