How many years have you ridden?

I dont know if this topic came up before but how many years have you ridden coasters? How old were you when you first experienced the thrill of your life? Describe what it took to get you on that first coaster. Did mom and dad persuade you or perhaps your big brother. Mine would be the Whizzer at SFGAm when I was 5 years old. My father had to talk me into riding it. Even at the tender age of 5 I feel like a late bloomer now because when my daughter was 3 she wanted to ride any coaster that was in her sight but couldnt because of height restrictions. Share your stories. I also have the privelege of riding the Whizzer coaster today because its still running. *** This post was edited by Chitown on 5/3/2000. ***

Mine was the Jr. Gemini at Cp.I was 5 years old. But then rode so of the smaller coasters. When I went on Raptor I couldn't get off any coaster at CP.

I don't remember, but I kind of have two milestones. The first was in '89 when I first rode Magnum (I was 16 at the time). That's when I finally realized that I could ride anything without fear.

The second milestone was only a few years ago at age 25, '98, when I realized I was an adult and could go to as many parks as I wanted. That was the beginning of the obsession!

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
*** This post was edited by Jeff on 5/3/2000. ***

I don't honestly remember my first ride. I do know that I've had a thing for them as long as I can remember. I know that I've ridden coasters before this time, but my earliest actual coaster memory was riding the Schwarzkopf looper Shockwave at Six Flags Over Texas at the age of about 5 or 6 (I'm 23 now). I remember being somewhat scared coming around to that first drop and looking at those 2 loops at the bottom of the drop. Even to this day, that is one of my favorite coasters. Smooth as glass and great airtime...marvelous!

My mother and father dragged me on the Gemini at age 7, in 1988, as soon as I was 48" tall. That was the start of it. When my parents got divorced in '89 my mom realized that she was now free and could do what she wanted, so we started going to CP all the time, which evolved to going to PKI and then driving a little farther to go to Hershey, just a little farther to BGW...in '91 we met a bunch of ACE members at Cedar Point and my mom decided that we should join that, so we did. At the time we had CP season passes and were there about every other weekend - not too bad for living in Pittsburgh, PA. I've traveled a lot of places with my mother to ride coasters and I'm looking forward to traveling to a lot more.

So I've been a coaster enthusiast for upwards of 10 years, even at the tender age of 19. :o)

Incidentally, I've wanted to work at CP from the time I was 14. I thought it looked like the kewlest job ever.

My little sister who is now 14 is following in my footsteps...my mom didn't force her on coasters though, she usually didn't come with us on our trips. She only recently started riding when I made her go on the Iron Dragon about 2 years ago. Now she can't wait to go on MF with me. :o)

It really is infectuous...I have people here at school who can't wait to get to an amusement park because of me. I'm going to SFNE on VIP day I think if I can get a ride, so I'll make sure to post a TR of that if I end up going!!

Natalie
CP Seasonal employee
That dang crazy hockey player...an stuff.

Okay, I broke the height requirement to do this but my mom says I was only 4 months old when I rode "Gold Rusher" at SFMM. She had one of those backpack type deals thats goes in the front and thats where I rode. So I guess Ive been riding coasters for 23 years and 8 months.

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"Happy B-Day to Me!"

I was 4 in Disney and I rode Thunder mountain. I did not really know it was a coaster(or what a coaster was for that matter). I have been addicted since I was seven and rode Comet, Sooperdooperlooper, Trailblazer, and SideWinder at Hershey.

My first ride had to have been on the High Speed Thrill Coaster at Knoebles when I was 4 or 5 years old. I believe my first wooden coaster was probably the Phoenix in 1985 at Knoebles as well I was 9. My first 200 footer was Steel Force last year. So I guess I,ve be riding coaster for about 20 years now! Wow I'm getting old but not old enough to stop riding.

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Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,Knoebles

Mine was American Eagle @ SFGAm @the age of 7. Beleive me, that's not a good starter for that age. I was like 50 lbs and i got the most air time of my life, even though i didn't know what air time was back then.

