Son of Beast does not get the respect it derserves

I couldn't agree with you more Beast Tamer although I do understand why others might dislike it. SOB is one of my favorites out there. Sometimes I feel like I am one of a hand full of people that enjoy rides on it but that's okay.

I think most people would agree, whether they like it or not, that the structure is very impressive. I get goosebumps every time I see it for the first time on my many trips to PKI in a season. One of my favorite SOB moments is watching the reactions of everyone on the ramps approaching the station as a train crests the lift. Everyone always looks up- one of my favorite park sounds and moments.

I've gotten many different rides on SOB. Some have been surprisingly smooth while others have left me with a headache. But I always return for more. I find that overall, SOB isn't a rough as many people say it is, at least in my mind. I prefer the back seat, as I do on most coasters. I'm 6'3" and slender and I do have to "fold" my legs to fit back there. My trick for SOB, like I do on all coasters, is to basically ride like a rag doll. I just let the forces do what they want to me not fighting it. If I ride SOB very tense it'll kick my tail. But by letting it "throw me around," it's a much better experience. Sounds weird but it works for me.

I could go on and on about the layout. I love it. Many don't care for it but I think it does SOB well. And kudos to PKI for contuning to put a lot of time, energy, and money into maintained AND improving SOB. The work they did on the Rose Bowl last season was very noticeable. I did not get a bad ride in that section once the entire season. Hats off to SOB, one of favorites!

All:

Try being REALLY tall and riding that thing. I shoehorned myself in because I HAD to ride that sweet looking ride...big mistake. I limped for the better part of a couple of days.

I must admit though, one of the best looking coasters I've seen.

I have ridden SoB once, and that'll be the last time in a long, LONG time. While not a horrible ride, it's still not worth a long wait, and it's not worth the pain either. If they just made it smoother it would be MUCH BETTER. I don't think it would be boring at all.

Beast: I agree w/you. I can't think of any SOB's that get the respect they deserve. :)

Smoother would be nice, more legroom is a necessity. As others have said, forget being comfortable (or possibly even fitting into the cars) if you are over 6' tall. As Doug said, temporary loss of use of your legs can be a result - I can vouch for that, as can the rest of my crew "We didn't get wet...D'oh!!!" from the first CBCon...My knees and legs were sore for quite a while.

I'm not a fan of SoB, but there are far less rideable wooden coasters out there. Psyclone at SFMM comes to mind.

*shuffle shuffle shuffle*

Bang bang bang

Rumble through another helix it just isn't engineered to handle

Ooh! A nice hop!

*shuffle shuffle shuffle*

It isn't the worst atrocity out there, but it's so very far from good.

-'Playa

Well lets see here. I think it is fun. The roughness is part of a wooden coaster. The Rattler at SFFT has a first drop that curves and isn't even banked! That hurts. Until you ride the Rattler you won't know what painful is.

Personally, I like Son of Beast. I don't think the layout is boring at all. What could you really do with a wood coaster traveling at that kind of speed? If the layout is so boring, let's hear from the people who think it is boring and what they would do with the layout that would make it better. And, I mean something that is possible and could be taken at those speeds. The loop is insane and one of the best parts of the ride. Yeah, I take a little beating, but it is nothing that will keep me from riding it at least a couple of times when I'm there. And, I'm 5'11" and 205lbs. My brother is 6'4", about 225-230 lbs and I never hear him complain about how cramped or uncomfortable the seating is.

The real test, and I should have stated this is how much of the rider's height is in their legs. I have an inseam 34-35 and my knees (with my feet crossed under me) were firmly smashed against the seatback in front of me.

Coasterbuzzer: We've already heard. It's called the Boss at SFStl.

And we'll hear again this summer from Hades to name another...

-'Playa

*** Edited 3/15/2005 3:04:21 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

My inseam is a 36-37 and with my legs crossed the right way and "tucked" back under the seat, I have some space between the seat in front of me and my knees. The trick for me though is avoiding the grab bar attached to the back of the seat. As long as that is avoided, all is well.

You have to be careful and make sure you're positioned correctly before pulling down the restraint. Sometimes I fear being in a position where my ankle could get broken easily. But that is not just on SOB, that's on many coasters, wood and steel, for me. The life of a tall coaster rider... :)

What could they do? Not turn?

I am probably going to stay away when I visit this year.

I'd ride it if I were you. Just ride in or near the middle of the train and in a middle row of a car (not over the wheel axels). Many agree that is where you'll experience less stress. Ride it and make your own opinion.

Rode it once, will never ride it again! Had a headache

for hours!

The loop is what kills the ride. That's because that is what dictates the seats and restraints and makes the shaking 100 times worse. Beast shakes harder but you are not stapled to an iron seat, so it is fun.

Although my least favorite woodie at PKI, put me down in the"enjoyed it and would ride again" category.

And no one should AVOID a coaster cuz somebody else didn't like it.

What exaclty are you saying, playa? What about the boss? It's not 200 plus feet tall, nor does it travel as fast. What are you getting at?

SOB is one of the few coasters that I can actually say that I want off of, this ride could be so much better. Howver it is what it is. I have to say that I hate the trains, and yes replacing them would help, but it wouldn't solve all of the issues of the ride.