Death of the Stand Up coaster?

So, there hasn't been a new stand up coaster built since 1999 (Georgia Scorcher). B&M have built seven since their inception and Intamin have built three (with two still operating).

B&M still appear to offer the ride for sale, Intamin appear not to.

With the reconstruction of Chang, do you think stand-up coasters can still be popular? In my experience they never seem overly popular when compared to other rides - is that true across the board?

I've never really seen the attraction with the genre. The only thing standing up has added to the ride experience on a coaster for me is discomfort.

The only time I enjoy standing up is on a drop tower - which does change the experience and I guess because there is no lateral movement, I enjoyed it more.

I predicted the end of the stand-up years ago.

I rode Mantis a few times. I found it a tad, PAINFUL!

There's just something about pushing G's on your nads that doesn't bode well with me.

;)

I just rode the Georgia Scorcher yesterday and I thought it was a great ride. I think it is the best stand-up I have ever ridden. It wasn't that rough at all and had some great elements while riding it. But yes I do not see B&M making another stand-up roller coaster.

My preemptive strike:

Lines for stand-ups are long because they load slowly, not because they're good rides.

^ Agreed. Do any stand ups run 3 trains without stacking? Do any run 3 trains at all these days?

^ Three trains without stacking is a rather impressive feat by any coaster, stand-up or not. Would be even more impressive with a stand-up, though. Also depends on the length of the ride. I can't remember the last time I saw Georgia Scorcher not stack its two trains.

Yeah, even with two-train ops, most stand-ups will stack nearly every cycle...even Riddler. The only "solution" to that is what SFoG does quite frequently - just allow people to ride sitting down.

Flying coasters and stand-ups are both too gimmicky to last very long, IMO. I'm not at all surprised there aren't more stand-ups built...but *if* anyone wants one any more...Scorcher is a darn fine choice for "cloning". ;)

Aren't all new coasters basically a fad? Even wood coasters all have some new element or something different with the trains that will go gang busters for a few years untill the next new thing. Stand-up coasters had their run, I don't foresee any more new ones being built in the future. Just old ones being recycled somewhere else. Invereted coasters are kinda of on the downward trend now I think.

^ I think the reason inverted coasters are on a downward trends is because the number of parks without one is dwindling. There are 42 inverts operating in the US alone!

^ I agree. Yet, I think we'll see more parks with more inverted rides. The sit down coaster was always the norm and parks had several with an inverted, stand up and suspended thrown in for variety.

I think in the future it may become the norm to have additional inverted coasters in park line ups if there is a new experience to be had.

Aren't all new coasters basically a fad?

I don't agree because a fad is something fleeting, something that comes in strong and fades out quick. New elements aren't really a fad on wooden coasters, because they're coming about more so because someone is pushing the limits of what they could do, but trying things they once weren't able.

And as far as trains, wooden coaster trains don't really change much. Sure, we have MF trains and TL trains now, but again, those aren't really 'fads', as they're designed with the intent of being used long term.

But gimmick coasters like stand ups were the result of someone trying to come up with the next big thing, where the novely wore off.

With stand up coasters, there have been, what, 20 of them ever? And of those, I can think of a couple that have already been scrapped, or aren't likely to get rebuilt. Plus an actualy new one hasn't been built in over 10 years.

With flyers, it's similiar, there haven't been a lot of them, and although they boomed for a couple of years, there aren't a whole lot of them being built now. I think they're more of a gimmicky fad.

Inverts, though, I wouldn't call a fad. There are so very few parks now that don't have an invert, and the parks that don't have them and want one are dwindling. There were 5 inverted coasters installed at parks in 2010, and there is already one announced for next year. There were 5 installed in 2009. I think that's a steady number, esp. with the economy and all.

"Spinning" coasters are NOT stand-ups or flyers....they are real game-changers.

IMO. ;)

I'm not going to write flyers off until I've seen an Intamin version, surely they will. Combine the Vekoma and B&Ms and you'd be onto a winner.

^ I thought we'd surely see an Intamin version, too... originally. But next year will be the 10th operating season for Air and Superman: Ultimate Flight so I'm not sure we actually will.

On a slightly related note, how in the world does KI not have an adult invert?

Does Face Off not count?

Seems to me that'd be the next logical coaster addition for that park, Andy.

And it might make me a little more enthusiastic about the place too.

Inverteds == Yes, please.

Absolutely agree. Inverted coasters are, generally speaking, awesome, whereas stand-ups are, generally and comparatively speaking, not. And I think most people would agree with that assessment.

I'd wager the invert would come at Vortex's expense. Not thrilled at the idea, but I would totally understand.

~Rob