Half Pipe

Ride question for all involved. What has everyone's take been on the Half Pipe at Elitch Gardens? Not having been there, I do not have any experience with it, but it seems like it might be a neat ride. Not a megacoaster, but a good family ride. But by the same token, there hasn't been one put in since '06, and there is only one in the US. Has it been problem plagued?

Another one opened at the Mall of America last month.

^^I believe the Zamperla product, for MUCH cheaper, has proven more reliable and just as big a hit with the public. Plus Zamperla was quick to *evolve* the ride (see: Survivor the Ride, Avatar, and Cosmic Chaos at KW). Intamin still offers the 20m and 30m pipes, just as initially announced.

Intamin's half-pipe has a faster "launch" phase IMO, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Seating should be in rows for launches, otherwise the poor suckers who (like me) get seated facing sideways get a nice ear-bashing as soon as the cycle starts. Bad beginning to any ride...

The Intamin ride may "coast", but the Zamperla product is more fun, is open more, and has a better seating/restraint configuration.

....and now, for some opposing viewpoints... ;)

The Half Pipe was definately the biggest surprise for me at EG. It doesn't look like much, but it really was thrilling. Now, I'm not a fan of spinning flatrides, but the spinning was not bad enough to turn me off. gator: I can't remember which way I was facing for the launch, but I don't remember it being painful.

Don't know if I'd call it a family ride, it may be pretty scary for kids.

All in all, the Half Pipe is a great ride, but far fom a destination type of coaster. It works for a landlocked and relatively slow park like EG. If you find yourself in Denver, go for it.

I've not ridden the Elitch Gardens version; it was down the day I was there. Ditto for the version at Sarkanniemi. However, I did get to ride the one at Wet'n'Wild in Australia earlier this year and it was a lot of fun. However the cycle time was simply too short for me. I don't know if the others are better.

Trip report here:
http://www.bannister.org/coasters/trips/2008/0317.htm