Six Flags New England modifies Superman, hopes to open this weekend

CoasterfanVt2003,

You'll still have the same forces acting on you, and the restraints will still allow the same amount of airtime. The ankle brace doesn't affect airtime, and the seat belts will do the same thing as they did before. The lap bar is the same. None of the track was changed, so the net force will still be the same.

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You'll still have the same forces acting on you, and the restraints will still allow the same amount of airtime. The ankle brace doesn't affect airtime, and the seat belts will do the same thing as they did before. The lap bar is the same. None of the track was changed, so the net force will still be the same.

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Thanks, coasterwiz.... I have heard too many horror stories and am glad it's not as bad as some think ... It's just traumatic to see your most beloved ride undergo such surgery and modification.... I hope to be able to ride it by late Summer.

ok, anyone else have the displeasure of riding it? i did yesterday at SFNE. not affect air time? there is virtually none left! and this ride now gives all new meaning to the term "stapled"!! my 14 yr old son turned to me after restraints were checked, nearly with tears in his eyes, and told me he may not have kids some day. the ankle restraints hold you so firmly, the lap bar pins you...basically they destroyed what used to be one of my favorite coasters!!! :(

Coasting I bet you and your son were stapled down so well since you rode it the week it reopened. Give it a month or so and they probably will have more slack.

The bottom line is even if they discontinue stapling, even if you lose weight so you don't chafe against the restraints around your waist and thighs, the shin/ankle restraints are very binding and effectively rob you of the sense of flying that SROS is all about.

We rode at SFA on Monday. We'll be in New England next weekend, where we may or may not go to SF. Prior to the May 1st incident, the primary purpose of our trip was SROS @ SFNE. Now, we aren't even sure if we'll visit the park at all this year because of the surgery on what was our favorite ride, making it into something almost unrideable.

I sure hope this fix is just a temporary one, but I'm not holding my breath on it.

kikky, i agree 100%. it just is not the same ride with thos ankle restraints. they do more to keep you from moving than the lap bars. i would still recommend SFNE if you've never been. the batman is great, actually smoother than ever yesterday. and there's still mind eraser, cyclone and the goofiest, but great thunderbolt. still get lotsa air on that one! and the assortment of other good rides make it still a decent park. but superman, with its new restraints, is a different ride entirely, and not a good one.

We've been to SFNE more times than we can count. We both grew up in the CT River Valley - my hubby is from Windsor Locks, CT. SROS is really the only reason we went to SFNE 3 times last year, and the stinky operations of that park combined with an uncomfortable SROS ride just don't make it very interesting. The only reason we'll go is if our friends want to go. We're actually hoping they'll want to join us at Canobie Lake Park on Saturday instead...

You can't pay me enough money to get me on Flashback again, and I'll ride Mind Eraser just once more, in order to accompany a friend who needs the credit.

Anyone else wondering how SROS will wind up in Mitch Hawker's steel poll for 2004 now?

you people complain too damn much. sure it's a little tighter fit but damn it's still an awsome roller coaster. i rode it twice yesterday and i thought it was great.

Sorry everyone but I just HAVE to speak out. I am Stanley Mordarsky's niece, the daughter of stanleys twin brother. I think it is very unthoughtful and selfish that most of you sit here and worry about the ride, when it will open, cry about why they added more restraints, etc. Please think before you type, a family member might be reading it. I lost MY UNCLE here! A family member, my friend, a good hearted man, uncle, brother and son. I cry reading these things you type because I cannot understand why this means more than what happened to my uncle. Why being selfish is more important than paying respect to someone that passed away. Think about it when you type something, what if the person on the ride was your family member. Have a heart.

Sincerley,

J. Mordarsky

J.M., Sorry about your uncle, it is a shame, and I am sure nobody here would say anything to belittle your uncle, he wasnt even mentioned in the above posts. This is, however a coaster forum, this is a very hot topic, ride restaints are being discussed, and naturally people want to know about them. These people in here wont feel the same sense of loss like you will. Hopefully this will never happen again

Sorry again for you loss.

