Shock Wave, Steel roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, USA

Shock Wave is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, built by Anton Schwarzkopf with a design by Werner Stengel. Its track runs about 1,100 metres, reaches a height of 35 metres and a top speed of 97 km/h, and features two consecutive vertical loops. The photograph shows the bright green track forming a large vertical loop, with a train of dark cars with yellow lower side panels held upside down at the crest.

Announced on October 28, 1977, Shock Wave opened on April 22, 1978, built by Anton Schwarzkopf with Werner Stengel applying the heartline principle for the first time. It was the first coaster with two consecutive loops and briefly the world's tallest until Loch Ness Monster opened weeks later. It closed in March 2026.

Shock Wave was the first roller coaster built with two consecutive vertical loops, and Werner Stengel applied the heartline principle here for the first time, a milestone in later coaster design. The ride's name and its green track over royal blue supports, repainted in 2012, are what visitors see from Interstate 30.

The ride may close temporarily during heavy rain due to its proximity to Johnson Creek. Visitors typically experience longer wait times during the summer season and should plan accordingly.

Shock Wave's 2016 VR option used Samsung Gear VR headsets powered by Oculus, giving riders a 360-degree 3D view. The New Revolution cast them as fighter-jet co-pilots battling alien invaders over a futuristic city. During Fright Fest the same hardware ran a different program, Rage of the Gargoyles, dropped the next season.