Twisted Colossus - finally!

We made our annual pilgrimage from San Diego to the Bay area to meet up with my family for Thanksgiving last week, and split the 500 mile drive up with a layover at Magic Mountain the Sunday before the holiday. I took a gamble on taking the 5 instead of the 405 through LA and found it surprisingly mellow (we weren't in a rush anyway). We breezed through parking, dropped off Skip for some R&R at the free kennel, and bee-lined for Twisted Colossus.

With the line just to the entrance of the queue house, the wait was listed as 45 minutes, and despite some apprehension at seeing some empty trains being dispatched, the wait listing lived up to expectations. One detail that I appreciated was the staffing of an entrance attendant, who in addition to letting in electronic line jumpers and handicapped guests, stopped the line when the main station was half full, which kept things very comfortable for the last couple of minutes before embarking. Stowing loose articles slowed loading quite a bit and although we managed to race on one of our trips, it seemed to be a rare event.

The train received a nice boost out of the station to make it through the fun pre-first-lift Miler-esque wacky track. I thought to myself that RMC could make a great kiddie or family coaster (redo Scoobie Doo? I jest!) After an uneventful trip up the lift while continually looking for another train to join us that never did, we took that first drop. And wow what a drop! I was ejected out of my seat and was flung face first straight to the bottom. Before I got through my initial scream, we flew over that lovely little speedy floater air bump at the bottom. Eyes super-wide, we rocketed up to the high-five turnaround and got sideways air at the beginning of the turn, through the high five, and again exiting the turn followed by extreme head choppers on the way back down (hoooooooolllllyyyyyyy shhhhhhhhhhuckydarn!)

With more fast air, a quick flippy-dealeo, and a vein popping outward banked turn to the second lift, I was grateful for the slow second ascent. Looking back, there was no train coming to meet us, so there was nothing to do but catch my breath and wait for it to start all over again. The first half of part two went pretty much along the same lines, but with a double-down instead of head choppers and wicked extended upside-down-time in a cave of wooden supports for a grand finale.

We took a little time after that to get several walk-on laps on the ever so fun, not to be missed, Gold Rusher, and took a couple of beatings on Apocalypse (needs a little work), before heading back for what would be two more circuits on TC before ending our half day and rescuing our pooch (What?! No X2? No Tatsu?!)

The last two laps were just as wild and gut wrenching, but with the addition of a lovely sunset for one and a race for the other. And man, I wish they would sacrifice capacity and make racing mandatory by stopping the train on the lift if need be. It is that cool. How cool? I held on for dear life for most of my rides, but extended my arms for the high-five when we raced, only to come *this* close to browning out my shorts. My body stopped at a bacon strip. Fortunately, it was the last ride of the day and we were five minutes from out hotel.

So we ended the day with my voicebox and shorts blown and a vow to not cancel my passes and return real soon with some Chloraseptic and extra Depends. So do come and enjoy this lovely creation the next time you are in the area.

Is Twisted Colossus going to be added to the Top 100 Roller Coasters anytime soon?

Whoops. Accidental +1.

Anyway, coasters are added when "enough" riders have ridden it. (Enough means more than half of the experienced riders. Experienced riders means 50th percentile or higher for coaster count).

I was going to say, when I add it and rank it in a couple of seconds here, I'd stake season passes that nothing happens. Not that I or anybody else would care anyway. All I care is that it is within reach. Although driving all the way across Southern California and back on any day is formidable, which is why we tend to go on our way to somewhere else.

Given the geographic distribution of Coasterbuzz members, I'm anticipating it being a while before TC makes the list....

Also need to note how infinitely better Gwazi and Dueling Dragons were when dispatches were synched

I can't wait to try out some of these RMC creations. They all seem absolutely amazing. Hopefully they will stand the test of time!

I was really hoping Lake Monster (RMC re-creation of Predator) would come to fruition at Darien Lake. But that idea seems to have left along with Herschend. Too bad.

As for SFMM, I was there for a weekend in 2003 during my only trip to the west coast. I really enjoyed the park (even Flashback) and have wanted to get back for a long time now. Maybe some day we will be able to get back out that way.