A few Skycoaster questions...

Hey guys.

My church group is heading out for a 2nd trip to SFDL this summer. We are going on Thursday, arriving at 3 pm and leaving after the lasershow.

A couple friends of mine would like to do the Skycoaster with me so we'd have 3 people, at $15.00 per person.

I've never been on one, but comparing it to $20 for Slingshot, I'd much rather ride the Skycoaster.

I've been wanting to do it and since my parents won't be there this is finally my chance.

How safe are these things? I've always thought bungee jumps were unsafe but this is a bit different. Have there ever been any accidents? I've had this fear that the cable would snap as we swing.

Any tips about the Skycoaster? Is it worth the $15.00 or should I skip it? How intense is it? Or is more fun than intense?

Thanks!
-Dan

As safe as any other ride in a park. I've heard of few, if any, accidents involving skycoasters. I like the experience more than that of a slingshot, but to each his own.

Yes Yes Yes. Sky Coasters are very fun. Ive done the one at CP, SFGAm, and SFA. All very fun. Yes they are safe. They use steel cables. You will be fine. 15 Dollars is acually very cheep for one.

Wow, only 15 bucks??! That's a steal.

I've been on a Skycoaster before...biggest adreneline rush I had. Its very intense and nerve-wracking when you're getting pulled up but its incredible. Trust me, its worth the money.

A couple things to keep in mind:

1. Skycoasters are not bungee jumps. Infact, they use practically no cords or elastic parts whatsoever.

2. No guests have ever been killed on a Skycoaster attraction. There was one intoxicated employee who was seriously injured because of his actions, but nonetheless, had nothing to do with the ride malfunctioning.

3. There is atleast one factory trained employee at every site at all times. It's the only ride I know of where the manufacturer requires the operators to pass their training first.
*** Edited 8/17/2005 3:59:29 AM UTC by Fun***

I rode the sky coaster at Kings Island a couple of years ago. I was really scared before I went on it, but it really wasn't that bad. Waiting to pull the cord is probably the worst, but after that it's really fun. I thought about doing it again yesterday but none of my friends wanted to swing the extra $10.

I remember seeing a segment on the Discovery Channel about them a few years ago, and it really reassures you about the safety aspect. There are back up cables to catch the swing cable in case of a failure. The cables you swing from are actually the types they use in elevators, so they are capable of holding much more than a few hundred pounds.

If you decide to do it you'll have a great time!

It's funny that this topic came up b/c I am going on my first skycoaster this thursday. I am more afraid that some wind is going to pick up, and I am going to to hit the supports than the cabble actually snapping.

And yea 15 bucks is really cheap!

As a factory trained Site Controller for the sky coaster at SFStL I can assure you that a Skycoaster is the most over engineered ride in any park. The 2 cables that you are attached to are rated at more than 18,000 lbs, and the suit you will be in is rated for more than 9,000 lbs. There have never been( to my knowledge) any serious accidents that did not involve serious disregard for Skycoaster rules, and afaik all have occured by unautorized employees after hours.

Fly with confidence, you will be as safe or safer than ANY other ride in the park. Just make sure to go to the bathroom BEFORE you fly ;)

I've been on two skycoasters- CP and SFoG. I know it doesn't count for much, but I felt very safe on both. Scared out of my pants, yes, but safe.

I'd listen to the site controller before I'd listen to me, though. Unless they're from the CP Ripcord crew that I had the "pleasure" of meeting. Then I'd just tell them to stuff it. ;)

I rode the one at Sfstl a few years back it was a blast. thow the cord wouldnt come undone the first time we pulled we soon realized we just werent pulling that hard because we were shaking so much. SWEET RUSH LOVE IT!

Thanks guys for all the informatio! I think I'm going to do it. They do seem safer than a bungee jump and look like a lot of fun.

Wish me luck, I'll tell you about it on Friday :)

It's worth the $15 a pop, Ride of Steel. And it's MUCH more fun with three people.

It's very smooth and a HUGE rush! The initial "drop" doesn't last more than a second or two but you literally FEEL like Superman flying!

Whenever I DO get to the Orlando, er, Kissimme (sp?) area I have to do their Skycoaster. 300 feet. :-P

I have done the ones at CP, PKI, KW, and IB. The one at Lost Coaster at IB last year was the most fun.....nothing like "flying" over water at night. :-P

I will jump at the chance to ride any of them, the higher the better, plus I DEMAND to be the one to "pull the cord". ;-)

You should pull the cord as well, especially since it's your first time. :-)

Are they safe? Well I feel 1000 times more safe in a skycoaster (or Sling Shot or ANY extra-fee attraction) than in a car.

-Tina

*** Edited 8/17/2005 3:15:17 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

If you want a good Rip Cord crew Michael Darling try Geauga Lake's crew. I am a site controller from way back and I flew there the other month. They did everything to a "T" while being polite and fun. Looks like GL does do something better than Point.

Loads of fun. By all means, if you have the opportunity, don't pass it by.

Rode the one at SFA several times,have yet to try the one at PKD though.

Trust us whewn we say the ride is safe we know what we're talking about but the scary parts are when you're being hauled up the tower to the launch point & the initial freefall til the cable catches.

After that it's smooth sailing...err swinging from there on out so have fun & let us know what you think of the experience.

There is a lot of inspection that goes on behind scenes. The Flight Controller/s are responsible for inspecting suits, and any that don't meet specs have to be sent back to the Skycoaster company. The cables also gets frequently inspected. Out on the loading platform, there are two people who go through a verbal checklist of the suit and its correctly connected parts. If something is wrong, trust me, you'll be taken down and your suit will be corrected.

I've done the Kissimmee model. It was my first, and to-date only one.

I can say with conviction that it was the singularly most terrifying experience of my life. I did not, however, feel remotely concerned for my safety; not at all. I just didn't much like the thought that as soon as I pulled that ripcord I would plummet 300ft!

I've been following various discussion groups and newsgroups for years, and to the best of my recollection I've never seen a post or a news item concerning a problem with a skycoaster.

There has been one accident during morning testing. If memory serves me right it was in a park in North Carolina? The employees forgot to move the loading cart out of the way before the rip cord was pulled.

I miss working Skycoaster! I always had lots of fun suiting people up and hearing them scream as the floor dropped. Long live Skyscreamer at MGM Grand Adventures!