Your First Rollercoaster

My first coaster was the "Himalaya Bahn", a Schwarzkopf Wildcat, when I was only 8 years old. I was scared as hell!
I wasn't really started off with coaster geeking until Looping Star, the first portable coaster with inversion came along in 1981 - I couldn't afford to ride it, since it cost an entire weeks worth of my pocket money: 5 DM (2.50 $) for only 30 seconds ride time - what a rip off! But I couldn't get my mind off how cool that inversion was - and started to rebuild them at home for my toy cars.
I got to know most of the big coasters in the U.S. through the 180 degree cinemas that were en vogue at the fairs of the time.
My first actual ride on an inverting coaster was "Nessie" at Hansaland - then followed "Doppel Looping" - another travelling ride - and then, I was one of the unlucky very first riders on "Thriller" (now Zonga at SFMW).
It didn't stop me from riding every major coaster that I've been hitting upon since. My favourite to date is RR at SFMM.

The Great American Scream Machine-SFOG. I was seven and the first drop felt like I had fallen off a mountain. I will never forget that feeling.

American Eagle the year it opened at then Marriot's Great America in Gurnee, IL. I remember back then it was the boss of the park. If you could ride Eagle you could ride anything else in the park. I remember everyone being frightened of that 15 story drop. Now a days it just doesnt have the same "wow" factor. I also remember the two to three hour lines that would fill the circus tent and extend well out into the Midway for it.

my first coaster was collossus at sfmm. ahhh good times, good times....

Kennywood's Jackrabbit, around 1986 or so.

First coaster was a small dragon coaster at the fair. First real coaster was "Runaway Mine Train" at Six Flags Over Texas.

First Coaster- Little Dipper at Conneaut in 90 when I was 2

First "Real" Coaster- Jack Rabbit at Kennywood in 91

First "Big" Coaster- S:UE at SFWOA in 00

First Looping Coaster- Mind Eraser at SFWOA in 00

First Hypercoaster- Steel Phantom at Kennywood in 00

First Inverted- Great Bear at Hershey in 01

First Floorless- BKF at SFWOA in 01

First Real Hyper- Magnum at CP in 03

First Giga- MF at CP in 03

First Stand-Up- Mantis at CP in 03

My first coaster was the Rollo Coaster at Idlewild when I was either 4 or 5. After that, I never looked back. The same year, I went to Kennywood and rode the Racer and Jack Rabbit, and by the end of the day I was trying my hardest to ride the Thunderbolt, but alas, I was too short. Here is my "Firsts" standings.

First Coaster- Rollo Coaster at Idlewild in 92

First Looping Coaster- Steel Phantom at KW in 95

First Boomerang- Mind Eraser at SFWoA in 03

First Flyer- X-Flight at SFWoA in 03

First suspended- Big Bad Wolf at BGW in ??

First Wild Mouse- Wild Mouse at Idlewild in 95

First Hypercoaster- Phantom's Revenge at KW in 01

First Inverted- Serial Thriller at SFWOA in 03

First Megacoaster- Apollo's Chariot at BGW in 00

I can't even remember mine......my parents tell me i always liked watching them when i was really young, and i always climed out of the stroller to see if i was tall enough to ride them. From what I can remember, i was never scared to try any of them, and my dad would always ride anything i went on......we have built a good relationship off of going to parks together, just me and him, becuase my older brother and mom dont like to ride coasters. Its a shame i dont remember my first though.....:-(

Josh

My first was a wooden John Miller "classic" that is now defunct. The Flying Dragon,at Walled Lake Amusement park in 1962.

So now we got to break it down? Ok then:

First Coaster - Jr. Gemini (1979)

First "real" coaster - Cedar Creek Mine Ride (1981)

First Looping Coaster - Laser Loop (1986)

First Wooden Coaster - Not positve as to which, but it was one of Kennywood's (JR,TB or Racer) (1986)

First over 200 feet - Steel Phantom (1993) or Magnum (1995)

First Over 300 feet - Millennium Force (2000)

First Over 400 feet - S:TE (2003) or TTD (2003)

First Inverted - Raptor (1995)

First Stand-Up - Mantis (1996)

First Boomerang - Mind Eraser (SFWOA 2001)

First Flyer - X-Flight (2001)

First Floorless - Kraken (2001)

First Suspended - Iron Dragon (1995)

I think that list is anal enough - I'll skip other categories.

*** Edited 1/19/2004 8:39:43 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

Hey, on that note, my first coaster while wearing my new Chuck Taylor's, was, wait a minute, I haven't worn them on a coaster yet. Oooh...can't wait! ;)

Oh, Matterhorn in '76.

Ist coasters were Camden Park's Big and 'Lil Dippers...

BUT I consider my first REAL coaster to be Beast at PKI back in-ohhh I want to say around '86-ish. It is still one of my favorites and I am going to get to go back to it this summer after being away from it for 4 years. WooHoo!

My first rollercoaster was the Firecracker at Holiday World, I believe it was in 1993, or somewhere around that time. I was only 6 years old, which was only 10 1/2 years ago, but a long time for me!

First coaster: Jr. Gemini

First "real" coaster: CP Blue Streak

First Hydraulic Launch: TTD

My first was Thunderhawk at Dorney Park, one of the oldest coasters in PA, now 81 years old.

My first looper was Talon at Dorney also, one of my most favorite inverted Beemers.

I can't really remember my very first coaster, but the first one I've ridden since renewing my interest in them was, like Crashmando, SFGAdv's Batman The Ride. I was there with my best friend and my brother's girlfriend, and I was chickening out big time. They talked me into going onto it -- front row, no less! -- and I was scared out of my mind. But I talked to these people in front of me who were heavily pierced and tattooed (i.e., the last people I would've expected to get comfort from) and I took the plunge. And I loved it. Been hooked ever since. :)

Grand National at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, age 6 (1973). No seatbelts, no lap bars just a small grab bar and lots of ejector airtime - lovely :)

Nothing's come close since...

Not yet, Jim. :-D

My first wood: Either the Swamp Fox at Myrtle Beach or the Big Dipper at Camden Park

First steel: Probably the Corkscrew at Myrtle Beach. I was around 7 or 8 years old for both.

Everything since then is a blur. :-D

-Tina

*** Edited 1/20/2004 10:53:47 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Mine would be Comet @ Waldameer... Classic!