Inversions becoming a thing of the past???

It seems that loopers have a shorter life span than non-loopers. A rough looper is a lot more unpleasant than a rough hyper. especailly when OTSRs are involved.

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"Looks like you've been missing quite a bit of work lately"
"Well, I wouldn't say I've been MISSING it, Bob."

A quick glance at the first page of rcdb's list of new for 2002 coasters shows that about 40% of the new coasters have inversions. That's a pretty good percentage when you figure that this list includes woodies, kiddie coasters, and mice that aren't really compatible with inversions.

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Shaggy said:

Cedar Point is a great example of this. They keep pushing the "extreme" limits of their coasters. But many who are novices and attend CP are reluctant to ride anything because it is so overwhelming.

But this is why the Corkscrew, Draggin' Iron, CCMR are still around despite enthusiasts' wishes they'd build something taller and more extreme.....not to mention most of them still draw a million-plus riders a year.

But I do wish CP would offer more true family coaster options (36" to adult). PKI just kills them in that category. For that matter, so does tiny MA.

-'Playa

(whose nine-year old daughter loves Kumba as much as he does...she just likes Montu a little better)

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Coming 6/6/02--the CoastaPlaya 100!
Check Meeting Calendar for details...

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*** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 5/8/2002. ***

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Shaggy said:
"But also, it is a proven fact that when a coaster has inversions, that automatically alienates 1/3 of guests from riding. Inversions intimidate folks, as do great heights and speeds."

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Darn it! Shaggy, you beat me to it. :) Even though this has been proven factually (yes, there truely *is* a study for everything) do your own informal survey. I cantcount all the times that I hear someone try and coax their friend on a ride like S:ROS (SFA), NITRO, Raging Bull, Apollo's Chariot, by saying "But it doesnt even go upside down". And suprisingly, this is effective.

But if you look at the recent installations, most park had been adding coasters with inversions all through the 80s and 90s. Now they are just adding a little diversity with "non-looping" rides. Now, if only we can throw some more themed family/mine ride typs coasters into the mix, the industry would be golden.
lata,
jeremy
--Roll that beautiful bean footage..

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jdancisin said:
It seems that loopers have a shorter life span than non-loopers. A rough looper is a lot more unpleasant than a rough hyper. especailly when OTSRs are involved.

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Depends. We really don't know what the lifespan of hypers will be, since they're really not all that old. Loopers seem to be rougher, at least the older ones that I've been on. Shockwave, for example. Everyone knows it's sponsored by Tylenol. I wonder why SFGAm isn't jumping to do some upgrading on it to smooth it out a little. But, then again, what can you do? Is the problem in the track, or in the cars, or both? Personally, the most headbanging comes in the curve right before the MCBR. I know there's people out there who like headbanging, and a little isn't bad. But, I've been to the park about 60 times in the past two years, and have once or twice seen the line go past the bridge. Even the B&M Loopers that I've been on seem to be a little rough (B:TR -SFGAm, B:TR - SFStL, Kumba, Hulk, Iron Wolf, Montu was smooth, but was that because it's still new?).

*shrug

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"Getting on Iron Wolf is kind of like going in a blender and pressing PUREE"

The horsecollars and OSTR's don't really help any rides at all. (Except for standups) They just get some rides bad publicty (Shockwave SFGAm)

I remember when I first started to really like coasters I was watching a program and it was a top ten one. I think now people don't really go for the speed and/or inversions but really the excitement. IE: Superman Ride of Steel (NE) vs. Thunderbolt (Kennywood). Both of those are great rides and well layed out but some prefer one over the other. One could even put in Medusa (GAdv). Which is still another great ride. But then again I do have friends that are terrified of loops but love MF. I think it is all just in the eye of the beholder. Some like it smooth and some like it rough, don't forget about the others that like it upside down and the rest that like it right side up. I don't think that inversions are becoming a thing of the past but I don't think that a 315 foot tall roller coaster CAN have a loop, where would they put it? the speed would be so great that it may kill people. But there will always be at least on really popular ride that has inversions.

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Coaster M and M
Ride On!

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coasterdude04 said:

this isnt a question of whats popular or not, its mainly who builds them(IMO). seriously, B&M is a favorite company of many, but more intamin rides are being built. they are cheaper, and their rides are being produced alot.

those are my opinions.

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Where did you get this information? From my count, B&M opened 8 coasters this season.

Intamin opened what, four (five incl. redone V2)?

Xcelerator, Wicked Twister, Colossus, Goliath, and the redone V2. I'm sure if there are any others I will be helped out, but I think those are the only adult Intamins to open this year. So your "opinion" of more Intamin rides being built is incorrect.

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Hey, Shaggy, it's "Sea *$#@&$ WORLD!" LMAO.

Oh please, you may turn off 1/3 of your patrons with inversions, yet those numbers don't seem to reflect the 2 hour-plus lines for these rides.

Inversions aren't going anywhere, if anything, we're about to see more of the so-called "new generation" loopers like 4D, flying and Intamin multi-loopers.

And to those who think we won't see over 200ft steel loopers, think again... There is already one coming next year, in the US!