Cedar Point's Valravn

I definitely see another monster coaster as a great addition to Cedar Points lineup, and this one could be really impressive. (the fact that the park will have virtually every inch of sky around it filled with steel should be left for another discussion...)

The dive portion of a dive coaster might actually be more of a spectator feature than anything. Riders these days, especially thrill seekers at Cedar Point, are used to beyond steep drops that don't hesitate to throw you right over without pause.
Having said that, and having been on both divers in the U.S., I can say the buildup to the drop can be filled with tense moments. And after that, as so many have pointed out, the ride is a mostly a really wide version of others out there.
But from the ground the ride is great for those watching and can be a real draw. At both Busch parks people love to stand near the well- placed drops and wait for the train to let go. Both rides have a splash that bystanders can participate in as well, some even knowingly.
Most visitors to the park haven't seen a coaster of this type operate and that's a very important part of the selection process, I'm sure. Oh, and making it the "est" on several levels as well. So this ride promises to be a huge hit.

I've looked with mild interest as fans have tried to fit the supposed leaked layout onto map images of Cedar Point. Most situate the ride with the initial drop somewhere in the back toward the marina. While no one can guess what the park's plans might be for the landscape or hardscape (though I doubt there will be a tunnel), if the park doesn't give spectators a great shot of the hang n drop they'd be missing out.

I guess we'll find out in just a few days, and for more reason than one, I can't wait til all is revealed. I can't think of a time when fans have chattered so incessantly with theories about what a Cedar Point ride will be. (possible exception: Top Thrill Dragster. or Maverick) Even after track that is clearly intended for the project has started to arrive, there's speculation. I want that part to be over. (so the complaining can start in ernest)

Vater said:

What Cedar Point really needs is a stand-up. Those things are here to stay.

Rougarou makes an ideal candidate for a transformation.... ;~P

The heartline makes it impossible to convert Rougarou into a stand-up!

Honestly I wish they would build a ride like Verbolten. That ride is pure fun and has a lower height limit. They could even have a pre coaster dark ride portion if they want to. They could also get a record for highest freefall fairly easily.

Everybody's a standup comedian around here...

But we don't allow bad stand ups....

I'm a floorless comedian.

I'm a suspended looping comedian. I just box the **** out of people's ears until they laugh.

They never do.

WolfBobs said:
The heartline makes it impossible to convert Rougarou into a stand-up!

They can just remove it and replace it with something else.

What?! Its a totally legit option!

The post about the heartline was a joke and so was the post about converting Rougarou to a stand up (obviously). Any time someone would suggest that any stand up coaster be converted to sit down train, someone would inevitably say that it was impossible because the "heartline" of a stand up and a sit down is different and it would put riders on some sort of undue stress that would make their brain explode. Which is ridiculous since every rider's heartline is different.

Plus the fact that people on the outside seats are nowhere near the axis of rotation of the train in the first place.

RCMAC said:

The dive portion of a dive coaster might actually be more of a spectator feature than anything. Riders these days, especially thrill seekers at Cedar Point, are used to beyond steep drops that don't hesitate to throw you right over without pause.

Everyone else is too busy BSing to reply to your very thoughtful post. I didn't even realize until you wrote it that Busch Gardens has a monopoly on dive coasters in this country! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really hope the leaked photos and video don't do this coaster justice. They didn't impress me much. But if Cedar Point can do some kind of cool thing at the bottom of the vertical drop, like you suggest, I think this will be a really really great addition. (I already think it's a really great addition, but it may deserve the extra "really").

RCMAC said:

But from the ground the ride is great for those watching and can be a real draw.

Reminds me of the loop the loop coaster at Coney Island in the early decades of the last century.

In the ride's last few seasons, the owners made more money selling tickets to the people who wanted to watch people ride the ride then they did selling tickets to riders.

Assuming all we know about Valravn to be true, I think this will be a solid addition to the park.

The difference being the ghoul factor. Unlike Cedar Point's forthcoming dive coaster (presumably), Loop the Loop--as well as other early, non-clothoid loopers--often left riders with back and neck injuries due to the gees sustained. Gawkers frequently watched to see who would be hauled away on a stretcher next.

Oh, believe me, I know. My neck ain't been right since.

Ensign Smith said:

Loop the Loop--as well as other early, non-clothoid loopers--often left riders with back and neck injuries due to the gees sustained.

All true coaster enthusiasts will be aware of this. What is coaster enthusiasm without knowing coaster history?

Yeah, I thought I might be indulging in a bit of Captain Obvious behavior. But I simply just can't turn down the chance to break out a term like "non-clothoid"...

'All true coaster enthusiasts'?

Dick much?