Final day of the Ex attracts Saskatoon's thrill seekers

With eyes still wide with excitement, Haley Johnston and Ben Ngeleka rushed off the Mega Drop ride at the Saskatoon Exhibition Sunday afternoon. 

“It was terrifying,” Johnston said. “I’m shaking right now.”

The screams on the way down were from Ngeleka, she added.

“The suspense was too much, it was unbearable,” he said with a laugh. “I think if you scream it helps with the emotions of the ride.”

The Mega Drop ride at the Saskatoon Ex. Kelly Malone/News Talk Radio

They certainly were not the only people taking in the final day of the Ex. By Saturday night, organizers said more than 171,000 had come to check out the rides, games, and entertainment.

Emiley Darlington said she hadn’t been to the Ex in a few years but Brayden Cook decided to take her on the last day. Coming off of the Orbiter, she was ready for a little break before the next spin. 

“I’m a little dizzy but it’s fun, I like it,” she said.

“It’s awesome, I want to do it again,” Cook added. “I’ll go on any rides that make me go upsidedown or spin.”

The Orbiter ride at the Saskatoon Ex. Kelly Malone/News Talk Radio.

The sidelines were much more comfortable for Elaine Chapman as she watched her daughters flip and turn on the rides. 

“I have a seven year old and a four year old. It’s really fun and I’m happy I don’t have to go on there with them,” she said with a chuckle. “My littlest is just big enough now.”

Ryan Schweitzer and Serina Vignes had purchased the Superpass, but rainy weather and cloudy skies had kept them off most of the rides earlier in the week. 

“All the other days it was kind of raining so it’s nice… we had the super pass so we want to use it right,” Schweitzer said coming off of the Vertigo ride. 

“It gives you butterflies and it’s a nice view,” Vignes added. 

The weather likely impacted attendance. Ex officials on Saturday night said the five day cumulative attendance was down 5.3 per cent from 2014.

kmalone@rawlco.com

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