The NINJA at SFOG - CoasterBuzz

I dont know much about how parks deal with "rough"

coasters, I dont mind wood coasters being rough

mainly b/c you have no shoulder/head restraints.

There is one coaster that has got a bad rep It is The NINJA

it seems to be "rough" (to say the least) I was with a group of people and they was going to ride The NINJA and a girl

got off and she had a dislocated jaw. Me and a group of people are goin thurs. May 29 and its a awesome looking coaster with 5 inversions but Iam unsure about riding it. It is the ONLY coaster I havent rode there which bugs me but my health is more important!

When does a park finally say "ok enough" and do something about it If you have any info/riding experiences please let me know.

I rode in the front and had no problems. In fact, I rather enjoyed the ride. I'm a bit more tolerant of rough coasters than most, it seems, so keep that in mind.

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-Mike
Have you ridden a Toboggan?
*** This post was edited by Vater 5/22/2003 3:34:54 PM ***

There's really only one way to find out if you'll like it.

Just bring some Tylenol.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Likewise. I was actually pleasantly surprised the first time I rode it, finding it much less torturous than Anaconda at PKD. Of course, then I rode Mindbender and said 'Ninja who?'

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Maihama, Maihama Desu

I found the back of this one better than the front. My traditional seat in an Arrow looper is front row of the back car. The front of the cars usually have more room than the back row, and the back car usually seems to be less rough and to have some airtime on the drop.

I did this on Ninja - it's a Vekoma, but it's basically a clone of the Arrow track and trains as far as riding it is concerned. I thorougly enjoyed the ride - didn't think it was THAT rough, and the headchoppers were numerous and excellent. Great setting over the lake, with good views of GASM and Superman:UF. I also rode up near the front, and there it WAS a bit rougher. So I'd say the rear of the train is better on Ninja from my experience.

Defensive riding is definitely suggested - my technique here and on Arrow rides is to push up with my shoulders into the restraint, which locks me in somewhat and reduces some of the head movement, and thus reduces the headbanging.

It may be too rough for you, but it IS worth a shot. The headchoppers are easily the best I've seen on a steel coaster, and it's pretty fun. It also has a unique thrill with it's swaying brake run over the lake - takes a while seeing it from the line and then when you ride it before you accept the fact that the brake run track is SUPPOSED to be rocking sideways like that. At least I think it is...... :P

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Ken

You're locked and ready to fly!

I think its a good ride, not horribly rough by any stretch of the truth.

Fun, unique, and exciting ride.

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God bless Intamin, Company that I love. Stand beside her, and ride her, from the opening to the closing of the day.

I think its a good ride, not horribly rough by any stretch of the truth.

Fun, unique, and exciting ride.

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God bless Intamin, Company that I love. Stand beside her, and ride her, from the opening to the closing of the day.

ThemeDesigner said:
Likewise. I was actually pleasantly surprised the first time I rode it, finding it much less torturous than Anaconda at PKD. Of course, then I rode Mindbender and said 'Ninja who?'

Well of course...comparing Ninja to Mindbender is like comparing Rolling Thunder to Phoenix. ;)
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-Mike
Have you ridden a Toboggan?
*** This post was edited by Vater 5/22/2003 4:24:00 PM ***

This ride will give you a headache ocasionally , but worth at least one ride. And I don't see how it could dislocate your jaw.

Rides with a Vekoma tag attatched to them automatically get branded as headbangers. Boomerangs, SLC's, loopers, whatever the ride, I have never had the traumatic experiances so many enthusiasts claim to have experianced. They aren't glass smooth, but why the exaggerations?

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Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

Some are horrible. Believe me, SFA's Mind Eraser is brutal.

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God bless Intamin, Company that I love. Stand beside her, and ride her, from the opening to the closing of the day.

I'm very tall, nearly 6'3'' and ive been on several SLC's, Serial Thriller at SFWOA was very smooth in my opinion,and the SLC at SFA wasnt bad either.Ninjamade my shoulders hurt, as do most arrow loopers, because the harnesses fit snuggly against my shoulders. But it has incredible headchoppers, and i enjoy the intensity of a Vekoma coaster anytime..I can say however that my all time nastiest headbanging ride wasnt on an Arrow OR a Vekoma..it was on a Beemer...Mantis anybody? Awesome intense ride, but boy did i learn really quick to never have my earrings in when i ride it...( i dont count my rides on the pre-lapbar days of Premier's shuttles and spaghetti bowls)