JJLehto

Tis true though, I didn't think it'd fill so fast (well I should've known what happens when you assume) but I was assured I would almost certainly have a spot open up for me (so some of ya better drop out!)

New Parks: .SF New England I somehow missed going here AGAIN, despite a very cool TPR member who was willing to go with me. Life got in the way unfortunately, and it's related expenses... .Coney Island (aka the Cyclone) Those WILL happen in 2014, finally .If I make the mini new hotness tour, then all those parks! Usuals: . Hersheypark . SF Great Adventure Revisits: . Lake Compounce, when it's not cool and rainy. I had an...ok ride on Boulder Dash, hope it was just the weather. Also only got one once before we had to leave. . Knoebels, havn't been since I was 11. I go to PA too often to have missed re visiting Maybe?? If for some reason I'm out in Western PA: .Kennywood & Waldameer

Thanks. Hope a spot opens up! That is a sweet tour and has so many of my hit list on it. edit: down payment just done via pay pal.

WOW, that mini new hotness is pretty much my dream (it would knock off so much of my "to do" list) it's $250 due right now, but when would the rest be due? I can't afford it all now, but will have it later. Super interested. Sucks I've missed the initital and it's on wait list but, better than not trying!

Iraq and Syria aren't isolationist...ripe with a few problems sure but quite open to the world. You know someone that actually went to NK and saw the mass games?? That I find pretty damn fascinating! Edit: Ah guess it's a bit easier for you, only Americans I know who saw it (outside political leaders) had to be snuck in.

Yeah no doubt, front was smoother but back was so much more forceful! The drive was epic, hang time a bit better and that air. Was a real surprise, and Yolo isnt making my top 10 or anything...but it may actually be close : O

That airtime in the last row of YOLO, wtf!? That was some violent ejector

Well, for me the very last row. BUT I'm a masochist and actually like a rough woodie, so I enjoy the getting beat up. Also airtime tends to be great back there, like Grizzly at KD...wouldn't think anything of it but had some major air back there! Of course the front is smoothest but if I want smooth, well that's nice but steel exists for a reason

Oh of course this is the case. With most things (music, movies, restaurants etc etc) the best often remain out of mainstream eye. This tends to be good, because ya know yadda yadda "only true fans can enjoy" and the "industry" can have the GTA while we true riders havbe MH and so on. Im sure most parks either dont know or care, thinking "just some internet poll" but smaller parks would do great to advertise "Hey screw the big boys! Look how high our coaster ranked on this more accurate poll!" Oh wow, the GTA, uh...yeah. Whatever

Actually not a bad point, Intamin deff makes more unique/varied rides. While B&M hit a grand slam with their 7 looper model and Batman the Ride (STILL great) they kept producing those. I know I know it's what parks want, and of course that is what matters but judging solely on the output itself, B&M has become a bit samey. While I've never ridden either, Leviathan and Shambhala seem very fast, pretty untrimmed (much as B&M will get!) and without MCBR, or at least not as "in the middle" so that's a good sign I hope! We dont know what they have planned but would be awesome to see em get back into creativity. I'd love a B&M gravity max coaster for example! Or maybe a B&M launcher.

Ah yes, the classic question. What's funny is years ago, I would've said "B&M" pretty much without thought, but while the years have gone by I've swung to Intamin. Needless to say: Both great companies, but in the infamous "safe and steady" vs "more intense" battle I choose the latter. My top coasters have become increasingly Intamin, they just make better stuff and in the 2000s have taken over the innovation battle, while B&M were at the forefront during the 90s. They owned the coaster business then. B&M are of course WAY more reliable, and easier to ride, but less "wow" Intamin has its issues but it's about the rides, and they make the best, plus innovations like magnet brakes, the cable lift, hydraulic launches (which seems to be the best style?) new spines and pushing the limits. Though RMC has entered the ring, maybe they shall be the kings of the 2010s?

With all the very...mixed things I've heard about SFMM, it was a pretty great day for me. Besides the obvious lack of X2, Apocalypse had single train, and the operations on Green Lantern were kinda dreadful, but besides that everything ran pretty much fine IMO. Especially Goliath, which operations moved pretty quickly, and it got better each ride! Right at nightfall was supremely epic. Indeed the ERT was a bit of a let down, esp with unexpected issues like the Yolorollback and some rides being down, BUT what can ya do? Still got a bunch of rides on Yolo and huge kudos to Robb for getting an extension and putting the whole day together. SFMM has a good selection of coasters, I was surprised how good some were: Goliath, Yolo and I lucked out and had a kick ass ride on Green Lantern. Tatsu was awesome and Riddlers was deff the best standing coaster I've been on by miles. Was a great day, met great people and added a bunch of new creds. All in all was pretty sweet. Hope TPR does the midwest trip next year

Well...it's the GTA, the object of ridicule amongst us enthusiasts so not much to say besides BUT there's a few minor surprises. Like, they got the new rides pretty spot on IMO Opposed to last year with Wild Eagle (!?) being "best new ride" over Skyrush, Leviathan, Shambhala (and it just happened to be hosted by Dollywood isnt that interesting???) So yeah, Outlaw Run by a large degree, few will disagree. All the rest are as expected: not much changes at all with the GTA and we all know they are not as accurate as Mitch Hawker. There's still some ??? in the top 10 but it is indeed cool to see I305 make it in there. But yeah, I dont put much energy, good or bad, into the GTA. It can't be taken seriously at all. It's the watered down mainstream/for show award. Wait for Mitch Hawker for real results!

