X/Stealth too intense?

Finally made a trip to California (San Francisco/Valencia) and had a chance to ride X and my first flying coaster, Stealth. I see why many people find these rides "awesome" but for my partner and I, they were too much. I've been on plenty of coasters and none of them came across as too intense, except for these two. For Stealth, the laying down on the way out of the station and the return is just uncomfortable, not to mention feeling like you're in a washing machine. I still have to ride a B&M version to find out if it's just Vekoma's version of a flying coaster. As for X, I waited an hour and a half (only because we ran to the ride when the park opened), took a ride and left the ride with a bruised right leg. That was Monday and I'm still limping on Wednesday. So...I am just a wimp or are there others that have ridden these rides and wouldn't ride them again because they are too intense? Has anyone ever had an injury from X?

X was not too intense for me. I would re-ride that thing over and over and not get light-headed (well maybe after 10 rides I would). As for Stealth, I rode that once and won't wait more than 15 minutes for it. Same said for X-Flight. Those Vekoma Dutchmen are extremely uncomfortable and not too thrilling.

The complaints you have about these rides appear to have less to do with intensity and more to do with the fact that they're just plain rough rides. I'm personally not saying if that is true or not (I rode Stealth last summer and thought it was fine), but I certainly *have* heard complaints about roughness on Stealth and X. In any case, intensity does not cause pain or bruises.

-Nate

I've never had any injury from either of those rides nor have I ever found them to be too intense. Yeah, on both rides, you end up pulling a few G's in Stealth's loop or X's first Raven turn, but nothing uncomfortable. And that includes the two rides on X where I was thrown around a bit so to speak.

And I can certainly second the Vekoma Dutchmen being uncomfortable. The rides can be fun; but when you're stuck waiting for the other train to leave while you sit out on the brakes lying down is not fun. Moreso before PGA installed that shade.

EDIT: Forgot to add, the roughness on X probably has more to do with the seat rotation than anything else.
------------------
-my signature is empty-
*** This post was edited by decoy 8/6/2003 11:38:07 PM ***

Batwing/X-Flight's backwards loop is very intense, as is the helix that ends the ride (not on Stealth). So it's not you. My only complaint with the Vekoma flyer design is that I get a shoulder restraint rash on my shoulders from not holding on. The B&M is easier to get into, but you spend more time laying on your stomach, including the lift. I didn't find it particularly comfortable either.
------------------
If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

My rides on X were silky smooth, so I have no idea if the roughness caused your bruising.

X is the most intense thing I've ever ridden, but it's by far not "too much."

------------------
- John
I snap flyers.

X is definatly intense... not too much though.

Stealth, rough? I've been on Stealth many times, and while it does rattle, that is in no way rough. you just need to lay back, relax, and fly. Too much is Shockwave at PKD. Me on Shockwave: "WHY WON'T THIS EVER END!?"

------------------
-Parker
www.SFMWZone.com

Though I have yet to experience an X experience, I have found Stealth quite an enjoyment and in some cases, even comparable to hang gliding. It is truely an entertaining experience (I really have a true passion for words beginning with "e").

I have gotten "injured" on X - a person that doesn't get headaches, I had one for about 4 hours after both my rides on X on my LA/SanFran trip this summer - both from the final raven turn. Now, was it worth the pain? Hell yea it was! I wouldn't be able to marathon X, maybe not even ride twice in one day because of the roughness of it, but it was in no way too intense or not worth the pain.

I still do not understand everyone's complaints with Stealth. It was my 4th fav. coaster out of all those at SFMW, SFMM, KBF and PGA and I found there to be no roughness, no washboarding, and no discomfort. I simply cannot even think of where everyone gets these claims from. There was no rattling (a-la Scream!), no headbanging (how can you on those great restraints) and its a great, non-stop layout. I don't know if I just don't expect too much out of it which is why I enjoy it so much, or I'm just weird (since my love of impulses, hatred of Zonga, love of Kumba, etc. seem to run against "normal" enthusiast thought). Stealth is in no way too intense, if anything, it could stand a little more intensity (more height, more inversions).

------------------
Give me launched or give me ... uh ... more launched!!
--Brett

If Stealth is too rough for you try changing seats. The outside rear seats on Vekomas are roughest. Center seats near the front are smoothest. The Vekomas are also not real comfortable for those who have breathing difficulties.

You can eliminate shoulder rash on the Vekomas if you relax into the restraints. You tend to instictively tense your body in the flying position and a lot of the weight goes on your collar bone. I bruised mine the first time I rode Batwing. I later rode Batwing 25 times in 2 days with no discomfort because I was used to it an just relaxed and let my body hang.

Where did you sit when you rode X?? On my first lap, I made sure my girlfriend was on the inside seat and she LOVED the ride (and she isn't one to go gaga over coasters). When I was alone at the park a few days later, I took a lap on the inside seat and it made a world of difference. On the outside, my head and legs were banging every which way, on the inside, not one single movement.

From what I've read, it makes more sense that I was "too tense" since I had'nt been on a flying coaster and perhaps that's why I "thought" it was too much. I'd like to try S:UF and see how it compares. As for X, I know I wasn't prepared for that! I have no idea how I bruised my leg but it certainly hurt when I was done. I sat on the outside, middle of the train. I'm still glad I rode X though. A trip to SFMM wouldn't have been complete without it.

Jim:for the most part I usually ride Batwiing in the front to middle of the train(never in the back if I can avoid it) & it's still rough especially when going through the inlines just before the helix.

It's usually a bit smoother if you sit in the middle seats,but if you sit on the outside(especially the far left) it becomes almost unbearable.

It wouldn't be so bad if they can just figure out a way to reduce,or elimiinate the vibrations & shakyness of the trains,perhaps it's time for a new set of wheels to be installed but then again S:ROS has also started to get a tad bit rough & that's an Intamin.