Airtime is Overrated - CoasterBuzz

Olsor, you never hear anyone complain about a coaster saying "it didn't go upside-down" or "it wasn't fast enough". But anytime there is a lack of airtime people jump all over it. This really is just steming from my love of The Beast. It doesn't have any airtime whatsoever, yet it is one the best rides I have ever ridden. I just hate hearing people bash it just because it doesn't have airtime. I'll give them the brakes though, because there is much room for improvement. Here's what they should do: the shed straightaway after the second drop used to be one long brakerun. Now that they have the magnetic ones at the very end of that stretch, they need to retrack that portion and add 2 or 3 bunny hops. It would be perfect for that ride.
*** This post was edited by Bakeman 8/27/2003 10:50:06 PM ***

Believe me, I've heard plenty of complaints about a ride not going upside-down, or not going upside-down enough. Not from enthusiasts, necessarily, but in queue lines...

I think you touched on what bugs me with your shed suggestion for The Beast - potential for a thrill going unused. See, I look at the first two hills of The Beast and think, "if only they made the first drop steeper, and took the brakes off the second." By no means does it taint my view of the ride - I completely appreciate The Beast for what it is. I just see the potential, and an easily achievable potential at that, for adding a little airtime to an already terrific ride that offers everything else under the sun.

I think you hear a lot about The Beast lacking airtime because it is the only thing that ride doesn't have, not simply because people think airtime is the ****.

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My issue with the Beast isn't the lack of airtime, rather it is the feeling that I'm going to crack a rib by slamming into the concrete seat divider. If there was ever a ride that could benefit from nice soft padding. . .

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I'm a confessed airtime whore, and I love great air time coasters such as Phoenix or SROS. But, I have to admit that I also like GCIs, B&M inverteds and a number of other coasters not noted for great airtime.

CoastinCorey: If you think that MF doesn't have airtime, ride the last row at night. The airtime is terrific. MF airtime is very dependant on when and where you ride it. Front row in the AM has almost no air. Last row at night has enormous air. Not ejector sharp, but very big, well beyond floater air.

Mamoosh said:
Not everyone loves pure airtime. I prefer a mix of laterals and airtime, preferrably happening at the same moment.

Sounds like my favorite part of Ghostrider!

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

The only reason airtime is overrated is because so many people love it....;)

the beast is hardly underrated, its still in the top 10... http://www.amusementtoday.com/GoldenTicket/g_ticket_wooden.html

i personally think the beast is way overrated. yeah its long. but so what? its like a train ride that hurts.

airtime is fun, but if there are no surprises it doesnt matter, and its dissapointing when you see bunny hop hills and expect to get ejected and you roll slowly over the hills. like rolling thunder at sfgadv.

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http://www.eightdotthree.net

The Beast is a very difficult ride to shoehorn into any one category. Sure, it's a "wooden terrain coaster" but that does very little to describe what it actually does. The Beast is so far and away the most "risky" wooden coaster ever built due to the sheer amount of space it tales up, (35 acres for Christ's sake) and the fact that it does indeed lack airtime. Riding The Beast at night is unlike riding any other coaster, period. People who cannot appreciate The Beast for what it is (despite the brakes) need to chill out.

I also love airtime and consider it my favorite ride element, yet The beast is my personal #3 wooden coaster, with plenty of airtime machines behind it. Why? I don't know. The Beast is just that good, IMO. That being said, if I get off any other woodie and it didn't have at least one good moment of airtime, I feel cheated. (Mean Streak, PGA Grizzly)

If you think about it, there are almost no coasters that have all of those elements (airtime, lats, inversions, speed, sudden changes in direction, positave G's) because most loopers will lack airtime hills, and all woodies (except SoB) lack inversions.

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SCREAM with me... in 2003!

"People who cannot appreciate The Beast for what it is (despite the brakes) need to chill out."

No offense, Soggy...ya know I like ya...but it seems it's the opposite that needs to happen. Those who appreciate Beast seems to get all worked up when someone -- like me -- says it's not "all that."

Fact of the matter is that neither viewpoint is wrong. You like what you like, I like what I like. My saying I don't like Beast doesn't negate how you and others feel.

mOOSH

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Soggy said:
If you think about it, there are almost no coasters that have all of those elements (airtime, lats, inversions, speed, sudden changes in direction, positave G's) because most loopers will lack airtime hills, and all woodies (except SoB) lack inversions.

why is it that most loopers dont have any airtime hills. imagine a floorless b&m with all the inversions and helixes that a good b&m has mixed with 1 or 2 airtime hills that you dont really expect. now how much fun would that be!

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Soggy & eightdotthree - I think Hersheypark's new coaster is about to change that. Seems to have all of those attributes [except maybe lats].

mOOSH

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2004 Coaster Calendar now available. 13 Coasters in 12 months! Order in advance and save. Quantities are limited! See S&D Greetings for details.

"imagine a floorless b&m with all the inversions and helixes that a good b&m has mixed with 1 or 2 airtime hills that you dont really expect. now how much fun would that be!"

Whis is why I am dying to ride Superman la Atracción de Acero in WBMW
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Moosh, I know The Beast isn't your favorite coaster, and you are certianly entitled to state that it is not "all that." I don't have a problem with people saying it that way. I don't think it's fair for someone to latch onto one thing about it (lack of air, or roughness, or trims) and simply say "it sucks."

Beast + Nightrides = Coaster Bliss
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SCREAM with me... in 2003!

Moosh - check out the video or something else showing the layout of Hershey's new coaster. That end section should produce some quick snappy laterals! That being said, I just have this gut feeling that its going to be a slightly disappointing coaster. I still will be standing in line on opening day next year to ride it, but I'm really not expecting much (this coming from the ... ah ... resident launch whore?)

And my two cents on airtime: I won't ever fault a coaster for not having airtime, but thinking back through my favorite coasters, including loopers, "speed" coasters and woodies, all have at least a few either great pops or great floaters in them (Talon, Millie, Kumba, Medusa East, Nitro ... )

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Give me launched or give me ... uh ... more launched!!
--Brett
*** This post was edited by Impulse-ive 8/28/2003 3:15:30 PM ***

Airtime is overrated for you, perhaps. It's only a matter of opinion. I can't get enough airtime, you think it's overrated.

I wish I could go back to the days when I was completely ignorant to coaster terms and elements. It was a lot more fun when I just rode them without analyzing them.

While more than just airtime does make the coaster, the hill on Hypersonic will keep me full for airtime for a while...

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Love,
The Mole

Good point ERR. If a coaster is fun, it's fun. It's really that simple. If you get off of ride smiling, laughing, or gasping, it's a good ride. I'm just tired of people trashing a ride simply for its lack of airtime.

Has anyone ridden thunder dolphin? I really want to know how the "trick tracky" section rides because it appears Hershey's rocket has something similar.

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Bakeman, I agree that it's all about fun. If you like it, ride it!

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... air sucks!

Shut up, Beavis! ;)

I stand with Moosh's original comment. I prefer both at the same time. Legend, anyone?
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