Giga Coaster... of love! (Say what?)
August 17, 2015 10:51 AM Subscribe
Just How Tall Can Roller Coasters Get? The New York Times tests out four Giga Coasters, super-tall roller coasters built for altitude, speed, and airtime. And there's video of each, so strap in.
The coasters include
The coasters include
- Fury 325 at Carrowinds
- Millennium Force at Cedar Point, and the first Giga Coaster
- Intimidator 305 at King's Dominion
- Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland
The answer is: way too tall for me, thanks.
posted by jeather at 10:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by jeather at 10:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
YES PLEASE
posted by mykescipark at 10:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 10:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is all the more thrilling because of the four-person-across open-air seating. A lap restraint holds you in, leaving your upper body free to flail.NOPE NOPE NO... Well, okay. But only once.
posted by Etrigan at 10:56 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Millennium Force is one of my favorite roller coasters. Now I have three more to check out. :D
posted by Punkey at 11:01 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Punkey at 11:01 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
A search through wikipedia suggests that there are roller coasters which have drops which are "steeper than vertical" which I interpret as nearly vertical but upside down. This is horrifying. Not sure why it's better to go even further past 90 though.
posted by jeather at 11:06 AM on August 17, 2015
posted by jeather at 11:06 AM on August 17, 2015
There's something mathematically beautiful about the bank angles and curvature rates in these that is like watching a superb pilot doing aerobatics.
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015
jeather, that just means that as the drop curls towards vertical it keeps going passed 90 degrees. This photograph shows such a drop "bending backwards". I haven't been on that particular ride but I have been on a 95 degree drop and it really isn't noticeable from the perspective of the riders. The sensation passed too quickly. It is however impressive from the POV of a spectator.
posted by mmascolino at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015
posted by mmascolino at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015
Oh hell yes. All of them, please.
posted by holborne at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by holborne at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Intimidator is a real trip. The shoulder restraints are elasticized. If you sit in the rear of the train when that smooth and fast cable ride pulls you over the top, the added speed will lift you out of your seat and into the yielding straps. The sensation of being gently sproinged back into your seat by elastic suspenders while in a nearly vertical dive is insane. The bottom of the first hill goes directly into a right-handed 720-degree helix, pull Gs so hard it's not uncommon to grey out a bit.
I miss that hot adrenaline booster.
posted by Appropriate Username at 11:18 AM on August 17, 2015 [9 favorites]
I miss that hot adrenaline booster.
posted by Appropriate Username at 11:18 AM on August 17, 2015 [9 favorites]
Appropriate Username This was my reaction to reading your comment.
posted by SansPoint at 11:26 AM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by SansPoint at 11:26 AM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
No, I seem to have lost my mind for a moment. That helix is only 270 degrees -- three quarters around, not three times. But still, hypoxia city, population you!
posted by Appropriate Username at 11:31 AM on August 17, 2015
posted by Appropriate Username at 11:31 AM on August 17, 2015
Millenium Force is a great coaster in terms of smoothness and fun. The drop is long, but it doesn't feel that intense. I'd say anyone hesitant to try these should give this one a shot.
Intimidator, though, lives up to its name. The line was short both days we went despite being busy summer days -- and for good reason. Appropriate Username is right, greying out is common -- everyone in my party briefly lost their vision during the ride. That didn't stop us from going again, though.
posted by Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra at 11:33 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Intimidator, though, lives up to its name. The line was short both days we went despite being busy summer days -- and for good reason. Appropriate Username is right, greying out is common -- everyone in my party briefly lost their vision during the ride. That didn't stop us from going again, though.
posted by Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra at 11:33 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the video for the Intimidator makes it look pretty great with all the crazy changes in direction.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:48 AM on August 17, 2015
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 11:48 AM on August 17, 2015
pull Gs so hard it's not uncommon to grey out a bit.
Ok, I thought it looked like a great ride until you said this. That's kinda where my definition of "fun" ends.
posted by dnash at 11:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
Ok, I thought it looked like a great ride until you said this. That's kinda where my definition of "fun" ends.
posted by dnash at 11:55 AM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
I can't really do most rides these days, I'm 6'2" but really long-waisted so those restraining bars that come down over your shoulders really smash my back down. I could endure that when I was younger but not so much these days.
posted by octothorpe at 11:58 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 11:58 AM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
I rode the Millennium Force once after a couple of hours of waiting and I won't lie, I closed my eyes when we got to the top of the hill. What a waste!
