Review: Colossus at Thorpe Park
Overview Colossus at Thorpe Park in Surrey, UK is a steel 10-inversion coaster manufactured by Intamin. Opened in 2002, it held the record for most inversions on a roller coaster until 2013, when The Smiler (with 14 inversions) opened at Alton Towers. (Colossus was subsequently cloned as 10 Inversion Roller Coaster – how original – in China.) Layout, Theming and Elements Colossus has a fair...[Read More]
Why Not Go Rogue?
Actually, maybe rogue is the wrong word. Why offend, if you would really just want to go your own way? Perhaps, you are more of a maverick. This 2007 Intamin terrain-hugging LSM launch coaster has been the wildest part of Frontier Town at Cedar Point, and it seems plenty happy to have gone a separate way from Mean Streak. Instead of becoming rougher and less confidence-inspiring over the years, Ma...[Read More]
Skyrush: But What About The Restraints?
Celestial Coaster As celestial a coaster as Intamin has ever produced, Skyrush holds the number 2 position on my list of the 10 most intense coasters I’ve ridden. (See my post of July 7, 2017). Riders start screaming as soon as the train is dispatched and makes its swift ascent of the cable lift hill, in anticipation of what lies ahead. What lies ahead is an astonishing ride that’s noteworthy ...[Read More]
May Not Accommodate Larger Guests
When theme park and amusement park fans begin to plan their dream trip or their first regular visit to their home park, some people have the basics down. They save up to buy tickets or season passes, make overnight accommodations, pack a bag with sun block, sunglasses, comfortable clothes, swimwear, maybe a poncho. They may have carefully researched travel times, hotel reviews, available discounts...[Read More]
Superman vs Hulk in Final Round of Comic Book Roller Coasters Tournament
It’s all come down to this. We’ve reached the final round in the Comic Book Roller Coasters Tournament. Round 4 Recap: Decisive Wins Round 4 did not have the close match-ups of previous rounds. Both of the winning roller coasters won by significant margins. Here are all of the results from the last round. Superman The Ride (Six Flags New England Hyper) 79% over Batman The Ride (Inverte...[Read More]
Comic Book Roller Coasters – Round 4
We’ve reached the final four in the Comic Book Roller Coasters Tournament. Before moving on, let’s look back at Round 3 which saw yet another super close showdown. Round 3 Recap: Superman Escape From Krypton Slips Past Mr Freeze Mr Freeze Reverse Blast faced yet another tight match-up. This time it fell short of what would have been a major upset as the record-breaking Superman Escape ...[Read More]
Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster Coming to SeaWorld San Antonio
Wave Breaker Rescue Coaster Coming to SeaWorld San Antonio In 2017, SeaWorld San Antonio will open Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster. The ride will be 61 feet tall, 2,600 feet long, and it will include two launches. Wave Breaker will feature trains designed to look like jet skis and it will incorporate an animal rescue theme. “Replicating an adventure limited to only a few trained professionals, Wa...[Read More]
Fury 325 vs Intimidator 305 | Giga Coaster Showdown
With the opening of Fury 325 this year, comparisons to other giga coasters were going to be inevitable. This showdown might have even more interest than most as Carowinds and Kings Dominion are in bordering states (North Carolina and Virginia). So, there’s a better chance that more people have ridden both or plan to. First, let’s define a giga coaster as many have been asking due to Ca...[Read More]
What is a Giga Coaster?
With all of the buzz around Fury 325, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the World’s Tallest and Fastest Giga Coaster. Many have asked exactly what the “giga” refers to. What is a giga coaster? A giga coaster is a roller coaster that’s between 300 and 399 feet tall and completes a full circuit. The first giga coaster was Millennium Force which opened at Cedar ...[Read More]
The Fastest Roller Coasters in the World (Updated)
What are the fastest roller coasters in the World? I’ve updated the table below lists the 10 fastest roller coasters starting with the current record holder, Formula Rossa at Ferrari World. The 10 Fastest Roller Coasters in the World Updated October 2017 Have You Ridden One of the Fastest Roller Coasters in the World? I’ve ridden only two of the roller coasters that made the list. They...[Read More]
The Longest Roller Coasters in the World
The 10 Longest Roller Coasters in the World Have You Ridden One of the Longest Roller Coasters in the World? This list of record-holders is among the most diverse from a geographic stand-point. Europe, Asia, and North America are all represented in this list of lengthy rides. I’ve ridden Fury 325, The Beast, Millennium Force, and The Voyage. All four were excellent rides; not just long for t...[Read More]
The Roller Coasters with the Most Loops
This edition of Superlative Sundays lists the loopiest roller coasters in the World. The Roller Coasters with the Most Loops (Inversions) World Roller coasters that are under construction are marked with an asterisk (*). A Roller Coaster Record the U.S. Parks Don’t Hold If my research was correct then the American parks’ roller coasters top out at 7 loops. B&M have given us great ...[Read More]