The Maverick upgrade that might be bigger than the Rougarou one...

I have no neck-snapping issues on Maverick, but Skyrush, along with the terrible lap bar, has a few back-snapping moments for me. My butt goes one way, and my back is still the other way. I hate very few coasters. Skyrush is still the worst.

However, people must have had an issue with Maverick, and I am happy to see it become an even better ride.

That's actually the thing I loved about Skyrush. There were multiple moments where my torso was going one way and my lower body was going a completely different way. With the wingstyle seating, it was super thrilling and bordering on scary. Unfortunately, the thing keeping me in the train during said moments, the restraint, was not thrilling and was super scary in how painful it was.

And I thought Skyrush was one of the most thrilling rides I've ever taken. The mini MF drop, the airtime, and those transitions were downright scary.

Sometimes I feel like I must be the only one on earth that didn't mind those lap bars. Ok, after multiple rides I was finally feeling it in my thighs a bit, but as far my experience during the ride goes, I found it to be ok, and was glad it held me in! No bruising.

I have about 6 laps on maverick- all last summer. I had no issues with the restraints and neither did my riding partner- we have pretty different builds at 140 and 240, but both pretty tall. I could see if you were a little shorter getting a little banging on some of the whippy transitions. I love maverick's aggressiveness and hope these new restraints will allow even more folks to appreciate this ride- it was my number 1 until I rode fury last month.

One fix for Skyrush's back-snapping problem would be to add bucket seats instead of the flat-backed seats the ride has now. I think that would help to keep people's torsos move in the same direction as their butts.

The lap bars seem to hit me at a point. I wish they were designed in such a way that the part that touched my thighs was flatter, and had more surface touching me.

For what it's worth, Skyrush is still in the top 50 rides on the CB top 100. It would appear that despite the pain factor, it's still thought of as a great ride.

...And I wonder if this change will push Maverick into the top 10.

I think that's really that point most people are trying to emphasize. Skyrush is a top-10 caliber ride and it's arguably the most insane start-to-finish coaster in the US, but the terrible restraints are causing people to vote it that far down their lists.

LostKause summed it up - the restraints hit your legs at a point, so when you're going through the airtime moments the force is concentrated at one point instead of being spread out over a larger area like on the B&M clamshells. One of my favorite moments on any coaster is when the Skyrush train comes into the last set of brakes just before the station and all you hear is "ahhhh" from all of the riders when the restraints release that inch of two. Intamin just continues to have a difficult time designing a comfortable restraint.

I too welcome the new restraints on Maverick. It was the wildest and craziest coaster I'd ridden but a bit too rough for my taste. A ride op tried to pair me with another single rider who insisted on sitting in the back and I had to decline; that ride is rough even from the front so there is absolutely no way I was going to ride in the back. I like this coaster a lot and will like it more if it can be made more user-friendly.

If Maverick is the wildest thing I've ridden, Skyrush is the most intense. I haven't had much of a problem with the restraints except for the last hill; no matter where you sit on that coaster, the last hill is going to get you.

As to riding defensively, I agree that it shouldn't be necessary to do so but I find that in some cases it is. Certain coasters, especially inverted or floorless ones, pose a problem unless I brace myself for the impact. The only way I can comfortably get through the corkscrews on Batman at Great Adventure without having to hold on is to shift my weight and shift the position of my neck and shoulders. I've had to make similar adjustments on other coasters.

Skyrush will snap your neck/back if you don't know when to brace yourself on the ride. I typically hold on to the side bars of the restraints when riding this coaster because of that.

Yikes, snapped necks. I wonder what they're doing with all the bodies...

I had no problems with Maverick's restraints, but I knew plenty that did, so I definitely wanted the change so that those people could fully enjoy the ride.

I'm personally very excited, because Maverick is one of my favorite coasters, and these soft restraints will likely allow a new riding style. Finally I might be able to ride Maverick as a wet noodle or with my hands up, and it's nice to have those options.

I rode it this weekend with the new restraints, and they are very comfortable. I had no issues with the previous restraints, but this makes it more enjoyable.

I was pretty much OK with the old restraints, just a little head bumping, but this was a big improvement.They're pretty comfy.

Looking forward to trying these new restraints this fall. I'm still concerned about them being restrictive for taller folks. The shoulder area looks considerably lower than the former restraints. I have issues with some OTSRs due to my height (looking at you, Wicked Twister)...

Since I haven't been on Skyrush, I have always realized that you either love it or hate it and this proves it. Skyrush to me looks like a mini i305 with weird restraints. Back to maverick, with the new restraints, all the people that hate on it because of the restraints will have to come up with a new excuse to hate on it, or be forced to like it. Seems like torture.

ShaneDenmark said:

Looking forward to trying these new restraints this fall. I'm still concerned about them being restrictive for taller folks. The shoulder area looks considerably lower than the former restraints. I have issues with some OTSRs due to my height (looking at you, Wicked Twister)...

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I'm 6'2" I can BARELY fit on Wicked Twister if I'm sitting up straight...the harnesses kind of push me down.

I have NO issues and plenty of room to move up and down on Maverick with the new restraints, as well and move around. They really feel like I'm wearing a 5lb backpack on my back, but I can move around, and look around now, compared to before, I couldn't look left or right fully.

The only time I felt the restraints pull on my shoulder was on the first hill (leaning forward and out...or as some would say being thrown out.)

I can say this is NIGHT and DAY compared to the old style...It's about the same as that joyous day when Outer Limits Flight of Fear changed over it's restraints...SOooooo much better!

CarolinaNick15 said:
Back to maverick, with the new restraints, all the people that hate on it because of the restraints will have to come up with a new excuse to hate on it, or be forced to like it. Seems like torture.

Or maybe some people really just don't like the restraints. Maybe people aren't looking for an excuse to not like the ride, but instead just, you know, don't like the ride.

Hey man. We banned rational discussion back in 2004. If you don't like it, leave.

We also banned dancing.

Then Kevin Bacon came along...

Or Maverick was amazing. Rougarou? OMG. #whatsamantis?

We should expect to see Maverick go up in the rankings.