posted by Fister Roboto at 12:23 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Fister Roboto at 12:23 PM on August 17, 2015
Intimidator makes you feel a bit lightheaded, but it is awesome! I actually like it a bit better than Millennium Force. I've never tried Fury 325, but I note with interest that it is only a 4.5 hour drive. Time to plan a road trip with my lovely bride!
posted by Lame_username at 12:27 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Lame_username at 12:27 PM on August 17, 2015
Sadly, back surgery long-ago curtailed my coaster riding. But, before I was sidelined, we used to make an annual pilgrimage to Cedar Point. Millenium Force is simply an amazing ride. Always aim for the front car. It's the only way to go.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:28 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Thorzdad at 12:28 PM on August 17, 2015
I actually find most of the rides in this genre to be fairly tolerable, given just how fantastic the engineering is. Generally speaking, it's a very smooth ride without a lot of jostling. The shorter and slower coasters actually tend to be much more stomach-churning, especially if they haven't been maintained well.
Nitro (at Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ) was the first giga-coaster I rode, and was basically the coaster that broke my general fear of roller coasters. The last time I was there, it was raining, the park was empty, and we rode it about 6 times consecutively. It's a great ride that's held up well.
On the other hand, I think that Powered Launch coasters are seriously underrated. Verbolten at Busch Gardens is one of the coolest and most unexpectedly fun and innovative coasters I've been on (even though it's not the biggest/tallest/fastest/whatever).
I'm also always shocked/dismayed that Volcano at Kings Dominion isn't better-known. It's short (and pretty old at this point), but oh god it's fun, and really impressive from a technical standpoint (read: it's launched with the biggest f--ing linear induction motor that I've ever seen). There's something really awesome/fun/impressive about being accelerated up at ridiculous speeds (and Volcano's nice if you hate heights, because it turns into a "normal" coaster after the launch, rather than sending you plummeting straight back to the ground a la Kingda Ka/Top Trill Dragster)
posted by schmod at 12:29 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
Nitro (at Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ) was the first giga-coaster I rode, and was basically the coaster that broke my general fear of roller coasters. The last time I was there, it was raining, the park was empty, and we rode it about 6 times consecutively. It's a great ride that's held up well.
On the other hand, I think that Powered Launch coasters are seriously underrated. Verbolten at Busch Gardens is one of the coolest and most unexpectedly fun and innovative coasters I've been on (even though it's not the biggest/tallest/fastest/whatever).
I'm also always shocked/dismayed that Volcano at Kings Dominion isn't better-known. It's short (and pretty old at this point), but oh god it's fun, and really impressive from a technical standpoint (read: it's launched with the biggest f--ing linear induction motor that I've ever seen). There's something really awesome/fun/impressive about being accelerated up at ridiculous speeds (and Volcano's nice if you hate heights, because it turns into a "normal" coaster after the launch, rather than sending you plummeting straight back to the ground a la Kingda Ka/Top Trill Dragster)
posted by schmod at 12:29 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
The Intimidator sure has a lot of those sudden, neck-snapping twists. No thank you.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:40 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Sys Rq at 12:40 PM on August 17, 2015
I rode Leviathan last year and what impressed me beyond the score and scale and speed, was how fast that cranked you up the incline for the big drop.
posted by thecjm at 12:41 PM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 12:41 PM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
I wonder how much longer the memory of various technology moving from megabytes to gigabytes will have us using the prefix Giga to just mean "impressively bigger"? (Maybe until gigapixel cameras are boringly commonplace?) It's this decade's version of "quantum leap."
posted by straight at 12:46 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by straight at 12:46 PM on August 17, 2015
I'm just glad that they're making new roller coasters, and not those stupid "sit here and go in a circle 175 times" things that they call entertainment.
posted by Blue_Villain at 12:47 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Blue_Villain at 12:47 PM on August 17, 2015
Millennium Force is one of my favorite roller coasters. Now I have three more to check out. :D
posted by Punkey at 11:01 AM on August 17 [+] [!] No other comments.
Heh. I totally misread your username as Pukey. Which would have been, well, you know.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:02 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Punkey at 11:01 AM on August 17 [+] [!] No other comments.
Heh. I totally misread your username as Pukey. Which would have been, well, you know.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:02 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
I rode Leviathan last year and yelled "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIT" all the way down the first drop, which I have not done on a coaster in years.
It was amazing. And terrifying.
posted by mightygodking at 1:15 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
It was amazing. And terrifying.
posted by mightygodking at 1:15 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
that just means that as the drop curls towards vertical it keeps going passed 90 degrees.
