VIPER- MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Riddler is the best-paced stand-up built, and after I visit SFOG this June I'll have ridden all in the US. From the first drop if you count the seconds all the elements are perfectly paced:

1..2..3..4 [top of loop]
1..2..3..4 [top of first diveloop]
1..2..3..4 [top of second diveloop]
1..2..3..4 [top of incline loop]
Its like coaster ballet!

Now while Riddler is the best-paced I still prefer Chang overall because of it has more changes of direction and a bit more intensity.

mOOSH

You know, it's not easy being green.

I detested Riddler's, then again I don't like any stand-up coasters. They all have too much head-banging and it's hard to enjoy a coaster when you're worrying about the "boys" throughout the entire ride.

Bob, if you're worried about your kids, just use the Child Swap....

Oh....THOSE "boys"....nevermind....;)
*** Edited 4/14/2005 4:32:57 PM UTC by rollergator***

I see, that transition into the MCBR does look painful. Viper also has some good air time flying into the MCBR, I just wish Viper featured that dive off the MCBR like SW and GASM it. By the way I am 6'3 very thin and I have no problem with Arrow/Vekoma coasters (Except Python). I really don't see why people compain other than the fact that they have been spoiled by B&M and Intamin smoothness and grace.

I've never really had the 'man problem' on stand-ups (maybe I shouldn't be admitting that, huh? ;) ) - I found Acrophobia to deliver more abuse than the stand-ups I've ridden.

I use the top of the harnesses to judge where the seat should go rather than the seat with my crotch. That seems to work well without pain :)

You're not the only one, Gonch. I've never had a problem either but then make sure the seat is pushed down a bit so I'm not actually sitting on it.

mOOSH [experiencing Acrophobia in June]

Yeah, I think that's it exactly. The seat shouldn't be on your crotch. On Acrophobia there's no choice, then you lean forward and are essentially being supported by your crotch.

I didn't know that going in and didn't adjust accordingly. :)

I would have remembered to adjust for ya ;)

I'm just going to quit talking to you. ;)

...although, a personal adjuster...

hmmmm.

I know where you live ;)

I've been on Viper countless times and its never really been painful to me. I have gotten a headache from riding it a few times. Its not scary, but to someone not really into coasters, I think it can be intimidating.

I remember when I was a little kid and Viper first opened. I was so excited about riding after seeing the commericals about it and watching it on the news. When I got there and up close to it, it scared the me and my mom just looking at it. My mom was like, it looks dangerous. I agreed but I really wanted to ride it and I was scared of it. The line was so freakin long. So my mom was like, lets see if your tall enough to get on before we get in line. I wasn't and my mom was happy that I wasn't. Lol! I was kind of happy to. So as the day went on, I was mad that I couldn't ride it, but everytime we walked by it, I was like ok, whatever, I'm over it. It was looking at the train go through that first loop and that turn after it that made me think like that. I was like it might fly off the track! Lol!

Re: Riddler's Revenge being "coaster ballet"... that's the very reason I find it so boring. Who puts four inversions in a row with nothing in between??

B&M, of course! ;)

Also Intamin and Vekoma, if you count that horseshoe as an inversion. And heck, even Arrow came close (there's just a short, quick turn in between).

-Nate

I agree about the ballet aspect, but what I really love about Riddler is that it takes those fascinating and enormous contortions smoothly, gently and still amazingly fast without ever hurting you - it's like a strong giant friend that looks somewhat scary but you can trust him eyes closed that you will be flying smoothly through this entire steel maze until the very end.
This works best in the middle of the train, as the last corkscrews can be tough to stand through at the beginning and end.
So actually I love that it is so forceless - it can provide an almost spiritual relaxation after you manage to leave the scare behind you.
I shall be called sissyman henceforth, but that feeling really gets tears into my eyes every time.
:)
Viper could never do that for me. Viper is a classic "do you dare to face the scary ride" coaster - just like theoutsider1983 described. It's a classic in that respect, but nowhere near my favourite.
*** Edited 4/14/2005 7:20:58 PM UTC by superman***

Viper, to me, was a typical looping arrow ride. It was a bit painful but was definatly an intense coaster. I can't imagine riding it more than once in one day, unless there was a lot of other coasters closed (which isn't far fetched for a six flags park).

Since the topic has strayed onto riddler's revenge somewhat, allow me to give my thoughts on this ride as well. Better than mantis, very good pacing and transitions, and themed rather well.

Let's see THE only Things I can think that Viper needs is:

New Paint/Maybe an updated color scheme

Reduced Braking ( not going to happen without people blacking out)

New trains, like Drachen Fire/Canyon Blaster would be nice.

If I could change anything. I would make that rise out of the corkscew a bunny hop that drops into downward counter-clockwise helix that travels in and out of a tunnel on the side of the hill then connect it to the right hand pull out on to the brakes. And I would give it a SW/GASM dive off the mid-course brakes and fill in the space between the new drop and Boomerang with a bunny hop. Or 270 degree right hand B&M-like sprial drop and then the bunny hope into the Boomerang.

*** Edited 4/14/2005 9:11:41 PM UTC by SONiC Senshi***

"I love that it is so forceless - it can provide an almost spiritual relaxation"

That is exactly how I would describe Kraken, it is such a heavenly coaster.

Now as what theoutsider1983 said about Viper.

I remember seeing the TV ads and all the news broadcasts as well, I even remember watching a news broadcast when the lift chain snapped a few weeks or months after it opening and it was going to be closed for a few days, people were so mad. Then finally on 08.14.90, I can still remember looking up out of our van window as we made the right hand turn into the parking booths, my jaw dropped and my eyes opened wide and I thought "OH MY GOD!". I think my sister's heart stopped when she saw the coaster. My mother asked if we were really going to ride with the deepest concern.

I think Viper is more intimidating than any other coaster I can think of. Like when you stand at the entrance looking very high up watching the trains rise into the vertical loop and then slingshot over the walkway probably close or over 100ft. and into two more vertical loops is so amazing. I remember watching the track bend/sway six feet when the trains passed through the horseshoe turn in the first two years of operation. That is why those extra supports were added to the horseshoe turn. Then the trains picked up extra speed after it was reinforced and people starting blacking out in the second and third vertical loops. So then the trim brakes were added at the exit to the first vertical loop to prevent blackouts. Also at the end of the first off season the bottom of the first drop was redesigned and reconstructed to remove that sudden jerky left turn. And off course somewhere along the line, I think in 1993, trim brakes were added between the Boomerang and Corkscrew.

The lines those first few years, particularly opening year, were so long, I remember one day the line begain across from the fountain. But it was so worth the wait and on that day on 08.14.90, I "Graduated" and became a coaster enthusiast. Two years later I would become a ACE member and it was all thanks to a very intimidating coaster named Viper. ^_^

*** Edited 4/14/2005 10:03:43 PM UTC by SONiC Senshi***