blue fire Megacoaster

RPM said:
I don't know why its so hard for certain people on this board to believe that Maverick may be uncomfortable for some people to ride. I get my head banged in a couple of spots. I still think its a very good ride, just not one I can ride more then once or twice in day. Get rid of the shoulder restraints, and I could ride it all day.

They are addicted to Cedar Point flavored Kool-Aid!

Not really. It's no different for me and Phantom's Revenge. I absolutely love that ride except for one certain spot, the double down right before the turn-around back to the station. It kills my back and I have to ride defensively for those last few moments.

Other people say I'm crazy, no pain at all from that ride. I, however, don't think they are addicted to KW Kool-Aid. To each his own...

I wouldn't say Maverick is painful. It's just uncomfortable due to the shoulder restraints. I agree, get rid of the shoulder restraints, and I could ride all day. Other than that, I completely love Maverick.

No, you're not crazy, obxKevin. The double down on Phantom's Revenge isn't friendly on my back either.

mlnem4s said:

They are addicted to Cedar Point flavored Kool-Aid!

Says the guy with the Millennium Force user name.

I struggle a bit with Maverick, too. When I rode several times for ERT at BooBuzz a few years back, my neck took a beating. You can say that's somehow my fault, but honestly, my neck doesn't hurt like that when I'm not riding Maverick. ;)

Carrie, just because I picked out a clever user name makes me in no way delusional to thinking everything at Cedar Point is perfect. Frankly, those of us old enough or have worked for Cedar Fair long enough know how bad things have become and I simply point out mistakes or issues. I also give praise when praise is due, especially to all the people behind "the magic curtain" who do the hard work and yet get very little support, praise, encouragement or $$$$$ for their expertise and hard work.

I just hope Tony is around long enough to keep handing out the CP Kool Aid to keep those poll numbers high! Have you tasted it? It kind of looks like the water in Maverick's water lagoons around the queue, ya know that mysterious hazy blue'ish-green-black look. D-lish!

Dude, I think you took too many shots to the head (or neck as the case may be) on Maverick.

It's really not that big of deal. Some of us actually ride Maverick and don't feel discomfort.

It's ok if two people don't have the same opinion about a roller coaster. It's nearly meaningless in the big scheme of things.

I agree, it's not that big of a deal. Someone else needs to be reminded of that though too :)

Drink'em if ya got'em!

Put me in the camp of "get rid of the OTSRs and I could ride all day." Then again, the same could be said for lots of steel coasters - none of them has to have OTSRs. Granted, the kind we see on Mavy and most other US Intmains at this point...certainly don't feel as comfy as those on the ZacSpin-type ride look. And those who've ridden both have expressed a strong preference for the straps- without exception from my reading here and elsewhere.

Honestly, I'm even *anticipating* a Boomerang for the first time ever when I get to Carowinds this summer...

mlnem4s said:
I agree, it's not that big of a deal. Someone else needs to be reminded of that though too :)

Drink'em if ya got'em!

So... what you're basically saying is: It's not that big of a deal, but it's a big enough deal that I feel the need to marginalize as group-thinkers those who disagree with me. Got it.

mlnem4s said:
Carrie, just because I picked out a clever user name makes me in no way delusional to thinking everything at Cedar Point is perfect. Frankly, those

Well CP is perfect! All their coasters are the best. <<beware the purple kool-aid>> I love CP! Can't wait to buy more stock and a new fanboy outfit *happy happy*

CoasterDemon said:
Well CP is perfect! All their coasters are the best. <<beware the purple kool-aid>> I love CP! Can't wait to buy more stock and a new fanboy outfit *happy happy*

No, no, no, no...it's hazy blue'ish, green'ish, black swirled Kool Aid! And if you know the right people you get Kinzel Magic Sprinkles which are D-lish!

