Full X report available at Twisted Rails with video

Wow!  The video is very well done! Thumbs way up!

As much as I love Phantom's Revenge, after a bunch a rides yesterday, X is now my favorite new coaster of 2001. Not perfect, but so unique it gives a well needed shot in the arm to the steel coaster industry which, other than the Intamin hyper, has been very predictable lately.

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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit. *** This post was edited by DWeaver on 12/28/2001. ***

Yes, great video/pics. Cant wait to ride it next year!!
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Dayuum, Your HOT!

Fantastic video! Just watching it makes me wish I lived in California, instead watching the snowflakes fall outside my office window here in Ohio. I hope this design comes east real soon!

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You don't stop playing because you grow old,,,you grow old because you stop playing.

I get the sense of huge floater air during that first Raven Turn...
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You can't kill whats stronger than death.

Went on X on Christmas Eve. I actually purchased a $90 pass and went up to the park from Orange County just to ride it. The park was fairly empty, but the wait to get on X was long due to bugs in the system, learning to load and unload trains, etc. I sat in the very last seats, and although there were only about 8 people in front of me, I was in line for about 40 minutes. I think this efficiency problem will work itself out within a week or two, as the staff gets comfortable with the ride.

Overall, I would say the ride is pretty incredible. The first drop is insane, but I would suggest the back seats and not the front ones. The turns and inversions are pretty smooth, and the seats are well-constructed. First raven turn is great--you are facing towards the ground the whole time, so it really feels like you are flying through the air.

The first drop is some great anticipation--as you leave the loading station, you are facing backward as you climb the first hill. Then, as the train crests and begins to pick up speed, the chairs rotate quite quickly and as you enter the drop, you are facing perpindicular to the ground. You maintain this position through the first raven turn. From there, don't ask because I felt like I was spinning all over the place.

My only beef with the ride is that it is incredibly short. Similar to Batman, the ride is over very quickly. I know all good rides seem to short anyway, but this one is really over before you know what happened.

The review on Twisted Rails is correct one one huge point--forget what you know about other coasters. This is the most unique coaster experience I have ever had. Nothing else like it and nothing to which to compare. You really feel like you are flying and it is impossible to get oriented--you are spinning and twisting at the same time.

FYI--the seats rotate a total of 3 times, which doesn't seem like much, but it actually fits given the contours of the track and the loops inherent in the ride itself.

Great video, Karl!  I just freaked out a few people at the office by showing it to them...LOL!  And even after watching it I still had a difficult time describing the experience. 

Speaking of short, I had the same reaction to Batman:The Ride many years ago. "What the #@&% was that"!!??  It is over before you really know what happened.
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.

Karl,  I have kept up with your website since I found the link over a year ago.  I have looked at all the pics, been intrigued by some new construction, and have been amazed at your connections, and drive.  Heck, when I was in Japan this last summer, I borrowed my sister-in-law's laptop, just so I could write here at CB and peruse your site.  That being said............

Wow!  I couldn't believe the video.  The time it must have taken you to put it together, and the labor of love!  Oh, Karl!  What a dude you are!  I downloaded the smallest QT file (because I don't have a cable modem anymore), and enjoyed it so much, I decided to download the 50meg file.  I know that is insane, but I had to do it.  It took 5 hours to download, but it is amazing, and my wife was just freaked out by it.  Now she isn't so sure she wants to ride it.  I will change that, though.

Congrats on a great video, pics, and a wonderful website, Karl!  You deserve every kudo out there.
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www.tripowered.com

Karl,

 WOW! I don't know what to say. I have been following the construction online for quite sometime, got to see X test in August (and also made a short video showing that), and then see the opening pictures you provided on your site.

 However, your video takes the cake! VERY well done and shows the viewer what that ride is about. I haven't ridden it yet but it almost feels like I have thanks to your video.

