Do you remember your first coaster experience?

I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the closest coaster was hours away. Every few years our family would take a trip to either Marriots Great America or Cedar Point. It was during one of these trips that I rode my very first coaster. The Great American Eagle. I was 7 years old at the time (I think it was 1981 or 82)and my brother who was 4 years older than me, literally pulled me onto it kicking and screaming. I'm suprised they even let us on to be honest with you. Anyway, if I remember right, they had one seatbelt per car and it went across both riders. Well, my brother was quite heavier than I was and because of this, I had quite a bit of room to move. I remember going ove rthe first hill and feeling as if I was going to fly right out of the seat. I had never been so scared in my life. To this day, there is not one coaster memory that is more vivid in my mind. I didn't ride another roller coaster for years afterward because of it. Now, there isn't a ride out there that scares me.

Was just wondering if anyone else had a vivd or memorable first ride experience. Good or bad.

It was on the local fair that I stared at this Rollercoaster (A Schwarzkopf "Wildcat" called "Himalayabahn"). Since I couldn't take my shiny eyes of it, my Uncle decided to take me on it, despite the fact that I was hardly 6 years old at the time.
I remember that it did feel pretty high up, but I didn't really understand what was happening - the feeling of the first drop took me completely by surprise - nothing had prepared me for this.
I remember being completely shocked so my Uncle had to tell me "Don't stop breathing" -
and indeed - I had a hard time breathing from the speed pushing the air into my face.
I wasn't really totally excited about the experience, but it sure felt like I had done something extremely courageous and lived through it :)

It was a very intense experience, probably the most intense one I ever had on a coaster.
At some point I would like to find a Wildcat again and see what it feels like today.

My first steel coaster was Disneyland's Matterhorn, at age three in 1968. My first wood was Belmont Park Giant Dipper at age 6, in 1972. I remember them both.

My first roller coaster was the Yankee Cannonball, a few weeks before my third birthday (thats right I was two.) I don't remember it, but I do remember a year later being very upset at the fact that I could not ride it that year because I was too short, thankfully the next summer I had gotten tall enough.

My first coaster was the Arnolds Park kiddie coaster in 1982, at the age of four. I don't remember the first ride, but I do remember riding it several times and absolutely loving it.

I enjoyed several small steel coasters in the coming years, but my first wood coaster was SFOT's Judge Roy Scream. That was in 1984 I believe. I remember when we got to the park, I was mesmerized by the giant white structure (but had no idea it was made of wood and was shocked when I found that out) and decided I had to ride it. At some point in the day, I rode it with my mother and had my eyes closed the whole time. I'm not sure what I thought of it. I didn't ride another woodie until 1987 when I conquered Adventureland's Tornado with two night rides. I loved it. Then I rode it later that summer in the daytime and it scared the crap outta me.

Yeah! The kiddie coaster at 'Sauzer's Kiddieland' in Indiana, around '78 or '79, I was probably 5 or 6. Me and my mom got on, and down the first drop and slammed into the curve. It was really rough, and kinda painful - I dunno if I hit my head or what. But I started crying! My mom kinda sorta laughed while trying to counsel me.

Years later, I told her it scarred me... She said the thing was so small she couldn't figure out why I cried. O well. For a couple years before and after that, I was so infatuated with coasters. I would draw them and talk about em. I remember driving past Great America on the way to and from Milwaukee and seeing the white Turn of the Century. I was like "wow!"

My first 'real' coaster was the Whizzer in 1981. I kept my eyes closed but I was hooked. The next year, I did the Demon and loved it. 1983 I finally did Tidal Wave. Took me until 1985 to do the Eagle, it had such a reputation....

Mine was The Beastie, oh sorry, the "Fairly Odd Coaster" at Kings Island. I had just turned 3. I rode with my sister and she kept putting her hands up. Then when I tried to put my hands up, she put them down. lol. It annoyed me so much. I remember thinking that the coaster was HUGE! My have I gotten taller... Ha.

My first roller coaster that I remember was the Zephyr Jr. at Ponchartrain Beach in New Orleans. I was 5 or 6 years old.

My first coaster was The Great American Scream Machine at SFOG in 1974. I was seven years old. I rode with my older sister's best friend. I remember holding onto the lap bar with one hand and gripping my co rider's arm with the other. I also braced my feet against the front of the car. I remember going over the first drop and thinking that it felt like I had jumped off a mountain. It seemed so steep and tall. I was hooked from that point on. *** Edited 12/15/2007 3:34:21 AM UTC by Steve Perry***

My first real coaster was the Mindbender at SFOG. How many remember this 1st loop having the "siren" sound? I kept hearing that while I was waiting in line and was very intimidated....To this day, it is still one of my favorites..

