Shockwave (SFGAm)

I rode this ride yesterday for the first time in a year, and I have to say it was absolutely atrocious! I have never had such a violent coaster ride -- it was way out of control. The turn into the brakes was worse than ever, and I have to rank it as the single worst coaster moment I have ever experienced. No small feat, this ride is now rougher than Iron Wolf, which is rougher than ever. And there were about 5 people in the station when we rode it -- at 3 in the afternoon! This was after waiting 50 minutes for Logger's Run. Up until yesterday, I was a marginal shockwave defender, but in my opinion, this coaster, which used to be so glorious, really needs to go.

Finally, someone who agrees with me! My friends insisted we ride Shockwave earlier this month, against my wishes. I hated the ride. Now, I've ridden this monster, 3 times in a row, in the pouring rain, a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the experience. Now it's just a terrible ride. It is currently on my "ALWAYS AVOID" list, along with Iron Wolf. That's OK, gives me more time to experience Raging Bull, Viper and V2.

ZenMickey: Finally? Look no furthur than the multitudes of tr's to find negative (and unfair IMO) things about Shockwave. Note that Drachen Fire recieved the same type of criticism but once it made it to SBNO it was "everyone's favorite coaster". The Crystal Beach Cyclone was so violent that it sent people to the hospital but it is an "intense woodie that must've kicked major butt" according to most... People are never satisfied with what we've got adn want it torn down, but once the park hears these cries and closes the ride, thats when everyone "loved the ride" and want it back. Look no further than the Steel Phantom. The outcry to tear this ride down was great, and once it was gone all I heard was "I miss the Steel Phantom" Fortunatly KW announced Phantom's Revenge and we no longer hear this whining, but my point remains. Shockwave is a rollercoaster, and a bad coaster is better than no coaster at all. I for one love this ride and have no idea what y'all are doing to get such horrible rides on this mega looper. Either B&M has spoiled us rotten, or some people are wussies. I'm sorry if I come up harsh, but Mega-Loopers, and SLC's for that matter get unfair criticism-until the ride is gone. Enjoy it while it lasts. As for Iron Wolf, I know I'm not the only one who notices the improvement. This ride isn't rough. It's intense. The transitions are sharp and fast and that's what gives it the rough feeling. The new padding on the OTSR's helped that problem significantly.

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Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society-Chicago Chapter

*** This post was edited by Ozzyhead on 5/31/2002. ***

That's sad. It's good how Arrow learned from their mistakes on GASM and ShockWave and turned the good stuff into Viper at SFMM...

Shockwave is moody. This year I rode it on May 4th (warm day, mid 60s) and May 17th (cold day, low 40s.) On the 4th, it was the worst ride I ever got from it. Extremely rough through everything, including the double loops, which are always smooth. It also seemed a little sluggish
On the 17th, I went on it twice in a row. Both times, it was smooth, fast, and powerful. I had absolutly no headbanging both times, and I was greying out entering the 2nd loop and through the whole 3rd loop. It was pure ecstacy. I could have rode it more, but it was running so great, I, for the first time ever, was too disoriented to challenge it again.

In years past, I never payed attention to the roughness until other people I was with started talking about it. Then, I found some rides were rough, some were not. I found in the back of the train, it gives the smoothest ride. When riding, go towards the back of the train, in the 2nd row of the car. You get leg room then, and are not directly over the wheels, which can make it rougher.

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Whats more reliable? Deja Vu, or RCT running without a error trapper?

In my opinion, this ride is the worst. Sorry, Jeff, but its the true. On the third loop I just about blacked out and the ride is so rough.

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"Duff Man Says... Ohhh Yeah!"
Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Dueling Dragons (Ice)

Ozzyhead: you make some great points. To be honest, I haven't gone through all the tr's here, I'm new to this board (and I do think Coasterbuzz is the best board around). But since riding is such a personal experience, I have to wonder when one enjoys the ride experience, or just tolerates it. For me, it is not worth the wait for Iron Wolf for the feeling I get while riding it and afterwards. I think it's great that many people do enjoy IW, but I don't. That doesn't mean I want it torn down (nor do I think Shockwave should go) but I have the option to ride it or not, and give my opinion on the experience. I think it's awesome what KW did to the Phantom, and they did so by listening to the riders. I actually think its a shame that there never seems to be many riders for Shockwave....but doesn't that send a message as well? And maybe I am getting too old for seven inversions in a minute. It just seems like I could ride Raging Bull or Cornball Express all day long as opposed to getting a big old headache on some other rides.

I like shockwave. If you learn to get over your ears turning bright red, its a great ride. It just seems so unique with all these B&Ms and Intimins being built. I will always like shockwave because it was my first coaster and I dont mind the banging. I also love the short lines. ;)

I am a tear down shockwave fan. I really do not like the ride, and i think that Demon across the park is 1000000X a better example of an arrow looper for the parks guests. I would like to see a 4 d put in its place, but they could probably put one in next to it like they did at MM which would be fine with me because i know there are shockwave fans out there. Also, Iron wolf is the least thing from rough. All you need to do is press your head really hard to the right of the headrest after the flatspin. Try it i dare you all that hate the ride you will have an amazing expirience.

I used to love Shockwave in it's first few years. I remember marveling at the speed that it had and the intensity you got going through the loops.

