Why do you ride: death-defying thrill, or sheer fun?

Yeah, drop towers frighten me as well. TTD I ride no-handed without problem, but on drop towers I am hanging on for dear life.

(On Millenium Force I usually scope the parking lot to see if I locked my van.)

I have only been "scared" by a coaster once...

First ride on Voyage at night. Couldn't believe it.

Only other time my heart was racing to similar levels was my skycoaster experience.

It's all in fun. Super bonus extra credit if i get scared by anything (that includes haunted houses, etc.)

Drop towers do it me, as well as skycoasters. Coasters don't except for some exceptions (Like when storm runner took my breath away durring launch, serious stuff) even though, I have been on Dragster and Ka many times prior. That launch is def BETTER :)

Other moments would probley be some first rides... MF, Dragster, Hypersonic, etc... But that always makes the best rides. I wish I had it more often!

For me, it starts out as a thrill and ends up as fun.

For the mega coasters at least, the anticipation standing in line looking up at the lift, sweaty palms, waiting for the front seat, heart racing, climbing the hill, the delay over the crest of the lift hill, pausing to look over the edge, hands up and the adrenalin rush plunging down 200, 300, 400 feet. Heights I'd never climb up outside a secure seat.

For the woodies, it's the sounds of the chain, the smell of the oil, the racer lights on the lift. Just plain fun.

I can't get enough....

For me, it's sheer fun. Hopping on a coaster/sky coaster is relaxing. It's like leaving the driving to someone else.

For Death defying, I downhill/freestyle ski. The first few weeks of every season is more like the Dodgems with all the first-timers.

Actually, the one coaster I can remember scaring me was the Williams Grove Cyclone. I wasn't worried about it falling apart (although I suppose there was always the chance of that happening, or a truck driving into it again), it was the rides that followed my first. That flat section of track immediately following the turnaround was brutal and I couldn't figure out a way to handle it comfortably. It got to the point that I actually felt something close to fear. That probably does nothing to explain why I kept riding it, but then again, maybe it does?

I go on any attraction for which I am not too short. Why does it have to be a thrill-ride-versus-non-thrill-ride type of thing? I'm an amusement park enthusiast above all else. It's all sheer fun.

- J

I tend to think that defying death is much more fun than not defying death. :)

I'm also one of those riders who prefers to sit on the side of the car that has the catwalk next to it, though if the situation arose, you'd never see me using it (no thank you, I'll just wait here till you get it fixed).

The one time I was most scared was riding Fandango at Knoebels. The seats didn't have seat belt extensions yet, so I rode with just the OTSR in place, which the operator assured me had locked and would stay in place. Sure, it wasn't her giblets they'd be washing off the concrete. I never held so tightly to anything in my life as I did that restraint.

Come to think of it, a ride called Tango at a fair in Florida really messed with me. It was kinda like a Top Scan ride but even higher in the air. As I was spinning every which way in the middle of the Florida sky, I kept thinking about how it would feel to be dumped into the pavement below. Terrifying but exhilerating at the same time!

Those darn rides named after dances are the worst. :)

Two weeks ago, Dannerman and I went to Cedar Point, Geauga Lake, and Conneaut Lake Park. I think, out of riding every coaster at the three parks (save for Steel Venom, which I got earlier in the season), I enjoyed CLP's Blue Streak the most, over at least 20+ coasters that weekend. And I'll tell you, it's got a lot to do with the tunnel, the wonderful layout, classic station layout (with the light board showing the location of the train... though it wasn't working), and the classic train. And to think, people pass over this one on the way to Geauga and Cedar Point!

But there are a few like this. I'm the kind of person who would rather spend the afternoon at Delgrosso's and Lakemont than Six Flags Great Adventure, although the two parks are about the same distance for me.

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Michael Darling said:
I just enjoy the fun of hanging out with friends. The coasters are the vehicle for the fun, the rest is who you're there with.

Occasionally, I do a little bit of cre'hoing, but that's not my motivation for riding, usually.

Very few coasters scare me at this point (mostly just X and I've taken five laps on it by this point, which isn't bad for an Ohio kid), and very few non-coaster rides scare me (Skycoasters, strapped Skyscrapers, and 2G/3G Intamin drops). Those rides are more of a rush than anything else. They're not as fun as, say, riding Magnum with a cute girl.

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^;) Meet ya at Magnum, John!

I agree. I am mostly in it for fun, but it's not about the coasters. Seeing friends you rarely get to see, strolling around the parks taking it all in, eating, flat rides, and just having pure ole' fun is what is important to me.

That's not saying I don't go FOR the coasters. You will always see me running to my favorites. ;) I CRAVE adrenaline and height! I have abolutely no fear of roller coasters (or heights...lol.) The only one that has really scared me is the Williams Grove Cyclone. There have been a LOT that have surprised me like "Oh s*** I better hold on!" like the Screechin Eagle at LeSourdsville.

Nowadays I more worried about "Damn, this looks like it's going to hurt!" than "Oh boy is that HIGH!"

THen there are rides like the flyers at PPP last year when it was raining and the wind was nasty. I was "holding on for dear life" when those tubs started flying, but I wasn't scared. I was turned on! I can only HOPE they are as insane this year. :)

Attractions like the skyscraper or skycoaster get me nervous (in a good way!). Hell even Dragster still gets me all giddy..every time! The Drop Zone at PKI gets my heart pumping, where Delirium is more "fun." and relaxing. ;)

The X-Scream at the Stratosphere probably had my blood pumping the most. While others were freaking out I was insanely turned on by the "illusion" of falling off a building.

-Tina

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RatherGoodBear said:
Those darn rides named after dances are the worst.

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Come on, you gotta love the Breakdance! ;)

-Tina

I have only gotten scared on three rides:

Iron Wolf-First Standup, I was just a budding enthusiast and semi paniced on the lift hill, however once the ride started I was fine, in fact getting off I couldnt believe I was scared of that little ride.

Feris Wheels-I have a dash of agrophobia, which these rides bring out more then any other, not that it stops me from riding them (especially when good pictures can be had from them.)

Pirate Ship-Little kid (kindergarden) my feelings went from, I cant wait to ride this ride, this is fun, to I dont feel so good, to being scared I was going to throw up on the ride (I didnt, nor did I afterwards.) Havent been on one since (do ride Rainbows though and love them.)

Anyways, I ride for fun, if a I ride has me in stiches on the break run then its probably going to be in my top ten. Airtime, dioreintation and feeling like Im out of control are the best way to achive that.

^I still find it amazing that a lot of my close, coaster-loving friends are afraid of heights. ;)

To me that is one of the best things about coasters....getting *high* (in the most healthiest way possible. :))

-Tina

*** Edited 9/2/2006 7:40:09 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***