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Kaltenzahn

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  1. Superman is still one of the top rides on the planet. Its drop doesn't have the terrifying parabolic curves of the more modern designs so it does feel a bit like a ramp in the middle of the plunge, but what happens right afterwards is arguably the best mega coaster layout in the country. The two airtime hills that run next to the lift are near Skyush quality, especially the second one, and the twisted finale is amazing. I liken it to bolting Rita's layout post launch to the second half of something like El Toro. I have ridden it hundreds of times since I live in New England and still run to it as soon as i arrive at the park. I would place rides like Skyrush and I305 slightly higher because their intensity is a whole different level, but this is still easily a top 5 worldwide coaster. Wicked Cyclone is the perfect example of the argument that you don't need extreme height for a world class ride. It kicks your ass from leaving the chain to the brake run and treats you to one shot of powerful airtime after the next with a smooth as glass ride. The drop is insane in the back despite its height and you may wind up liking this just as much as Superman. The queue offers some great photo ops since you are so close to the structure. Goliath is case of huge potential marred by ride quality. It is definitely worth a lap because the drops off the tower are excellent but it is severely outclassed by Superman and Wicked Cyclone. You will enjoy parts, and hate others, but this is typical of these older Vekomas. Mind Eraser used to be as fun as getting head kicked in by Brock Lesnar but is much improved with the new restraints. The layout of these SLCs is quite decent and can now be appreciated a bit since you aren't dealing with the collars beating your ears. It is not a flagship ride by any means but gives a solid 6/10 experience. The Sky Screamer is a must-do when you visit. If you are scared of heights it will terrify you since you are much higher than any of the coasters and the views stretch for miles in all directions. The ride itself is pretty gentle though. If heights don't bother you the tranquility of soaring high above the park with the wind in your face is very relaxing. Batman is a decent compact floorless with a very good drop in the back row. It sort of auto-completes after the Zero-G roll with a rough set of corkscrews but as the only B&M around these parts it is worth a few laps. While down there Joker is well worth a few rides, but it can be quite disorienting so do this before eating. Thunderbolt is a classic wooden coaster that is worth a spin, especially in the back. Operations can be a bit slow on it, so if it is packed wait will the lines die down a bit. Pandemonium is a very good spinning coaster that is worth a visit on the way to Wicked Cyclone and Sky Screamer. Harley Quinn Spinsanity will be open when you go, and this is a MUST do for mega flats. These giant frisbees are amazing rides and are right up there with the coasters as far as a quality level of intensity. If you are planning on being here for a few days, DEFINITELY hit up Lake Compounce for Boulder Dash since it is one of the best wooden coasters of all time. The rest of the park is excellent too with a good Premier launcher in Phobia Phear Coaster and the renovated Wildcat. Down the highway a few miles is Quassy and popping in there for a few hours to ride Wooden Warrior is a blast. It packs a TON of airtime into its modest layout and lines are pretty short here so you can wind up with 15-20 laps in an evening.
  2. Skyrush is IMHO the closest thing we have today to the Crystal Beach cyclone and its two twins. Most coasters can inspire fear in people who have never ridden one, but once you have hundreds of laps under your belt you start knowing what to expect when you get in line. This coaster on the other hand can legit terrify even the most jaded rider, and that is something that I will gladly drive 500 miles each way to experience. I was one of the winners in Project 2012 and was lucky enough to score the outside left seat on the back row. As always, I raised my arms going over the crest and about halfway down the drop thought for a second I was thrown out of the train. It scared the living hell out of me for that moment, and the rest of the course had easily the most violent airtime I have ever experienced. I am a 230lb guy with pretty large thighs from weightlifting and on a few of those hills I thought the bar was going to snap my legs like twigs. I got back to the station and told my wife ( who was about to board because they were gracious enough to allow me to have her for the ceremony) that this was by far the scariest and best thrill ride I had ever experienced. She came off saying the same thing, and that it was almost too intense to be real. I have ridden a few hundred coasters and consider I305, El Toro, and Skyrush to be my favorites due to the intensity and Skyrush is another level above the two other Intamins. I can't get enough of it and wish every major park would install something similar. One coaster that will make anyone soil themselves, hardcore rider or not. The fact that the rest of Hershey's lineup is excellent is the icing on the cake.
  3. I was lucky enough to attend Media Day for The Lawrence Eagle Tribune and SFNE has hit one so far out of the park with this project that the ball landed in England. I have yet to experience another RMC aside from this one but have ridden nearly 200 coasters and this is right at the top of the list. From the chain to brake run you are hit with one amazing element after another, and every one of those is taken with authority. Glass smooth, comfortable trains, and beautiful to behold, this is a legend in the making. There are some seriously good coasters within a (long) day's drive of my house but every once in awhile one opens that leaves you shaking with excitement on the brake run. Something that makes someone like me and most of this site's members giddy with excitement. Something that you can say "Hell yes, I WILL get up at 2:00 AM and drive 14 hours to ride and do it again and again". For me, that list was I-305, EL Toro, Skyrush, Maverick, and Montu. Balls to the wall intensity and bests of their kind. This is on that level and 2 hours from my home so I couldn't be happier. In my interview with the park's management I told them that it was as if they said "Let's take the best parts from some of the World's best coasters and throw them all in one layout: Millennnium Force's opening in smaller form, Kennywood's Jack Rabbit double down, El Toro's Rolling Thunder crossover hill twice on two of the INSANE banked airtime hills inside the structure, and NTG's "magic carpet" ending on the final run to the station. Even walking through the queue is a joy since you can see the fine craftsmanship in the project and photograph the awesome structure. I rode close to 20 times and every row was excellent. My personal favorite was back car first row due to the power of the drop, and extreme air off the crests. Despite the extreme intensity it is also a very reirideable coaster and I have a pretty good way of explaining why: My last coaster was Skyrush. On May 25 2012. I was lucky enough to be one of the first 24 and got the back car outside left seat. Needless to say, that was the most epic ride of my life. A month later I ruptured a disc in my back and spent the summer on my living room floor. I went to the event yesterday and honestly wondered if my first ride on Wicked Cyclone would be my final lap on a coaster. One marathon session later, I felt great and my passion for this hobby has been reborn. I will be doing an article of this for 10 newspapers and the closing line will probably be 'Those of you in the Northeast, gas up your car and drive. Those elsewhere, go online.....book a flight, and do it now". Extra highlights: Achievement Unlocked 500G: Meeting Robb Alvey. We have been going to theme parks all over the Eastern/Midwest US for over a decade and always told my wife that someday we would run into him. The man is cool as hell in person and took a few seconds to talk with us near the ride entrance. Meeting Alan Schilke: Another awesome moment. I talked with him several times in the station and he couldn't be more down to Earth. People of all ages were congratulating him on this project and he must have been in 500 selfies that day. On one of my rides in the back car he was in the row behind and at the brake run I leaned over and jokingly said " I think you just put Intamin out of business with this one" and he smiled. (Please let that never happen of course) Marathoning a legit top 5 coaster: This will not be an easy feat to accomplish in the future because this coaster is going to draw like no tomorrow and be a massive success for the park. Riding the New England Skyscreamer: Awesome ride, and extra thrilling in high winds. I will definitely hit this a few times on each visit. Here are a few shots that I took, with some filters applied for dramatic effect.
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