Risk takers?

I was telling a friend of mine about the Coaster Odyssey that I'm doing with CPLady and she remarked, "I never knew you were such a risk-taker."

"Risk-taker?" I repeated, puzzled.

"To ride those, that's taking such a risk."

She wasn't familiar enough with amusement parks today to describe something like a Rip Cord ride to explain that and how I'd find *that* as risk-taking.

I just said that "Coasters are fun. I'm strapped in and have a bar clamping me into the seat - what's the risk?" with a big grin on my face.

Are you seen as a big risk-taker among your non-coaster obsessed friends? How do you explain it?

Tell them you're surprised they take the "risk" of driving a car. Hundreds are killed in car accidents every day, vs. two or three people a year in coaster/ride accidents.

I agree that riding a coaster is fun and safe and that to me, something like a skycoaster or bungee jumping is more of a risk taking. I just wish that I could convince my mother-in-law of the same, as she is still convinced that her daughter and I are going to someday get brain damage from all of the coasters we ride.

Yeah, my mother is also convinced that I'll die on a coaster. I do use the line "You are 100 (or more) times more likely to die in a car crash on your way to or from a park than actually in the park."

Either that or the fact that more people are injured while bowling or watering their lawn than on amusement rides. Some people simply do not look at the facts.

Actually, most people find it fascinating, especially where I work. Anytime I take time off it's the "what park are you going to this time" discussion. lol. That was the case with my last job as well.

As far as the ones that would never get on a coaster for whatever reason, I try to change their mind with the facts. :-D

I have one friend who STILL thinks roller coasters are the most dangerous thing you can do, yet she takes her kids to these rusty carni rides and always gets speeding tickets. She is always emailing/calling me with the latest coaster accident, as if I didn't hear about it before she did.

Go figure. lol.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/21/2004 3:24:43 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

My mother-in-law is convinced that it is terribly dangerous. She was very worried that my wife and I would get her son killed this summer when he came to visit us. Of course, this is the same woman that spends her weekends riding horses and 4-wheelers...

You must have the same mother-in-law that I do. :)

I'd say it's risky riding the Williams Grove Cyclone. Nothing like seeing track steel coming up at the ends in places. It's the only ride I fear for my life on when I ride it! I'd consider riding that a risk.

My mom just doesn't understand why I need to go all over to ride differant coasters when we have several parks an hour or two away. My mom is another one of those horse people too.

People I work with think I'm nuts riding coasters. Thats coming from guys who will walk a beam 10 inches wide 100 feet in the air and would not ride a coaster.

*** Edited 6/21/2004 4:44:47 PM UTC by coasterpunk***

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Pale Rider said:
I agree that riding a coaster is fun and safe and that to me, something like a skycoaster or bungee jumping is more of a risk taking. I just wish that I could convince my mother-in-law of the same, as she is still convinced that her daughter and I are going to someday get brain damage from all of the coasters we ride.

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As a Sky Coaster Site Controller and a 9 year ride op/supervisor i must say that Sky Coaster is the safest ride i have ever laid eyes on or worked.. it's amazing.

Vic_SFKK,

Yeah, I realize that they are safe. It's just that the perception to me (someone who isn't a big fan of heights)of being suspended by cables several hundred feet up in the air with nothing else around you that is risky. That's what makes it thrilling to me, something I don't really get from coasters much anymore. One of these next times that I'm down in Kissimmee, I'm going to get up the balls to ride that 300 foot monster they have down there.

I think that's exactly what makes the Skycoaster "work" - the percieved danger. It's a real winner in the "oh my god, I'm gonna die!" department. :)

Has there ever been an accident on a Skycoaster?

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Jim Fisher said:
You must have the same mother-in-law that I do.

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Hmm... we may have to have a talk about that... My wife only has the one brother and he is married already,

Gonchar: There was an accident with an employee working it in the morning. He hit the metal stairs but didn't die. I think it was at Paramounts Carowinds, but im not sure.

I'm certainly no risk-taker. Taking a risk is playing on a busy highway in the middle of a foggy night. I just like to ride coasters :)

Actually, my wife was an only child, and her mother would be too scared to get on a horse. ;)

I'm not seen as a "risk taker" so much as an adrenaline junky. I don't believe I have many friends who haven't been in the car when I've got a speeding ticket. A couple of times, I've gotten two in a single day!

I really need to get to the Autobahn someday. Oh to fly by a cop and not have them chase me down for a change...

I have one friend who insists that I will get brain damage from riding. Oh well. Half the time I freak folks out by telling them how dangerous it is. ;)

RavenTTD, they say that because - most likely - they figure we ARE brain damaged for riding so much. :-P

Haha,

I agree with Robocoaster - for me it's more of an adrenaline thing. I've been a coaster enthusiast for over 30 years now. Yea, I'm old. My mother (even older) keeps telling me about old people having blot clots exploding in their brains and such from riding coasters. Happy to say my head is still in once piece.

If there are any other adrenaline junkies out there, may I recommend sky diving? It's the only thing I've done that topped the rush of a good coaster. Not a static line jump, which gives you no freefall. If you're nervous, try a tandem jump, where you're strapped to your instructor. Before that shoot opens, the freefall is the most incredible feeling! It took my breath away. Literally, because they forgot to mention that you're falling so fast that the wind blows up your nose, so you'd best take a big breath before jumping!

I've also been hang gliding, but it's not as thrilling. It's scarey, but there's no sense of speed. And yes, all my co-workers think I'm insane too.

Now that I've travelled so much riding coasters and can always make a fun day out of nothing, my friends and relatives are beginning to get very jealous of me. They always complain now when they tell me about their boring day inside because it was dreary outside and they couldn't find anything to do in town, and then I tell them "well I drove for two hours, rode roller coasters with no lines all afternoon, and now I'm back". They just get jealous at that point, not to mention when I tell them I've been to CA, UT, VA, NJ, and FL, as well as all through OH and PA just to ride coasters ...

They think the risk-taking is spending the money on all those trips ... I point out I'm 22 and closed on my first house on Friday ;)