Blacking out. I’ve heard coaster enthusiasts mention that they’d experienced such intense g-forces that they blacked out. I’ve ridden many coasters in my time, but I couldn’t recall ever blacking out (nor did I want to). Until I rode Goliath last summer. It had other plans.
Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Goliath (not to be confused with Georgia’s Goliath) is one of the tallest roller coasters in the United States and the World. It features a climb of 235’ feet and a plunge of more than 25 stories into an underground tunnel. The hyper coaster was designed by the now defunct Giovanalo company. With many B&M and Intamin hyper coasters under my belt, but no Giovanolas. I was excited to ride Goliath for it’s height, speed, and maker. At any other park, Goliath would likely be the star attraction, but Six Flags Magic Mountain has a deep lineup of extreme rides. Goliath probably comes in third after X2 and Tatsu on the park’s popularity scale.
Just past the huge Goliath letters lies the massive steel coaster. You board the Giovanalo trains in the temple-themed station and your journey begins. The train takes a right u-turn out of the station and begins its long, slow climb. You feel like you’re climbing for a lifetime. After the seemingly never-ending trip to the top, you look down to see a small black hole at the bottom of the peak you’ve crested. That’s the tunnel way down at the bottom of the first hill. Finally, all of the trains creep over the edge and start their descent. Unfortunately, the drop was somewhat unsatisfying.
To me, the drop felt way too shallow. I checked it out after my trip and it was only 61-degrees. I don’t like to mention other roller coasters in a coaster review, but the drop into the tunnel is reminiscient of Six Flags Great America’s Raging Bull. Sure, Raging Bull’s drop is 30 feet shorter, but at 65- degrees the drop is steeper and more exciting.
After the drop, the train climbs up to a banked turn probably more than 100′ in the air and then drops again. The following hill is Goliath’s only parabola-shaped hill (those camelback shaped hills made for airtime) and I don’t recall any substantial airtime if any at all. Next, Goliath gets all twisted. The train dives out of the mid-course brake run and into its twisted second half. The train traverses a twisted course near the ground. Twice the train dives really low to the ground. The g-forces were so intense that I blacked out for a spilt second. I’m all about g-forces and intensity in doses, but if it’s that strong, I’d have to say it’s too much. Before I get comments calling me a wimp, which you’re completely entitled to say, I just don’t think roller coasters should be that intense. It’s the same way I feel about ultra-rough wooden roller coasters.
Overall, Goliath is still a good roller coaster. It’s height, speed, and that 
drop into the tunnel will easily set it a part from most roller coasters out there. Compared to the other hyper coasters I’ve ridden though, it falls a bit short with it’s lack of airtime and subpar first drop. Final Rating – 7.0 (Good)
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain? Chime in by leaving a comment below.