One Year Since Orion

This is my biggest issue with SkyRush, and furthermore with the train design. I really feel as though the ride would be 100x better with a traditional Intamin hyper/giga train style.

Aside from the thigh crushing, it really feels as though the “wing” design of the trains was an afterthought to the g forces of the ride. As sitting on the far left, in a seat with no sides to catch your shoulders, I’ve been injured from being whipped laterally at the bottom of the first drop. Not fun.

Same.
There are those that complain about being stapled, but in most cases, considering the alternative, I wind up being ok with it.

For the record, I’ve been to Hershey one time since Skyrush was invented. It was a slow-ish day and I rode many times. Was it tight? Yes. Did it kill me or even make me cry? No.
Until the next day...

That's probably the difference then. I typically ride a coaster once, maybe twice in a day.

The day we rode Skyrush, it was walk-on thankfully. I rode it twice and that was all I needed.

The trains do indeed, suck. But that aside, I didn't really care for the ride itself either. It's fun, but I didn't get off thinking "Wow" or anything. Intense, yeah. But intensity doesn't make a ride good (for me). One reason I don't get all gitty for RMC's, either.

I think Intamin was at their "worst" around the time I305 and Skyrush were installed, 2010-2014 or so. Not to mention the Zac Spin fiasco... Overall, just a bit sloppy with design and execution of the various rides. They seemed to have shaped up again after around 2016 when Taron was build, thankfully...

When I had thought Intamin has 'lost it', riding Taron completely changed my opinion of them. That was a "holy ****" moment, for sure. I literally was in awe by the time we had hit the brake run. The trains are flawless, the ride itself was just unreal.... The layout, ride dynamics, trains, everything. Just spot on.

Now it seems like Intamin is doing some awesome stuff again, thankfully. Excited to see how the IOA install goes, but really hoping it shares the Taron rolling stock... Trains will make or break it, IMO.

SteveWoA said:

One reason I don't get all gitty for RMC's, either...I think Intamin was at their "worst" around the time I305 and Skyrush were installed, 2010-2014 or so.

Steel Vengeance, Skyrush, and I-305 are easily all in my Top 10, with Steel Vengeance as my #1 and Skyrush is Top 5.

I don't think we can be friends anymore.

Glad I'm not alone on this one, absolutely love some Intamin goodness. Each ride feels like it has its own personality. Loved Skyrush/I-305 both for sheer intensity and they don't let up until the end.

BrettV said:

Steel Vengeance, Skyrush, and I-305 are easily all in my Top 10, with Steel Vengeance as my #1 and Skyrush is Top 5.

Skyrush doesn't make my Top 5 at Hersheypark.

BrettV said:

I don't think we can be friends any anymore

That hurts, man! (Like Skyrush... zing!)

I also have to agree with Hambone, not sure if Skyrush would break my top 5 at the park, either. At best, it would be 5.

That being said, Hershey has a strong collection of great rides.

Ha, it’s true!

My HP Top 5 (in no particular order): Wildcat, SDL, Great Bear, Lightnin’ Racer, Candymonium

An Intamin would be #6

…but not Skyrush

I don’t know that I’ve got a top 5 sorted out for Hersheypark, and to be fair, I’ve not ridden Candymonium, but of what I have ridden, SkyRush is number one by a considerable margin. Whatever #2 would be doesn’t come anywhere close.

Kstr, I'm surprised you would rank Wildcat over Storm Runner, but - other than that I haven't ridden Candymonium - that's my list. Skyrush is obviously polarizing.

(FWIW, I'm not sure Steel Vengeance is in my top 5 at Cedar Point.)

My Hersheypark Top 5 in no order would be:

Skyrush, Sooperdooperlooper, Storm Runner, Lightning Racer Thunder Side, and primarily because of childhood nostalgia, Trailblazer.

My CP Top 5 would be:

Magnum/Steel Vengeance tied at # 1, and then in no order would be Millennium Force, Maverick, and Gemini.

Not bad for page 2 of a thread about a new ride at Kings Island.

hambone said:

Kstr, I'm surprised you would rank Wildcat over Storm Runner, but

I put more weight into nostalgia and visuals of a ride than your average rider.

Stormrunner is definitely the six spot here. I really like dig the uniqueness of that ride, though loses a notch for brevity. It is visually impressive especially the approach from snaking down Park Avenue. How damn high those elements loom over that part of the park and how intertwined it is: popping up everywhere you look. I’ll take Skyrush over Fahrenheit though. Both behind the Comet.

At the Point, I want to keep Magnum, Dragster and Millennium Force at the top of my list, but Steel Vengeance is really good. I can barely handle Raptor anymore. There’s five.

Wildcat is one of my all-time favorites. PTC's or MF trains, always have loved it. I would be beyond pissed if they ever decided to ruin it with a RMC conversion.

As far as my hierarchy at Hershey? Have not been on Candymonium yet, but love Mako, so no doubt it would be near the top. But otherwise, probably:

1.) Great Bear

2.) Wildcat

3.) Lightning Racer

4.) Fahrenheit

5.) SDL (tie) w/ Stormrunner

Now, Brett, we really can't be friends. Magnum really does need to sink. A nice GCI along the beach would be such a significant upgrade... I'd even give up Steel Vengeance if I had to... ;)

But honestly, just give me Raptor, Millennium Force and Gatekeeper and I am a happy man. Maverick is cool (hate the trains). Dragster for the launch alone I'd rate up there as well.

As far as nostalgia my question is whether I can legitimately include the Cedar Creek Mine Ride in my Cedar Point top 5, or if that's a step too far. Blue Streak is definitely in, however.

(My Kings Island top 5 would be so dated it would be comical.)

Steve, we were so synced for a second there… until you started dissing Magnum.

Ham, ditto for my Great Adventure which would be something like: Scream Machine, Lightnin’ Loops, BTR, the blue Chiller and Rolling Thunder

But KI that’s an easy one: The Beast, The Beast, The Beast, Mystic Timbers, and to bring it back around …Orion

Kstr 737 said:

Steve, we were so synced for a second there… until you started dissing Magnum.

I mean... I don't hate Magnum or anything. It's better than CCMR, Corkscrew or Iron Dragon... It's a fun ride, just a wee-bit overhyped.

On a side note, was talking with some local steel fabricators last week for work, in which our discussion redirected toward fabricating steel coaster track. They supposedly have done quite a bit of 'retrack' work for Magnum and Iron Dragon. The park will just cut out a section of track in need of replacement and send it to them, they will template the piece removed, fabricated a new piece and send back for re-installation. Pretty cool surprise when talking to them.

Running rails for Magnum/Iron Dragon are 4SCH40 pipe, for those curious (newer rides are 6" usually).

SteveWoA said:

Now, Brett, we really can't be friends. Magnum really does need to sink. A nice GCI along the beach would be such a significant upgrade...

"It's been one year since the Orion announcement, so what are everyones' top 5 Hersheypark coasters?" Hahaha.

Of course, I have nothing to add, since I haven't ridden Candymonium or Orion (or even Mystic Timbers) yet.

But yeah, Skyrush sucks!

Well, to try to get back on topic: I haven't ridden Orion, so this is not a criticism. But I find it amusing that the brake run appears to be 80+ feet above the ground - in other words, basically the height of Racer's lift hill. They could have built a whole second coaster from that point on!