 I knew you dedicaton for this ride was paying off when Alan S. from Arrow told me back in August that your site helped some of the Arrow folks back in Utah check out the visual status of the ride. How cool is that? 

Sean (THAT'S IT! I am going back out in a few weeks!) F.  

And it's QuickTime, thank you very much. I'm glad to see someone out there understands what the best delivery method out there is. Send a DV tape to me any time and I'd be happy to encode it with Sorenson 3 (what I used for the Badnitrus clips). It's the best size-quality ratio there is!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Visit Magic Mountain in the summer? That's insane! I couldn't image the lines fro X. Four hour waits? It would be a nightmare if there was a Fastlane for X.

Great photos Karl!

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"Duff Man Says... Ohhh Yeah!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)

Wow... X looks like it would be a great ride... I wonder how the ride would be at night... And those photos are great.

This one blew me away:
http://www.twistedrails.com/sfmm2k1/dec24-07.shtml

It looks like the cars are digitaly added in because of how big and beastly the supports are.

I really have to get down to So Cal now...

-Andrew Hyde(Who hopes we will see one real soon in Ohio...)
http://www.experiencethepoint.com *** This post was edited by Andrew on 12/28/2001. ***

X-Review

Just rode X yesterday. I have to say that although I'm not disappointed, I didn't exit the ride saying "that was amazing". Don't get me wrong, the ride is an experience not to be missed, but as is often the case with the first of its kind coaster, I don't think they used the "rotating seats" to the fullest potential. It seems they thought "let's not overdue it" by putting a big section in the middle with little movement. I think that was a mistake. At the very least they should have rotated the seats around to face-down to get the effect of flying. Also, I found the ride very rough. The first ride I got off and was in a bit of pain. Granted, the second ride (in the last row) was much smoother, but don't expect a smooth ride by any means.

In the front vs. back argument, I have to say that my ride in the back was much better than the front. Since you are not facing forward very often there is little advantage to sitting in the front. Plus, all the seats are so far apart that views aren't restricted much in any seats.

That said, the first drop is insane, and the first half of the coaster is great. The transitions near the end are also quite disorienting and unique. The shear size of the thing is pretty impressive as well.

I'm guessing they will rework the seats and restraint system before a year passes, there are some definite kinks to work out.

Ai Carumba!

WOW! That was some video Karl! But what about the lines? I've heard mixed reviews from all around, is it long or short. Have long ones been caused by ride misfunction, operator problems, or just plain load-time?

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"Grilled Steak Taco from Taco Bell!!"

SIMPLY AMAZING!! Both the Ride and the Video. Those of you who have ridden X are very lucky. thanks to twisted rails for the time and work put into that video.

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SFGadv Please I'm begging for a Gyro Drop tower and an ArrowBatic.

Karl, if Twisted Rails had stock... I would buy some.

The overwhelming positive trip reports (look for yourself!) attest to the promise kept by Arrow and SFMM, no matter how long it took. What matters is that it is a prototype and is operating very well. I have only hit X Flight a couple times, so I cannot say whether or not the turnover is ridiculous. but I am sure it will be worked out by summer. I am also happy to announce my permanent residence directly under the raven turn in a couple days.....look for a box and a port-a-potty! What a great video! ThanX for all your great coverage, and to those lucky enough to Xperience the second of Arrow's latest masterpieces, I congratulate you! (Tenn. Tornado is often forgotten, for reasons beyond my comprehension!)
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

Man! X looks awesome! I can't believe how much the video really makes you hyped up to get out to So Cal to ride that thing! Great work Karl on the video! I (thankfully) only live about 7 or 8 hours north of Magic Mountain, so mabye, just maybe, I can hitch another ride down there next summer. I just had my first visit to SFMM last July of 2001 and 4 words.......... Magic Mountain is awesome! Goliath was great, but oh how I prayed X would be open, but to my dismay, it wasn't :( Maybe  next year..........
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*** This post was edited by Brandon Ball on 12/29/2001. ***

Holy crow!