My first coaster was The Comet at Waldameer, however, my first real coaster was Blue Streak at Coneaut Lake Park.

It was for my dad's company picnic and I remember being really excited to ride it for the first time. I believe it was a back seat ride and all I remember is flying out of my seat and thinking I was going to fall right out. That was one wild ride back then.

I think the coaster that got me completely hooked on coasters however was Magnum. After riding that in its first year I couldn't wait for the summer so I could go back to Cedar Point. I would drool over the Getaway guide when it got to my house...

My first coaster was when I was 9 or 10, I rode the Wildcat at Williams Grove. I really didn't like it and did not ride coasters for a long time after that. That was the only time I ever rode it, and I've always lived within 10 minutes or so of the place. *** Edited 12/3/2007 1:03:13 AM UTC by Robert Barr***

My first coaster was either the Big or Little Dipper at Camden Park, OR the Swamp Fox at Myrtle Beach's Family Kingdom. I don't quite remember, this was around 1978 or so, maybe sooner. My parents took me to Opryland, Disney World, and Silver Dollar City before that but according to them I was too little to ride any coasters. :)

I DO vividly remember my first "big" woody which was the Beast in 1982 (and I got to ride the Bat once...first suspended!)

I also remember my first "steel" was the old Corkscrew at Myrtle Beach's Paviolion, around 1978 as well. :)

I think Great Adventure's Batman was my first inverted, and Flight of Fear at King's Island was my first "launched" coaster.

Man how time flies. :)

-Tina

Just like DanTheCoasterman, my first coaster was the Beastie...only it was still the Scooby Doo. I was eight. I loved it, but was still too intimidated to go on to bigger fish. My parents had to use reverse psychology to convince me to get on Racer ("Yeah, you're *way* too little to ride that one"). I remember that lift hill stretching to infinity, those clean black lines of track on white-washed uprights. It was like watching a shark undulate out of the water. Once we crested that lift and the chain fell away...oh my. The moment we cleared those last bunnies into the station, I knew I would never be the same.

I never was.

*** Edited 12/3/2007 1:22:17 AM UTC by Ensign Smith***

I remember my first real coaster was Mean Streak at Cedar Point. I was 8 (yeah, pretty old) and I cried until we started moving. My mom FORCED me to get the front with her. It was AMAZING and I still have my on-ride photo =)

My first real coaster was the Batman side of Chiller at SFGadv...i was about 16, I believe...my friends didn't tell me to take my glasses off at all until as I was leaving the station...oh my god...my glasses fell off and I was so incredibly scared. I thought my glasses were gone...I was too scared to even enjoy the ride. When we got off, I looked, and my glasses were somehow on the floor of the car, not broken, no scratches, or anything. I learned my lesson and haven't worn them again at all on a looping coaster.

I only was able to ride the Batman side one more time, a night ride two years ago. I enjoyed it that time ;)

My first coaster was a Zamperla Dragon either at Boardwalk and Baseball or Playland's Castaway Cove so around 1989 or so. First non powered coaster was I think the Sky Princess at Dutch Wonderland around 1993.

My first coaster was Zack's zoomer at Michigan's Adventure.

I sat with my brother and remember being smashed cause the cars were small...then i don't remember much except laughing so much...it was a blast. Then everytime we went over a hill, my mom who was in a car behind me, would go WOO!

Then i went to Kings Island...went on the beast, witch was my first big coaster...that was the most incredible feeling ever, i rememeber every tunnel i would duck my head, afriad that my head would be knocked off...Fun!

My first Coaster was a steel Kiddie Coaster at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in the summer of 1966 (I was six years old at the time.) I couldn't get enough of that ride! A Year later I rode my first Wood Coaster, the Blue Streak at Cedar Point. My love for these rides has not waned, I have ridden 418 other Roller Coasters since then.

Hopefully I'll add at least 20 more in 2008!:)

Answer my Prayers, Overbook my Next Flight!

Big Dipper - Geauga Lake - sometime in the early 70s. I was older - maybe 10, but haven't missed a step since.

I remember every scary detail, from the absolute fear of the slow list hill to seeing my friends playing mini-golf below the turnaround.