Fearbreaking Rollercoaster

It took many years of just riding one coaster for me to break the fear. I rode Log Jammer (a coaster at that time for me) when I was 6 or 7 and hated it. Tried Racer that year too, hated that, wouldn't even speak to my Aunt for 3 years for making me do it ;). Tried Thunderbolt at about 10, still hated coasters, pulled my back out trying to hold on so tight to the lap bar.

At 12, a "pretty face" dragged me on Magnum the first time I was ever at Cedar Point. I loved it, but was blown out by it and didn't ride another coaster until the last day of the summer that year, I decided it was time to hit Steel Phantom. I wouldn't say haven't looked back since, Millie, TTD, X, and a few other very new (or new to me) coasters have made me quite nervous, but that was my "breaking point".

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Brett
Resident Launch Whore

My first Non-Kiddy coaster(counting Zambezi Zinger as a kiddy coaster) was Timberwolf at WoF. My dad forced me to go on it the summer before first grade. My first upside down coaster was later that day when I rode Orient Express. I think i was crying as I went up the lift hill, but it was one of the best things ever.

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As Mitch always said, "If you had a freind who was a tightrope walker and he fell down just walking down the street, that would be completely unacceptable."
-Tomas

I was 14, and had previously been on only two tired, old, wild mouse coasters which my parents "strongly encouraged" me to ride (to get over my fears), which I totally hated. My youth group went to SFOG, and my friends convinced me to ride TGASM, first with my eyes closed. 16 circuits later, I was riding with my hands up, and I haven't stopped since. There is nothing like an empty queue to get you past your fears.

I have learned from my experience - your kids will tell you when they're ready... when my son was 7, we rode Thunder Mountain at WDW, which he enjoyed, but we only got halfway down the Space Mountain tunnel... when he was 8, he rode Yankee Canonball once, and decided he would save corkscrew for another time... 2 weeks ago, at age 9, he rode MF for the first time (with his hands up!) and didn't hesitate on TTD until we were strapped in, saying with a smile, "I guess it's too late to change my mind now"... I think he'e been smiling since.

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"We are not so far...Our chairs almost touch..."
- Chance the Gardener, "Being There"

After being scared to death on the Flying Dragon at the old Walled Lake Amusement park when I was 8, my fear of coasters finally ended when a boyfriend got me onto CP's Blue Streak in the late 60's. I was nervous riding Gemini the first time, but not scared. Then came Magnum, and I was literally shaking when I got into the train for my first ride. After the first drop, I was hooked and haven't been afraid to ride ANY coaster since then.

Even though Blue Streak cured my initial fear of coasters, Magnum was my "breakthrough" coaster which abolished all fear of them.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

I grew up just a few minutes away from West View Park just north of Pittsburgh. They had 2 old woodies that absolutely terrified me as a kid- The Big Dips and The Racing Whippits. Every year my dad would try to talk me into going on, but nothing doing! There had been many "urban legends" about the old park- including termites eating the Whippits making them unsafe, and other wild stories about people being killed on them. So, regretfully I never got to ride either. The park went out of business.

The next year, I made my first trip ever to Kennywood. My friend loved coasters, so I could not let on that I didn't. We were walking by the Thunderbolt when he said "Hey, let's go on here!" Without saying a word, I got in line with him. I was very very nervous, but tried not to let on.

Well, to make a long story short, by the time it was over, I was hooked. Like others have said, I could not understand what I was so afraid of! I did tell my friend later that that was in fact my first ever coaster ride. We spent many great years riding coasters together!

Now, I try to talk my 6-year old into going on the Racer. But he's not interested. Yet.
*** This post was edited by richmmo 9/22/2003 3:31:35 PM ***

That would be Anaconda at Kings Dominion. I remember we went to the park while on holiday in 1992 when I was 13 years old I think. Anyway it was near the end of the day and my dad was desperate for me to get me on a looping coaster(Namely Anaconda) but I hated the site of them and was just scared stiff of watching one. Anyway for some reason I agreed to go on, and I literally freaked out when I went up the lift hill(I nearly cried) anyway I came off liking it and was cheeky to ask for another ride so we did, and I enjoyed it even more.

And from that day forward, I have never looked back and gone on to ride some of the best coasters in the world so far(X,Millennium Force,Expedition GeForce etc) I dont even think twice about riding anything either, I just go for it.

Anyway next month I ride Dragster, prehaps that will really test my nerves but I know I'm gonna do it anyway but I have this feeling that my first proper views of this coaster is just gonna freak me out. It will be worth it though I hope