"Walk of shame" an issue for larger enthusiasts

ApolloAndy said:

While I maybe agree with a few of your points, you come off like a gigantic jerk (use your imagination for the word I originally had here). Calling people turds isn't just not PC, it's downright asinine and it's make you look bad, not your target.

I said I wasn't being PC. If I cared about your opinion, I would have been.

Not being PC and deliberately being a dick are not equivalent propositions.

A large portion of our current culture doesn't know the difference at all. Political correctness has nothing to do with basic human respect and dignity.

I love Dave's insightful and technical replies. I actually learn things from reading his posts. I also think he lightly touched on the legal aspect of history. Back in the 20s, there was more of a "take your own risk" mentality than the "I want to sue you for anything" mentality that exists more today. That's driving all of this, IMO.

I was asked to get in the Big Boy row on Great Bear at HP last summer. I was 5'10", squeezed into a 40" jean was and 265 pounds then. Today I am 233, wearing 38" jeans and am heading to CP next week. I'm hoping to fit on MF, TTD and WT. What's my chances? Any guess?

I was at a point for about 10 years that I was too big for most coasters, being 5'11 and 350lbs was too big with my body type, since then I have gotten down to 255lbs and so far the only coaster I can't fit on is Wicked Twister, but more on the point of this thread, there has to be some concern for the safety of someone that is 350-400 lbs even being able to handle the forces of some coasters. Many of the health warnings that coasters have are also part of having that much weight on you. I'm not sure they would want the added liability of accommodating riders of bigger size, however I think they could go bigger than they usually do.

SVLFever said:

I was 5'10", squeezed into a 40" jean was and 265 pounds then. Today I am 233, wearing 38" jeans and am heading to CP next week. I'm hoping to fit on MF, TTD and WT. What's my chances? Any guess?

I'm about 5'10" as well. 245 and 40" waist was about the max for me fitting on MF or TTD. At 230 and 38" I have no problem on either.

^Thanks Ken!

On Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster, your hip measurement is actually more important than your waistline. The lap bar is infinitely adjustable and there isn't any position limit so far as the ride controls go; it needs to be against your thighs, and most of us larger-waistline types can actually shift ourselves around enough to get a good bar position. It's the seat belt that is a bigger problem, and it does not go around your waist. Instead, it goes across the thighs (which is actually a better routing in terms of effectiveness) and so even if you have a smaller waistline, if you have large thighs you may still have trouble. Or, if you have smaller legs and a bigger waistline you may find you can ride when you thought you couldn't.

On Wicked Twister...that seat is just tiny. The bar pivot is too low, the top of the bar doesn't come out far enough to accommodate a large chest, it's just an all around horrible design.

On GateKeeper and Valravn, there is actually lots and lots of gut space; it's a very Vekoma-like fit, but sometimes the thighs are more of a problem.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I was going to say the same thing. I carry extra weight around the middle, like most men, but my hips and butt are smaller. On MF and TTD the seatbelt fits fine, but my challenge there is reaching the belt around to the clasp. It's so low and so well below the arm rest that my little arms can't reach around my gut. Ugh. Thankfully, gone are the days of "sorry sir, but you have to attach it YOURSELF!" (That was a thing at one time) But now, maybe in the interest of avoiding delays, the ops will see my helpless, pitiful face and buckle it for me. And as I apologize they always assure me I'm fine.

Wicked Twister hasn't always been a problem for me, but the last few seasons it's been a no-go. Those belts are to the side, and for me it won't reach either clasp. On that ride it does seems to be more of a chest issue. Funny, (and it's been a few years now, but I'm about the same) the one at Valleyfair fit no problem.

Any ride, coaster, thrill, or flat, where the restraint presses directly into my middle is challenging, (and I'm looking at you, Windseekers everywhere.)

Screamlord said:

Hey BJAmes. I am 6'5" around 280 lbs. The seats were made from people under 200lbs and under 6'3" I would love to ride Mindbender at SFOG again but can't due to the seats being too close together and the width of the seats themselves. The parks need to stop shortening up the belts as well.

I was talking about obese people, not tall people. Take your overly self-righteous argument elsewhere.

^Hate to break it to you, but Screamlord is obese. Obese is a medical term and determined by your BMI. Because we have a lot of obese people in this country, our view of this is skewed and what you may think is normal is actually on the heavy/obese size. So dont be so quick to judge bjames.

bjames said:

I was talking about obese people, not tall people. Take your overly self-righteous argument elsewhere.

Ha! Should he take it to the same place that you should take yours or... ?

So what BMI really means is that I'm too short.

It's been a really bad winter for me, emotionally, but the good thing is that it has caused me to lose about 25 pounds. I've never had to make the walk of shame, but I was getting pretty close. I am excited to see how much easier it will be to get locked into a coaster this summer.

Yeah Jeff, I guess I am too short too!

Well, I made it on everything at CP and KI the last two days. The closest issue was Drop Zone, where the ride op had to lean on the harness to get the seat belt to click. I know last summer I would not have fit on this, WT/MF/Dragster at CP either.

So I'll set a new goal to be able to ride Drop Zone without the ride op seatbelt assist when I hopefully make it back this fall.

Hey Touchdown, I am just over weight not obese since I don't take the BMI index seriously. I remember back in 91 when I went to Six Flags Over Georgia. I was the same height around 50 lbs lighter than I am now and the seats was still too tight then.. As I stated the seats were built for people under a certain height and not big enough for people with long legs.

The "shame" is that everyone healthy enough to ride cannot ride.

Feeling "shame" serves no useful purpose. The real reason to achieve a healthy weight (which was 40 lbs ago for me) is for your HEALTH. If coasters motivate you to do that, great.

But calling people fat, or lazy, or disgusting - has no place in a civil society.

Manners - they're not just for when your mom is around. Thanks, and have a pleasant day!

When I was at the top end of the "healthy" range for my height I was way too thin. I had no muscle definition, I was really weak. Granted now I'm way outside that range but where I FELT the most fit was right on the border of "overweight" and "obese"... I gotta get back to that weight range.

The good thing is, if you have to take the walk of shame, you can just sue the park, ride manufacturer, ride ops, and anyone else potentially involved. The best antidote for some emotional distress is a couple million bucks, after all.

Buys a lot of gravy.