What make a coaster an out and back?

I never really knew why the call Nitro an out and back coaster. Medusa goes out and then come back just like Nitro. Same as The Chiller.

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Maybe those could technically be out and backs, but out and backs at least from my observation, tend to focus on airtime hills than loops, I don't think I've ever heard a looping coaster referred to as an out and back.

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It's simple This is usually just used with wood coasters. (All pics by your's truley )

Out and backs go out, and then come back. Plain and simple: Out and back

If it is done twice, it is a double out and back: DOuble out and back

And so on....triple out and back, etc

A twister, while technically goes out and back several times twists in and out of it's own layout, traditionally focusing on laterals, not air: large twister small twister

Often, coasters have many elements of both, and the line is blurred. Take Ghostrider, it is a cross between a double out and back (L shaped) and a twister hybrid

In the end, labels don't matter, most people (myself included) don't see a coaster and say "Hey, that looks like a double out and back", that just say "Hey, that looks fun!" Isn't that what it's all about?

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- Peabody

*** This post was edited by Peabody on 3/10/2002. ***

I really think more in terms of laterals or positive/negative g's. Stuff with strong laterals are mice, flatter helices, and Legend! Stuff with lots of positive/negatives are AC, Phoenix, DBH...

Basically, Peabody's right...they're FUN!