downunder

Is this what RCT geeks do when they grow up? Set up fantastical, but irrational (from a business sense) proposals that no one with the words "due" and "dilligence" in their vocabulary would throw a dime at? That being said I'd totally go if they got it up, but I think that will be forever a hypothetical question.

Boomerangs never die they just move to another land to terrorise the people like a metal Godzilla, or a trap in SAW. I looked through the list, and I could only find three that are not operating somewhere, one in Qatar, Karolineund, and Six Flags New Orleans; but SFNO and Karolineund are definitely still standing. Amazingly, SFNE's 'rang originally came from China, and Alabama Adventure's from Australia.

Cool, good to see someone in coaster naming got it right. Some of the 'rangs pull good g's on the first drop, Flashback at SFNE is one I remember being good like that, but then there's the ear bashing. The first time I went on the Knott's one, the girl in front of me thanked me - apparently the last time she had been on it the person behind her had thrown up. So I got thanked for not hurling on her.

Observations so far: * Noxegon is TPR's most prolific masochist so far with 34 Boomerangs * Many, including me, are surprised (but thankful) we haven't ridden more. * There are probably more Boomerangs than any other adult coaster, SLC's don't even come close, though there are more vekoma rollerskaters, though not all identical. *Seeing the lack of imagination in naming Boomerangs, maybe the naming committees went for a few laps beforehand and became impaired mentally. *No Boomerangs are called Mind Eraser which is the most apt name.

^^A boomerang at a place with "Pleasure" in the name, now there's false advertising. Here's mine, 14 how sad (yay, I've been on every Zoomerang), my worst crime is that I've been on the same 'rang in 3 different locations (over 2 continents): Bat - Canada's Wonderland (Operating 1987) Boomerang - La Ronde (Operating 1984) Boomerang - Knott's Berry Farm (Operating 4/6/1990) Boomerang - Karolinelund (- 1985) Boomerang Coast to Coaster - Darien Lake (Operating 5/16/1998) Carolina Cobra - Carowinds (Operating 3/28/2009) Cobra - PowerLand (Operating 2005) Demon - Wonderland Sydney (- 1992) Flashback - Six Flags New England (Operating 5/5/2000) Sea Serpent - Morey's Piers (Operating 1984) Sidewinder - Hersheypark (Operating 5/11/1991) Titan World - Expo Park (- 4/30/1988) Zoomerang - Lake Compounce (Operating 6/27/1997) Zoomerang - Alabama Adventure (Operating 5/8/2005) Credits to be claimed this year: Flashback - Six Flags Over Texas (Operating 1989) Boomerang Coast to Coaster - Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (Operating 5/23/1997) and maybe some more... Jeff Johnson credits: Zydeco Scream - Six Flags New Orleans (SBNO 6/10/2000) - we drove by SFNO while it was still operating, so I saw it. Head Spin - Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom (- 1996) - decided to sleep in rather to go to Geauga Lake. Speed of Sound - Walibi Holland (SBNO 4/22/2000) - saw it at Walibi visit last year.