Jeff Wrote:

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Not sure I understand how any of that makes the ride safer. Seat belts that were the correct length in the first place would I think have been adequate to measure rider size. The secondary one doesn't do that any better.

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I would have to agree with Jef on this one. And let me further comment: All these changes have done is idiot-proof a system that was already in place. Had the ride ops checked the restraints properly in the first place, they would have noticed that the rider did not fit properly in the restraints. Instead of proper training of where the lapbar should sit and how to correctly fasten and check the seatbelts, they have added what I will refer to as an "Idiot Belt." Now, in case the ride op's eyes glaze over in confusion at the complexities of the tbar, all they have to do is click in the new belt and see if it fastens.

Now, on to the seatbelts. No matter how long or short a seatbelt is, it still needs to be adjusted to fit the rider. If I had a 100 foot long seat belt, it would not matter as long as it was adjusted properly.

Now, the t-bar mods... These look extraordinarily uncomfortable, and.. well.. I'm no engineer, but I don't see how they really add to safety of the ride.

This is just my opinion, but it almost seems like this is more of a Public Relations Damage Control mod than a safety mod...

Finally, to the poster above who lost a family member, I am sorry for your loss, my comments above are not meant to in any way detract from the fact that you lost a loved one. I am simply discussing the restraint system and how I feel that the new mods are pointless, and that if the old restraints had simply been checked properly, this tragedy would not have taken place.

Was there today. For me the ride is much the same as it was, felt pretty much the same, which is a good thing. However, the ankle restraints for me where a pain, yes they keep your legs up, but they bothered my ankles. Also, they are way to anal about checking restaints, I understand they are a little paranoid but common. First they are making a pass to check seatbelts, then they make ANOTHER pass to check lap bar, cant they just check both on same pass? On top of this they only have 1 train running, very slow. Total time for 1 ride, load pass, check restaints, ride, exit, 7-9 mins. I hope they get another train going soon, or else I fear this will turn into the mind eraser; 1 train, short line, very long wait.

All in all though a great day at the park. Batman is fun, and the ride ops are very efficient in getting people in and out ( they have 2 trains going, which as we know is a huge plus)

I think I will need a kidney transplant from riding in the back of the cyclone though. :)

PS, mind eraser was down several times today, imagine that...

I've been back a few times since SROS reopened, and am generally pleased with the modifications, even though I am still of the opinion the originals would be fine under the new size limitations. The ride ops were really strict last week, 4 checkers, and two passes. They were also only running one car, which makes each ride cycle a 7-8 minute event. Tonight they were back to only 2 checkers. They still double check, but they aren't stapling as bad as they were. They were running two trains during the day, and only one in the evening, as it was slow. Overall, the restraints seem pretty good except they added a set of ridiculously large plastic knee pads in the front rows, and those shin restraints suck big time. The lap bars themselves are shorter now, so they hit your thighs more than your gut if your a bigger guy. They tighten the belts like crazy, but those are easily loosened if need by (don't jump on me here, I'm just stating a fact). Also, the same tricks that used to give people some more lap bar room still work, although with the shin guards and side rails, airtime is more painful then pleasureful. The other good news is that the trains are really smoking! I don't know if it's the tight restraints or what, but damn does superman feel faster now. It's lost some of the super smoothness it had, and shakes you up a bit more, but it's kindof fun for a change of pace. Overall, good job on the repair.

I went to Six Flags 2 days ago with a group from work. We had an absolute blast. I went on Superman 4 times and every one of them was a rush of excitment. Yes the seatbelts were a bit uncomfortably tight after they were pulled by the attendants. The leg and ankle bars didn't bothr me at all. I must say they were strict about the checks 4 people 2 on each side, during the day and 2 at night when things slowed down a bit. They did have 2 trains running also (during the day), so the wait wasn't bad at all.
I don't mind the changes ll, they sure do fit you in there pretty tight and I felt totally safe and secure.

I can't wait to go again!!

Angela

The shin guards absolutley suck though. But things seem to be getting back to normal.

I LOVE speedpass, no waiting in line, just reserve the time, and go ride nightwing, joker, and your ready.

cp