Knotts must've been awesome. Shame I couldnt get off today and thus had to fly back yest Especially since Im dead tired now! SFMM was great though, awesome time. Thanks to everyone, see yall at the next event!

Frantic morning before the airport, but I can squeeze this in: Was a great first ever visit to SFMM. ERT did its job as it basically become a second ERT when the park opened and we had practical walk ons all the way till lunch Added 11 new creds, all quality, and rode no idea how many actual rides. Even had a pretty awesome ride on green lantern which apparently was a miracle. Was a great day, and got my first ever rollback! Not quite as epic as TTD or Dragster but a yolo rollback has its own charm But yeah awesome day, thanks to all the cool people I met including Robb himself, and I was pleasantly surprised how sweet yolo and goliath were. Thanks for the day everyone, deff hope to make a TPR event in the future!

Wow! 12 hours from now I'll be at SFMM. Hm that doesn't leave a huge amount of time for drinking and sleeping tonight...better get to the bar fast

Yeah, besides it being the cheapest and it being nice to see new places, I really want to hit those parks (esp HW!) and while out there I'd probably try to sneak in SDC and/or Wisconsin Dells so yeah, mini new hotness deff I'm on board for

Hey all, CA has been awesome. SF/Berkeley was fun, the PCH was absolutely amazing, a brief stop in SLO and am finally in LA! An abrupt change of plans happened, I had to get a hotel...but it worked out well, I'm staying in Hermosa Beach which seems like a fun place and while a friend's couch is free...a legit bed will be nice. All the couch sleeping+drinking really took a major toll on me! Plus I wont haqve to worry about disturbing anyone when I leave super early for SFMM! So yeah, been a great time, looking forward to the next few days in LA finished off with the bash! See yall soon Edit: I actually thought of Angry Gumball when riding the bart...I kept passing by a Goldstriker billboard. TPR is consuming my life

Submitted, I am 100% into the mid west (mini hotness) tour. I want so bad to hit a bunch of those parks, and this would give a great reason to get to the mid west. Any chance of additions? Because I'd love to hit Wisconsin Dells and/or SDC. I'd even do them independently if needed, but yeah I'd be totally game for the mid west tour!

That's cool but I have a 0 day week. Chilling in Berkeley at the moment

Amazing, that is a sweet layout, love that roll drop. RMC is truly the new king of innovation.

Next visit wont be for, well not in 2014 (got too many other plans!) But yeah Im hoping Robb strongarms SFMM into something good to compensate! Though my faith in SF is low haha See yall soon! Maybe 1 or 2 of you before the WCB

Iagree but I'm a natural SF skeptic...Apoc *should* be open has me nervous as hell Yeah, X2 was kind of a big part of the trip for me. I'll just take solace in the fact people generally seem to say it's not that great. It's a crazy ride, but it's gotten really rough the last few years. We had two hours of ERT on it last year, and I only rode it once, it banged me up so much. Tatsu, Goliath, Apocalypse, and YOLOcoaster are my top 4 choices for coasters at SFMM, so this is great, but I would have liked to get one ride in this year. Hopefully we get another ride for ERT, preferably S:EFK, so the lines will be even shorter. Yeah, at least I can get more in on Goliath (which for some reason Im really excited for) and YOLO since I wont have to scramble for X as I planned!

Iagree but I'm a natural SF skeptic...Apoc *should* be open has me nervous as hell Yeah, X2 was kind of a big part of the trip for me. I'll just take solace in the fact people generally seem to say it's not that great.

Disclaimer: Yes, obviously TPR has absolutely nothing to do with this, (anyone who'd be mad at TPR is just dumb) and it's even beyond the hands of SFMM (Maybe? Im giving botd to keep my disappointment down ) and yes, I know this happens...it's like when people would fly from the UK for TTD just to find it closed down, crap happens and no, it wont ruin my entire time. Im quite excited still. That said I think there's nothing wrong with a small vent...this does kinda suck. Don't imagine going back out to CA any time soon, and X2 was kinda part of it all...after 11 years was stoked to finally get on that unique ride which is nowhere else in the US. So hope I get no flak for just stating I am pretty bummed out, but yeah being mopey won't open it up. Hope Apocalypse is up as they say it should be. Looks like a real fun woodie. Im packing, and will be flying, driving and savoring CA so I'll see yall at the WCB!