Yes, but I don't really understand why a drop of 121.5 degrees is more extreme than 115 -- it's actually less steep.
posted by jeather at 1:20 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes, but I don't really understand why a drop of 121.5 degrees is more extreme than 115 -- it's actually less steep.
posted by jeather at 1:20 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
I grew curious about the Timber Drop in Fraispertuis City, France; here's the first-person video.
It's not as bad as I thought it would be -although there are a couple of unexpected upsidedown moments to the track, the drop into the log piece isn't as bad as I would think.
As for the coasters linked in the fpp: holy shit no. From the Modifications section in the fpp wiki article for the Intimidator 305:
It's not as bad as I thought it would be -although there are a couple of unexpected upsidedown moments to the track, the drop into the log piece isn't as bad as I would think.
As for the coasters linked in the fpp: holy shit no. From the Modifications section in the fpp wiki article for the Intimidator 305:
"Some riders experienced problems due to the G-forces inherent in the ride's original design. Riders reported greying or blacking out after the first drop. Kings Dominion temporarily installed trim brakes on the first drop in order to reduce the speed while a long-term solution could be devised. The brakes were adjusted and positioned by late May 2010."posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:24 PM on August 17, 2015
(Most fun white-knuckle ride I've ever been on is the Wild Mouse at Blackpool. They were conducting a visual inspection when we were there prior to opening the ride, and it feels old and rickety as hell; video ["oo me bum!" / "fucking hell!"].)
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:33 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 1:33 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Leviathan! That was the first time since I was a kid that I actually felt kinda scared on a rollercoaster. It was amazing! We had Fast Lane, too, so if it weren't for the fact that Kid Ruki was waiting for us at the lockers, Mr. Ruki and I would have gone on again and again and again. (Poor kid. She went on Behemoth earlier in the day and it traumatized her.)
posted by Ruki at 1:44 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by Ruki at 1:44 PM on August 17, 2015
I get sweaty palms just watching the videos; I'm sure I'd be catatonic if I actually rode one of these things. You can see the curve of the earth at the apex of these things. Aw HELLS naw.
posted by Mooski at 2:04 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Mooski at 2:04 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
But do any of them top The Devastator?
What about the Euthanasia Coaster?
posted by symbioid at 3:02 PM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
What about the Euthanasia Coaster?
posted by symbioid at 3:02 PM on August 17, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is this something I'd need to not pee my knickers going up a ladder to understand?
posted by billiebee at 3:29 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by billiebee at 3:29 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
I get panicky riding the teacups.
My finest amusement park moment was winning eight tickets to Alton Towers. I spent two whole days there without venturing onto a single ride.
posted by pipeski at 3:44 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
My finest amusement park moment was winning eight tickets to Alton Towers. I spent two whole days there without venturing onto a single ride.
posted by pipeski at 3:44 PM on August 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
I thought Intimidator was a pretty smooth ride, and I get scared on the tea cups ride at Disney World. There's a lot of speed but the turns are pretty gradual. Even some of the Snoopy rides shook my brain harder.
Also if you can make it to Carowinds on a weekday, there are barely any lines. And you can camp next door!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:58 PM on August 17, 2015
Also if you can make it to Carowinds on a weekday, there are barely any lines. And you can camp next door!
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:58 PM on August 17, 2015
(ok I see this post is about the one in Kings Dominion, but the description sounds similar)
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:01 PM on August 17, 2015
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:01 PM on August 17, 2015
The second and third coasters get to the top too fast ... an integral part of the ride is contemplating all your poor life decisions while the cars crank slowly to the top.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:39 PM on August 17, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:39 PM on August 17, 2015 [12 favorites]
HOW DO I GET THIS JOB? I want to be paid to ride roller coasters and then write about it. This career path was not mentioned by my high-school guidance counsellor.
posted by LMGM at 7:15 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by LMGM at 7:15 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
ahem
LEVIATHAN IS FUCKING AMAZING
especially if you can get on the front car
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:57 PM on August 17, 2015
LEVIATHAN IS FUCKING AMAZING
especially if you can get on the front car
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:57 PM on August 17, 2015
Has Gary Gnu reported on any of these?
posted by ostranenie at 9:30 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ostranenie at 9:30 PM on August 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love these coasters. They ride so goddamn smooth. Unlike a number of wooden coasters that are intentionally built with clackey-clack vibrations and shaking.
posted by zardoz at 1:24 AM on August 18, 2015
posted by zardoz at 1:24 AM on August 18, 2015
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