Ah, this topic makes me sad. I didn't ride a coaster til I was 13. That was the first year we went to a park that I was big enough to ride one alone. I think the last time we went to a park before that I was five. My parents were terrified of them and didn't want me to ever ride one, but I was a pain and they let me try The Beast. I'm pretty sure my mother thought if I rode one I'd be too scared to ever try another. I didn't care for Beast in particular, but I could see that coasters were right up my alley, if I found a good one. I did. Lots of them. 15 years later I'm running all over the place with my husband, riding every coaster we can possibly get to :)

Jill

How many years. Well lets just say this will be my second year at riding coasters. Oh yeah I am such a rookie out there. (not visited many parks) However I do have growing up at CP last year in my corner. Starting out on the best rides in the world. I was scared of being that high in a coaster (yeah I will be a little scared on MF but hey I know it will be fun). Also I thought i would get sick and a bunch of other crap. 22 years old and only riding for two years, I may not know everything about coasters but i think you will enjoy my company; just wait till you ride with me. :)

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Closing Time: 5:30
CP Arrival Time: 5:50

Whose Line is it Anyway?

Chitown - looks like we have something in common.

Just as you, my first coaster was a Schwarzkopf speed racer. Only mine was on the Big Bend at Six Flags over Texas. I was only 4 at the time... I'm pretty sure this was before height requirements. ;) I think I rode this coaster because that's what the big kids were doing... and as far as I was concerned... I WAS a BIG kid too!
Wow! What memories! I will need to pay a visit to SFGA to ride the Whizzer while it still stands.

hmmmm corkscrew at age 5 at cp. not scared at all. i have been an enthusiast for about 3years but have been a rider and was always awed and interested by them. to this day i have rode 3different corkscrews(cp, pavillion, old sfo) and 3 defunct coasters(corkscrew at old sfo, corkscrew at mbp, and drachen fire at bgw[or so it is now]). not bad for a 14 year old. i also rode beast when i was 6. i do not see the hype in this ride. the only reason i like it is because it is long. i rode raptor when i was 9. thats about it.
-Mike
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"MOICHANDIZING! MOICHANDIZING! MOICHANDIZING!," Yogourt from Spaceballs *** This post was edited by punk on 5/10/2000. ***

I was 7 when I rode Iron Dragon.

Im 15 now, and dont remember my first coaster ride ever except it was at the now defunct boblo island, but I do remember my first major ride, the Raptor at Cedar Point, I have been obssesed ever since

Cedar Creek Mine Ride at age 6, then the Blue Streak. My aunt held me down in my seat, so I wouldn't fly out (No seat belts in 1974!!) Yeah, yeah, I'm an old fart to the youth on this forum!! But, since that point in my life nothing is more appealing then the smell of the grease on a hot summer day, aroma of the wood, the sounds of riders. It made me buy and send for coaster magazines at age 12 and buy some stupid, addicting game called Roller Coaster Tycoon at age 32! What an obsession!

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There's nothing like a woodie...

I was, oh, about 7 or 8 (I'm 16 now) when I rode Rolling Thunder, a bobsled coaster at SFGAm that was only there until two or three years ago. After that it was probably the WHizzer, just like you Chitown.
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-BIG ED

Hey same with me hurricane Raptor broke me loose too.

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Closing Time: 5:30
CP Arrival Time: 5:50

Whose Line is it Anyway?

WOW...Back in the day when there was no height requirements and all you needed was an adult. The good ol' Racer at King's Island. I was about 4 or 5...and thats when you rode a woodie all you had was a lap bar....wow, what happened to those. To this day I remember it well "Please Dad,take me and hold on to me...don't let me fly out" I was certain that if I rode with my Mom she wouldn't be able to hold me in. So my brother, who was 1 year younger then me, got my Mom. Selfish of me huh? Well that was back in 1974/1975. So it's been 25 years.
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Let the coasters begin!!

Big Thunder Mountain at WDW in 1988. A great way to start. Fast, smooth and a great night ride.

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Six Flags America IS a Six Flags park! *** This post was edited by WildOne on 5/15/2000. ***