I got to wondering how many boomerangs have I been on? They're so ubiquitous that it really shows how well travelled a credit whore you've been. Here's the complete list of every one that has existed (no inverted boomerangs, this is all about prolific sit down), who will be TPR's greatest Vekoma boomerang whore, who loves pain the most: Anaconda - Luna Park Tel Aviv (Operating 2000) Bat - Canada's Wonderland (Operating 1987) Boomerang - La Ronde (Operating 1984) Boomerang - Knott's Berry Farm (Operating 4/6/1990) Boomerang - Wild Adventures (Operating 1998) Boomerang - Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Operating 3/13/1999) Boomerang - Elitch Gardens (Operating 4/30/1999) Boomerang - Six Flags Mexico (Operating 1988) Boomerang - Worlds of Fun (Operating 4/8/2000) Boomerang - Pleasure Island Family Theme (Operating 5/27/1993) Boomerang - Hafan y Môr Holiday Park (- 1987) Boomerang - Bellewaerde Park (Operating 1984) Boomerang - Walibi Sud-Ouest (Operating 1992) Boomerang - Walibi Rhône-Alpes Steel (Operating 1988) Boomerang - Tashkentland (Operating 1995) Boomerang - Freizeit-Land Geiselwind (Operating 2000) Boomerang - Karolinelund (- 1985) Boomerang - Wiener Prater (Operating 1992) Boomerang - Parc de Montjuic (- 1990) Boomerang - Playcenter São Paulo (Operating 1997) Boomerang - Fantasilandia (Operating 1996) Boomerang - Parque de la Costa (Operating 1998) Boomerang - Jerudong Park (- 1996) Boomerang - Geroland (Operating 1997) Boomerang - Woobang Towerland (Operating 3/1995) Boomerang - Zygo Park (- 1987) Boomerang - Qingdao International Beer City (Operating 7/1998) Boomerang - Nanhu Amusement Park (- 1985) Boomerang - Siam Park City Steel (Operating 2007) Boomerang - Rafaela Padilla (- 1984) Boomerang Coast to Coaster - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Operating 3/27/1998) Boomerang Coast to Coaster - Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (Operating 5/23/1997) Boomerang Coast to Coaster - Darien Lake (Operating 5/16/1998) Carolina Cobra - Carowinds (Operating 3/28/2009) Cobra - Walibi Belgium (Operating 4/28/2001) Cobra - West Midland Safari (Sit Down - 1985) Cobra - PowerLand (Operating 2005) Coca-Cola Roller - Glasgow Garden Festival (- 1988) Colossus - Habtoorland (Operating 12/23/2004) Demon - Wonderland Sydney (- 1992) Flashback - Six Flags Over Texas (Operating 1989) Flashback - Six Flags New England (Operating 5/5/2000) Head Spin - Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom (- 1996) Krachen - Al-Shallal Theme Park (Operating 2004) Missile - American Adventure Theme Park (- 7/4/1989) Ragin' Cajun - Dixie Landin' Family Theme Park (Operating 7/11/2001) Sea Serpent - Morey's Piers (Operating 1984) Sidewinder - Hersheypark (Operating 5/11/1991) Space Shuttle - Enchanted Kingdom (Operating 7/28/1995) Speed of Sound - Walibi Holland (SBNO 4/22/2000) Thunderbolt - Aladdin's Kingdom (- 1994) Tidal Wave - Trimper's Rides (Operating 1986) Titan - World Expo Park (- 4/30/1988) Vampire - Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (- 1990) Wipeout - Pleasurewood Hills (Operating 7/28/2007) Zoomerang - Lake Compounce (Operating 6/27/1997) Zoomerang - Alabama Adventure (Operating 5/8/2005) Zydeco Scream - Six Flags New Orleans (SBNO 6/10/2000)

To rub it in, I've been on the original Big Dipper wood coaster at Luna Park Sydney. In fact, I was there the night it was damaged by fire, but I didn't start the fire. I've been running a thread in the 2011 North East trip forum to see how many boomerangs everyone has been on. I might start a thread on the main forum because I'd be interested to see how many boomerangs well travelled enthusiasts like yourself and Noxegon have been on.

^Sounds like it. I was going to add that perhaps the original mouse at Luna Park Sydney went to Adelaide.

I remember going on a wood Wild Mouse at the old Sydney Showground, but this was most likely was incorporated into Fox Studios as an attraction, and then relocated to Luna Park again. There was also a wood mouse at Adelaide Showgrounds that seems to have disappeared. Here's what I see: Wild Mouse: Luna Park Sydney -> Easter show (temp) -> Fox Studios -> Luna Park (again) Mad Mouse: Adelaide Showground -> match stick factory Wild Mouse: Perth Royal Showground -> Aussie World Mad Mouse: Melbourne Showground -> Batu Nights, Java (rumoured) As an aside, this may have been a very elusive credit, on rcdb in relation to the defunct Jazz Junction from Dazzleland (South Aust): "It is rumored an individual from Melbourne bought the coaster at auction with plans to set it up at his home."

What was so bad about your 2008 experience at the park? For a foreigner not driving in the US, KD is a very out of the way park. In 2008, it had some good coasters, but not a "destination" attraction(s) to make me go to the effort of going back. Destination attractions for me are like SROS at SFNE, El Toro, Phoenix, Boulder Dash, Dragster, Maverick, MF. Now KD has definitely added what I'd classify as a destination attraction, which would make it worth going back.

I hate Intimidator 305, because after my visit in 2008 I was happy to never go back to KD. With the addition of i305, now I have to go back to KD. Sounds like it's going to be good year for i305. I wonder how it will do in Mitch's 2010 steel poll, hopefully the anti-fanboys will be kept at bay. Great trip report, I really felt like I had paid a visit to the park through your photos - thanks.