Would the fanboy outfit involve Oompa-Loompa looking midway sweep uniforms? I love it when you can find an employee with a fake orange tan to go with the outfit...get that girl some green or purple hair and she is good to go! (Oops, VIOLATION! VIOLATION! We cannot have unnatural hair color in the park! Must terminate! Must terminate!)

The only thing worse than the 'park fanboy' who tirelessly defends his love - like how CP or HW or whatever can do no wrong - is the 'hardcore enthusiast' who complains about all the standard silly things that matter to almost no one - like how certain restraints 'ruin' a ride or how they could get .00025 more seconds of airtime if a different bolt was used in some thingy or other - you know, the things that make me embarassed to tell people I'm a fan of roller coasters.

(I'm an equal opportunity hater - I don't like anyone :) )

Honestly, I don't consider those people 'typical enthusiasts'. I feel I'm more of one of those, and the people I go to parks with are too.

The kind of peeps you're talking about, Gonch, are the hardcore enthusiasts. They're like Hardcore Trekkies. See, I'm a Trekkie, but I don't complain about everything Trek. Even if its a known fact that Wrath of Khan was better than Star Trek (2009) ;).

But it's the same thing. I don't really identify as a Trekkie or an enthusiast. There are a couple of other things I'm into (those who know me know), and I don't really identify with the hard core groupies there either.

Good point, Clint. I'll go back and do the edit.

mlnem4s said:

Carrie, just because I picked out a clever user name makes me in no way delusional to thinking everything at Cedar Point is perfect.

You are correct. To suggest such a thing is as silly as suggesting that folks who find Maverick to be painless must be delusional to thinking everything at Cedar Point is perfect.

And much like you, Gonch, I don't openly identify most of the time as a coaster geek.

I'd tell a story from Carowind's Construction tour the other week and how someone was being a megageek before I finally had to swoop down and change the subject after noticing a rolled eye from a park rep., but it isn't anything anyone here hasn't heard/seen before.

But those are the real reasons I don't go to a lot of park events, and if I do, I make sure enough of my friends are there that I have normal people to ride and talk with. Because the last thing I'm probably going to talk about while at a park is Coastergeeky stuff.

Thats when I obsessivly talk about Star Trek and Janet Jackson.

The term I typically use is 'coaster nut', mainly because it gives a suggestion of slight self-mockery, to imply that I don't really take it that seriously. I totally respect and acknowledge that we all like different aspects of the rides and even the park-going experience itself. When I meet fellow 'enthusiasts' who are of the mentality that their opinion represents all other enthusiasts as elite as they, or even the general public, I tend to just sort of nod my head and try to change the subject.

As for Maverick -- incidentally, #2 on my top 10 steels -- I do prefer to sit in the front so I can more easily anticipate the direction changes. But regardless of where I sit, I will put my hands on the upper part of the OTSR so that my head/ears are a little better protected. If Maverick had restraints like blue fire appears to have, it might be in a tough battle with Millennium Force for my #1 rank. :)

Tekwardo said:
And much like you, Gonch, I don't openly identify most of the time as a coaster geek.

I'm not trying to make it an "us vs them" sort of thing.

It's not even that I don't necessarily want to be identified sometimes, but that I don't relate in the first place. To continue using your example, I wouldn't be at a constructiuon tour in the first place, because I don't care. It's not something that matters to me in any capacity. Can I ride? No? Then why am I here?

To each their own, I suppose. I doubt anyone enjoys discussing the business side of the industry as much as I do and would rather not identify with that or can't relate.

But trying to get my ear, my attention or any interest at all when you're talking something as silly as something like claiming an certain type of restraint doesn't allow you enough airtime and another kind would or some crap like that is an exercise in futility -I just don't care.

In this case, I've never had a problem with Maverick. I'm sure the park is fine with it too. The ride always has a line, so regardless of what the deal is, people ride it - which is the point.

Complaining that a restraint 'ruins' the ride just doesn't compute for me. It's seems like such a niche discussion that doesn't apply in the real world in any capacity. (and then to feel so strongly about it...Oy Vey! :) )