I ride it once a year now and that is about it. It is too rough for me at my age. One thing to remember was that this ride was ALWAYS this rough and it used to be the most popular ride in the park. I really think peoples atttitudes have changed towards ride smoothness ever since B&M and Intamin came on the scene and delivered smooth rides. Overall though, I think the public still likes this ride somewhat and it probably wont be goiing anywhere in the near future.

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Bob Hansen

A proud CoasterBuzz Member
"We are not responsible for anything the Demon takes or breaks"

I have never came as close to blacking out as I have on Shockwave, I love it. IMHO its so much less headbangy then IW it's not even funny. Of course I pretty much hate all stand ups so that might have something to do with it. But all Arrow Megaloopers are jerky, but they are still some of the most intense rides out there.

Yesterday Vortex was still great, it's about the only coaster that still gets my stomach, the air is great and unexpected. The slow speed corksrews are awesome, you pick your legs up and no part of your body touches anything.

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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

I don't know why some people want to take a classic world class coaster down like shockwave. b&m changed our ride experience with other coasters because theirs are so smooth but when you ride a smooth arrow it will feel rougher because b&M's are really smooth and thats what we are getting used to.

Wussies... :)

Shockwave does indeed kick your butt, but its power and intensity are not matched by any other ride at SFGAm. I still remember my first (and only) ride on it last summer, sitting on top of the midcourse brake with a smile on my face as the world around me was spinning. Great first drop, great G's in the loops (near blackout inducing ones in the 2nd and third), an intense turn into the midcourse, and a rifle-fast corkscrew make this one of my favorites. I don't remember it being rough (except for the jerky transitions, that is). Sure it's not a cream puff B&M, but if everything was, coastering would be more boring...variety is the spice of coastering. And why do people always want to tear roller coasters down???

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I get the feeling there's a conspiracy over at King's Island to remove anything that has "K" or "C" in its initials.

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jay_rider said:
I don't know why some people want to take a classic world class coaster down like shockwave. b&m changed our ride experience with other coasters because theirs are so smooth but when you ride a smooth arrow it will feel rougher because b&M's are really smooth and thats what we are getting used to.

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World class my ass. That POS isn't even on the waiting list to be a world class coaster...

The last time I rode this ride was horrible! The drop isn't to bad, but it got real rough starting in the first loop. Throughout the three loops, my head was banging around, even though I was doing my best to stop it. The worst part on the entire ride is when you go up before the brake hill. It is impossible to not bang your head. I am surprised you don't hear about people blacking out from this ride. I rode the rumor about removing it is true and they put in a 4-D(Vekoma?) roller coaster or something totally revolutionary.

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MooreOn said:

Wussies...

Shockwave does indeed kick your butt, but its power and intensity are not matched by any other ride at SFGAm. I still remember my first (and only) ride on it last summer, sitting on top of the midcourse brake with a smile on my face as the world around me was spinning. Great first drop, great G's in the loops (near blackout inducing ones in the 2nd and third), an intense turn into the midcourse, and a rifle-fast corkscrew make this one of my favorites. I don't remember it being rough (except for the jerky transitions, that is). Sure it's not a cream puff B&M, but if everything was, coastering would be more boring...variety is the spice of coastering. And why do people always want to tear roller coasters down???

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I get the feeling there's a conspiracy over at King's Island to remove anything that has "K" or "C" in its initials.

I agree with you exactly. Shockwave is awesome because of its intensity and roughness and I have enjoyed it more this year than I ever have in the past.

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Top 5 Coasters 1.Deja Vu(SFGAm)2.Raging Bull(SFGAm)3.Millennium Force(CP)4.CornBall Express(IB)5.Viper(SFGAm)
CoasterWorld

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I love this ride. How can you say it is bad. If you don't like a little amount of pain, ride it in the back or in the front seat and you wont feel a thing. This is a great ride with little to no wait. If you don't like the ride, DON'T RIDE IT! If you like it then obviously do ride it. I like the intensity, and I believe it is one of the best coasters at the park.

I haven't been on it yet this year (Tuesday will be my first trip to SFGAm this year), but last year I felt it was giving some of it's best rides ever. The vertical loops were giving the most g's they had in some time (all 3 of them), the butterfly thingie was fine, and they put you through the corkscrew at a decent speed. Yes, it's rough, and so is Iron Wolf, but those are two of the most powerful rides in the park as far as having tight intense layouts (well, Shockwave's layout is a little simple, but the g's in the vertical loops are incredible), Batman is the only super smooth ride at the park that has an intense layout. Raging Bull's mostly smooth and has a powerful layout, but it does have a couple of rough spots, and if it had OTS restraints, I'm sure a few people would complain about roughness, so I'm keeping it out of there, but anyway, that's part of what goes with making a great coaster, you gotta give a little bit of roughness.

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"You can't kill what's stronger than death" - Zakk Wylde

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MRKARNO said:
The last time I rode this ride was horrible! The drop isn't to bad, but it got real rough starting in the first loop. Throughout the three loops, my head was banging around, even though I was doing my best to stop it. The worst part on the entire ride is when you go up before the brake hill. It is impossible to not bang your head. I am surprised you don't hear about people blacking out from this ride. I rode the rumor about removing it is true and they put in a 4-D(Vekoma?) roller coaster or something totally revolutionary.

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The 4D is an Arrow Dynamics coaster.

I agree with TrBiggar the colder it is the more fun it is and the less pain you will feel! Yesterday i rode it once and had to go home cause it gave me the worst head ake in my life!!! But B96 night I rode it like 10 times and still wanted more!!