I think this is everything: USA (so many states, I was confused) Australia (like duh) New zealand (sheep lovers) Canada (Americans on valium) Mexico (donkey lovers) Fiji (angry natives) Vanuatu (even angrier natives) Noumea (French natives) South Africa (deadly place) France (they fart in our general direction) Italy (leave the watch at home) United Kingdom (drool Brittania) Netherlands (sex and drugs, where's the rock'n'roll?) China (human rights haters) Japan (sumo, without the salad) Germany (drink, drink, drink) Denmark (Australia rules this place, literally) Norway (Tusenfryd, is there anything else?) Sweden (sexy) Finland (like Russia without Russians) Switzerland (pretty, expensive) Singapore (airport credit) Thailand (airport credit - Bangkok, no thanks)

Nice report Jason. I wonder if this is just a scam so 311 can spend more quality time with their groupies without having to tour. But seriously, looks like so much fun. I'd be down for that kind of cruise with The Pussycat Dolls. A similiar cruise involving The Village People would probably be of interest to a large contingent of TPR members.

That thing is scary, but given the chance, I'd ride it for sure. Looks like a decent line up of rides this year.

In a postscript to the tour, Sydney's coaster population has exploded six-fold today, albeit carnie death coasters. Here's the line-up: Fear Tower: carnie Euro-fighter, kept the rescue authorities busy last year. Taipan: a Galaxy snooze coaster. Crazy Mouse: spinning mouse, like nobody has ever ridden one of them. And for the kiddies, credit whores, and NAMBLA; there's a Dragon Wagon and Miner Mike. http://www.royaleastershow.com.au/carnival/coca-cola-carnival.html

^How could you want to ride another coaster, you've reached the pinnacle? I was 150kms from Diamond Python being my last coaster, but I had to settle for a lesser coaster in Montu last October.

I rate X (unfortunately no X2 yet) pretty highly, I've never had a bad ride on it, must have been lucky. I've decided to go the full geek, and replicate Mitch's comparison method to rank my coasters, wins and losses, it's gonna take a while.

I don't care what the label is, if it results in the installation of great rides; call it Harry Potter, The Hebrew Hammer or whatever, as long as the rides are good. One thing that disappointed me was that Islands of Potter only resulted in one new ride at IOA; though the land is nice.

Apparently the Pavlova was named in tribute to the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova (she must have been hot, but wouldn't be for long after eating too many pavlovas) when she toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920's. That was the first explanation that came up in google, so it must be true. Laura, you may not want to pat a tiger if you're in a Sumatran jungle.

I'm shuffling all the new coasters into the list right now, just copied and pasted Montu, Kumba, Nemesis, and Dutch Goliath to the top for insertion in the top ten. One thing I find interesting about the ballot, is you really see how many parks have lots of clones by the number of individual coasters they have in there. For instance, Six Flags Great America has 13 coasters but only six individual coaster entries.

For me, when I have any significant time off, Australian Parks are competing with parks all over the world for my business because I have the means to go anywhere I want, and I'm always looking for bigger, different thrill rides. Since I last went to the Gold Coast parks haven't added anything that personally interests me enough to go back. I understand parks in smaller markets can't do the kind of rides that are overseas, though I think Scooby Doo, Superman, Giant Drop, and Wild West Falls are world class. For instance Superman is a cool coaster, but I've ridden it more than enough, it's not a Superman Ride of Steel (SFNE) which keeps me going back to visit SFNE. I'll put it this way, if a park in Australia added an Expedition Ge Force/SROS quality steel and/or a Balder/El Toro woodie, it would become very unlikely I'd leave Australia to ride coasters. I know it's unlikely they would, but I'd be clocking up a lot less flying time if they did. Anyway did you have a Pavlova while you were in Australia? Your trip was a waste if you didn't - here's one we just had at work. That's not a cake, this is a pavlova.

Given the poll is happening a bit later than normal, I think it would be reasonable to rate coasters you've been on up until the poll deadline. Make Diamond Python the number one coaster in the world!

Yay, haven't looked yet, but I wonder if Texas Giant got on there given a few have ridden it already. Given Voyage's structure is primarily steel, maybe it should be on the steel poll - stir, stir. This will be an interesting poll for me, lot of additions, and at least few newbies to mt top ten.

At least you got the credit at Wet and Wild, I'm sure there weren't any aqua loop or proslide tornado credit whores ruing a missed credit. It will intersting to see what Dreamworld adds this year, there is supposed to be a family ride added in June, and a thrill ride in September - though I doubt they are burning the midnight oil over these projects at Intamin or B & M.

Whether intentional or not, I thought Friday was a great send up of the banality of modern popular music. I don't know why people are so horrible on the internet, maybe because they are too gutless to be like that to people's faces.