World Class?

If memory serves I've seen alot of people mention coasters as world class. Now what I am wondering is what in your opinion makes a ride world class? Also what rides were formerly considered world class and why they no longer have this status?

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IRON CHEF!!

I would say any ride that generally makes it worth the trip to the park is world class (though the park's overall operation may cause you to leave in disgust anyway). Most parks I've been to have at least one world class ride, but there are some out there that have several (CP, BGW, SFGAm, etc.).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I automatically label a swiss ride built after the year 1995 a world class ride. (Riddler, S:ROS, MF, Goliath, Alpengeist, etc;))

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Goliath: The most intense Hyper in the world. *** This post was edited by Superbatboy on 9/4/2000. ***

Several things make rides "World Class".

• The Park
• The Manufacturer
• The Ride Design and Theming
• Ride Ops

but most importantly, the LOVE for the ride by Enthusiasts, General Public and Park that knows they erected a great ride, and goes the extra distance to keep it in better shape, than just normal maintenance would require.

After all, Rollercoasters are only human!
(they love attention, too!)

For me, a "world class" ride is one that I simply want to ride over and over again, and enjoy myself EVERY time. It would not have to be a record breaker, no way, but it doesn't hurt.

Things that make a ride "world class"
- height, speed, length ect.
- numerous different ride elements
- good pacing between elements
- something unique (something not on another coaster)
- at least one good airtime event (a MUST HAVE IMO)

Things that can ruin "world class" status
- excessive headbanging, roughness
- too many inversions (more than 5 is too many IMO)
- cloning (in some cases)
- poor ride operation or maintainence (excessive downtime)
- too slow or too fast paced

Things that will never be considered "world class"
- kiddie coasters
- mine train coasters
- cookie cutter clones (boomerangs)
- wild maus, wildcats, "carnie" style coasters

Agree or disagree with what I say, these are my thoughts on this subject.

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Gotta ride 'em all! *** This post was edited by Soggy on 9/4/2000. ***

I think it's more of a feeling. For instance, I went to SFDL yesterday. S:ROS is a world-class coaster. None of the other rides they have are. There are some good rides, but none that are that unique and exciting. For instance, Mind Eraser...not a bad coaster, but it's little, and it's not a B&M invert, so it goes unnoticed. No one goes to SFDL to say "Oooh...they have VIPER!"

I'd say pretty much any coaster built at CP after 1989 is world-class, excluding the DT renovation and WE. You could throw Gemini in there too. PKI has Beast, SOB, and even Vortex. It's just a feeling...is this a ride that people around the world would think is good, or is it just a fun little excursion made to satisfy the local market?

Jman

In my opinion, a world class coaster is a ride that makes you want to go to a park and ride just that ride all day long. Of course, I would never do that because almost every park has several world class rides :). A world class ride also must be a well maintained ride, and not modified in any adverse*(cough)Wild One at SFA(cough)* way because, if it either event happens, it may lose world class status, at least with me.
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Six Flags America IS a Six Flags park!

"In my opinion, a world class coaster is a ride that makes you want to go to a park and ride just that ride all day long." I'll take that definition. On another thread I mentioned I would rather go to a park with one great (i.e. world-class) coaster than to a park with several good coasters - in other words, that world-class ride delivers something unavailable somewhere else. A good example would be Visionland - a park notable only by the presence of its CCI woodie, Rampage. But I would choose a trip back there over almost any other park, because Rampage provides an experience unlike any other coaster on the planet. Not necessarily the best, but brilliant and UNIQUE.
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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.

I just think a World Class ride is one I can go on an on all day and not get bored with it. Some coasters after the initial few rides it gets old. Others are fun even after riding it for years and years to me thats a world class ride.

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Parks Hit For 2000! PKD, BGW,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA,GAdv,SFNE,LC,GE,QP,CDP,LP,KG,SFO,WG,GE,KW,IW,WL,

Coasters are things that can cause a rainbow of different reactions and opinions, most coasters get mixed reviews. To me, "world class" is that rare coaster that almost "everyone" who rides can agree that it has acheived greatness. A few examples:

Ghostrider
Millennium Force
Superman:Ride of Steel(SFNE)
Shivering Timbers
Magnum(in it's heyday)
Coney Island Cyclone

When a park builds a "world class" coaster, they can bask in it's sunlight for years and years. Specifics in this case are irrelevant, you just *know* it when you ride it. You never, ever forget your very first ride on it.

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The new KING of coasters:
SFNE Superman
Unforgettable!!!


*** This post was edited by Simcoaster on 9/5/2000. *** *** This post was edited by Simcoaster on 9/5/2000. ***

Dynamic Empresion on people (Magnum, MF, SOB, Beast)
Good looks (Dueling Dragons)
Speed (MF, Goliath)
Smoothness (Alpinguist)
Disorienting feeling (Mean Streak, Project Stealth)

There are a lot of World Class coasters, just not a lot of people know about them, like Shivering Timbers and Top Gun (PGA)

Jephry, took the words right out of my mouth, all that he mentioned make a coaster world class. I also think that to be considered a world class coaster 90% people who ride it have to like it. For example when an MF car comes into the station and everyone on the train is laughing, clapping, and cheering.