Corkscrew

The corkscrew is one of the earliest modern inversions, introduced by Arrow Dynamics in the 1970s. The track spirals around a central axis like a wine corkscrew, rotating riders through a complete 360-degree roll that is offset from the direction of travel. Corkscrews are often paired back-to-back and were the defining inversion element of the classic-era steel coaster from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s.

The German term Korkenzieher is widely used on European park maps and signage. While newer inversion designs such as the zero-G roll, inline twist, and heartline roll have largely superseded the corkscrew in modern construction for the ride quality they provide, the corkscrew remains a beloved element at many parks across Europe and North America. It carries significant historical weight as the element that proved inversions could be comfortable, repeatable, and safe — paving the way for everything that followed.